With age, the effect of gravity can lower the eyebrows, causing wrinkles to develop and deepen horizontally across the forehead, in the bridge of the nose, and between eyebrows. A brow lift (a.k.a. eyebrow lift or forehead lift) raises sagging brows and tightens the skin of the upper eyelid.
When is a brow lift beneficial?
For individuals with wrinkles around the eyes and eyebrows, or extra skin below the eyebrows, a brow lift is able to reduce and smooth these wrinkles and enhance the shape of the eyes and eyelids, and also reduce volume to help improve the field of vision.
How is a brow lift performed?
There are several ways in which this surgery can be done, depending on the nature of the problem and shape of the patient’s face. The classic approach to this surgery is the coronal lift, which involves an incision from ear to ear across the top of the head, hidden within the hair-bearing skin. The forehead skin is then lifted. The coronal lift can also be done in a way that “shortens” the forehead, bringing the hairline down to a lower position.
Another way that brow lifting surgery is done is the endoscopic approach. This involves placing a series of small incisions in the scalp, then performing the surgery with an endoscope (a thin tube with a camera on the end). This method leaves smaller scars and allows corrections of the specific sources of visible creases in the forehead.
Brow lift surgery to treat the frown lines between the eyebrows and to raise the inside part of the eyebrows can also be done through upper eyelid incisions.
Many procedures can be done in the office under local anesthesia, and others are done in the operating room.
What results can I expect?
Initial wound healing and swilling after surgery may take 10 to 14 days. Sutures or clips will be removed when it is appropriate. You should be ready to return to work and normal activity after two weeks.
Brow lift results are immediately visible, and are typically noticed for five to ten years and even beyond. Over time, incision lines will fade. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and protecting your skin from the sun will help you maintain the results of reduced wrinkles and under-eyebrow volume for a longer term.
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