Eyebrow Lift (“Brow Lift or Forehead Lift”)

Description

Cosmetically corrects drooping brows, upper eyelids, and sagging skin on the forehead. It is designed to dramatically help improve the horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad, or tired. A brow lift is commonly performed on patients in the 40 to 60 range, helping to minimize the visible signs of aging.

Length

1 to 3 hours.

Side Effects

Temporary numbness, discomfort, itching, and swelling. Hair loss may occur along the scar edges. In a rare circumstance, nerves that control eyebrow movements may be injured resulting in a loss of ability to raise the eyebrows or wrinkle the forehead, additional surgery would be required to correct the problem.

Recovery

Back to work: 7 to 10 days (endoscopic patients may return earlier). Vigorous physical activity: several weeks. Prolonged exposure to heat or sun: limited for several months.

Technology

Using the classic lift, or the conventional open method, a surgeon will make one continuous incision starting at ear level and move up around the hair line. The incision is usually made well behind the hairline so that the scar wont be visible.

With the endoscopic lift, instead of making one long coronal incision, a surgeon will make about 3 to 5 shorter incisions in the scalp, where a scope (pencil-like camera device) is inserted into one of the incisions. This will allow the surgeon to view the tissues and muscles from a screen. He or she will then use another instrument inserted through a different incision, where the forehead skin is lifted and the muscles and underlying tissues are removed or altered to produce a smoother appearance.

Patient Status

Outpatient – In most cases

Anesthesia

Local with Sedation

General