Brow Lift

Dr. Hilinski is "Double Board Certified" in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

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Brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, is a procedure designed to elevate and reshape the eyebrow region. As the aging process occurs, forces of gravity cause the eyebrows and forehead to descend. As the eyebrows fall, they push excess skin into the upper eyelid, causing a heavy, crowded, tired look to your eyes. These changes also result in the development of deep creases between the eyebrows.

In the past, the brow lift was performed by using a wide incision that extended across the entire scalp. Today, modern technology allows the browlift to be done with lighted telescopes passed through small incisions hidden within the scalp (endoscopic brow lift or endobrow). Using this technique, the brow can be repositioned to enhance the beauty of your eyes with minimal downtime. In addition to less swelling and bruising, the endoscopic brow lift also results in less numbness across the scalp.

Before & After Photos

If your hairline is positioned farther back than normal (a high forehead), an endoscopic brow lift may not be the best procedure for you. Instead, you may need to undergo a procedure that utilizes an incision made just in front of the hairline (termed a pretrichial brow lift). The incisions are designed such that the final scar is barely visible. Using this technique, the brow can be repositioned to a more desirable level while lowering what is considered to be a high forehead.

Other brow lift techniques include the temporal brow lift, the trichial brow lift, the direct brow lift, and the indirect brow lift. The temporal brow lift mainly elevates the tail of the brow and is often reserved for women seeking a more feminine and gently arched brow. The trichial brow lift is similar to the pretrichial brow lift except that is does not shorten the forehead. Direct and indirect brow lifts are most often performed on men, particularly those who have male pattern baldness that does not make them candidates for other brow lift techniques. The direct brow lift involves an incision placed just above the brow, while the indirect brow lift places the incision within a well-developed horizontal forehead crease.

Although the brow lift can be done as an isolated procedure, it is commonly performed in combination with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Together these procedures help provide a more rejuvenated look to the entire upper face and forehead. The brow lift is also commonly performed in tandem with face lift.

Brow lift surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, typically in an outpatient surgery center though limited brow lifts like the temporal lift may be performed as an office-based procedure. Deep sedation (twilight anesthesia) or general anesthesia are commonly used. In some cases, local anesthesia alone may be used for a lateral temporal lift, direct brow lift, or indirect brow lift. The surgery typically takes two to three hours to complete.

Swelling and bruising are common during the first seven to ten days after surgery, particularly around the eyes. Any pain or discomfort that patients experience can be controlled with low-dose prescription medication. Dressings, bandages and stitches are removed 5-7 days following surgery. Refinements and improvements are seen immediately after the dressings have been removed. Final healing takes place over several weeks. Most patients are presentable in public within seven to ten days and work can usually be resumed at this time. Patients who are not bothered by the bandages may be able to return to work sooner.

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Q - What is a brow lift?
The brow lift, also known as a forehead lift or browplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to rejuvenate the upper one-third of the face, or the area above the brow. The brow lift can elevate and reshape the brow to improve brow shape and/or heaviness or drooping of the brow.

Q - Where is the brow lift procedure performed?
Most brow lift procedures are performed in an outpatient surgery center, though some limited brow lifts like the temporal brow lift may be performed as an office-based procedure.

Q - What type of anesthesia is used for the brow lift?
Patients may elect to have either deep sedation (twilight anesthesia) or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is sometimes used for later temporal lift, direct brow lift and indirect brow lift procedures.

Q - How is the brow lift performed?
The exact nature of the brow lift surgery will depend on the technique used. For an isolated temporal brow lift, a narrow, elliptical-shaped incision is made in the temporal hair. The incision is carried down to a safe level that can be elevated toward the brow, allowing safe mobilization and elevation of the lateral brow. The tail of the brow is then suspended and repositioned in an upward and outward direction, and then stabilized with carefully placed sutures. Additional sutures or staples are used to close the scalp incision.

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