Brow Lift

FOREHEAD LIFT OR BROW LIFT SURGERY

The effects of aging are inevitable, and, often, the brow and forehead area show the first signs. The skin begins to lose its elasticity. Sun, wind, and the pull of gravity all affect the face, resulting in frown lines, wrinkling across the forehead, and an increasing heaviness of the eyebrows. Even people in their thirties may have faces that look older than their years. Your tired, angry, or sad expression may not reflect how you actually feel. As a result, many people have opted for a procedure known as the forehead lift. Based on variations in how men and women age and on new advances in medical technology, different methods are used to perform this procedure.

IS A FOREHEAD LIFT FOR YOU?

As with all elective surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. When Dr. Verret tightens loose skin and removes the excess, forehead wrinkling and drooping brows are modified. The procedure is called a forehead lift or brow lift. If necessary,Dr. Verret removes part of the muscle that causes vertical frown lines between the brows. The result can be a smoother brow and a more youthful expression. To see what a forehead lift can do for your face, put your hands above your brows and outside the edges of your eyes and gently raise the skin upwards. Forehead lifts are an option if you have a sagging brow or deep furrows between the eyes. This procedure is usually done between age forty and sixty-five, although it may be necessary at an earlier age.

For some patients, forehead lift surgery can result in improved vision. Patients who have suffered facial nerve injury or Bell’s palsy, forehead lift surgery can help to restore symmetry of the eyebrows which is lost.

Incisions can be placed at the hairline, behind the hairline, or in some cases, above the brow or in the mid-forehead. Endoscopic techniques that are available allow the procedure to be performed, thereby minimizing incisions and reducing visibility of scars. For patients with a signficant brow droop and excess upper eyelid skin, the forehead lift and be performed through the same incision in the upper eyelids that the upper eyelid blepharoplasty is performed.

MAKING THE DECISION FOR A FOREHEAD LIFT

Whether you are having surgery for functional or cosmetic reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. During the consultation, Dr. Verret will examine your facial structure, the condition of your skin, and your hairline in order to decide where incisions should be made. A thorough medical history will be obtained so that Dr. Verret can consider any medical conditions that may heighten surgical risks. A detailed description of the procedure will also include a discussion of risk involved.

When deciding to undertake forehead lift surgery, it is important to determine if upper eyelid blepharoplasty will also need to be performed. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty can be done at the same time or sometimes several weeks after the initial surgery to obtain the best results.

After the decision to proceed with surgery is made, Dr. Verret will describe the technique indicated, the type of anesthesia, the surgical facility, any additional surgery, and the risks and costs.

UNDERSTANDING FOREHEAD LIFT OR BROW LIFT SURGERY

Browlift surgery can be performed with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The surgery begins with the placement of the incision. For traditional brow lift surgeries, the incision is made slightly behind the natural hairline, running from ear to ear across the top of the head. However, if the patient is balding or has a receding hairline, the incision will be made in the mid-forehead area or at the hairline, along a natural line to minimize scar visibility. Excess skin and tissue will also be removed before fine sutures or staples are applied.

In endoscopic forehead lift surgery,Dr. Verret makes a series of small incisions just behind the hairline and, using the endoscope as a guide, proceeds to remove those muscles that are the source of frown lines. The eyebrows are then lifted to reduce the sagging of skin at eyelid level. In order to hold the eyebrows in their new position, absorbable devices will be placed under the skin to hold the skin and deeper structures until they have time to heal. These devices will dissolve on their own over time and do not need to be removed. The procedure usually lasts one to two hours.

AFTER FOREHEAD LIFT SURGERY

You will experience a certain amount of swelling and bruising in the 10-day period following surgery. In some patients, this condition may include the cheek and eye area as well as the forehead. You will be advised to keep your head elevated in order to reduce swelling. Cold compresses may further reduce swelling. As the incisions heal, you may experience some numbness as well as itching, both of which will diminish with time. The sutures are usually removed within seven to 10 days following surgery. If bandages have been used, they are removed in one to three days. It is important to follow Dr. Verret’s advice on resuming normal activities. For most patients, the recovery time will not exceed two weeks, but patients may still be advised to avoid strenuous activities for longer periods. Any prolonged bruising can be camouflaged with standard make-up techniques.

Not infrequently, a brow lift is combined with blepharoplasty (an eyelid tuck) or face lift tp provide a harmoniuos rejuventation.

Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, cosmetic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.

Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve sagging foreheads and brows which interfere with vision may be reimbursable in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage.

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