BROWLIFT AT POWER PLASTIC SURGERY

An elevated arched brow is a common request from patients seeking facial cosmetic surgery. The brows may descend over time in association with periorbital (eye) aging. This may lead to a heavy appearance of the brow, increased prominence of forehead rhytids (wrinkles), and accentuation of excess skin and hooding of the upper eyelids. Brow position is a key determinant in consultation regarding periorbital aging. A patient’s complaint of upper lid heaviness and loose skin may in fact be related to descended brow position (referred to as brow ptosis) as opposed to an intrinsic issue with the upper lid.

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- DR. STEPHANIE POWER

What is a Browlift?

Browlift is an outpatient surgical procedure that is performed to elevate brow position. It resuspends the brows to a higher and more youthful appearance and may also be performed to correct asymmetry. Browlift may reduce the appearance of redundant upper eyelid skin that develops secondary to brow ptosis. Browlift may elevate overall brow position or address the lateral (outer) brow position alone through a temporal browlift. This will depend on a patient’s aesthetic goals and clinical presentation. Incision placement for browlift varies according to which aspect of the brow is being lifted.

Many patients ask about the so-called Botox browlift. This is a non-surgical technique that may achieve subtle elevation of the outer brow. It works by weakening the muscle that depresses the brow in this region (called the orbicularis oculi) and leaves the frontalis muscle (which elevates the brow) unopposed.

While a Botox browlift may be an option for patients seeking mild elevation, a surgical browlift is a more powerful technique. It may result in more dramatic brow elevation and address different regions of the brow. It is most commonly performed under general anesthetic to ensure maximum patient comfort and safety during the procedure.

Local freezing is also infiltrated once the patient is placed under general anesthetic. There are many advantages of the local anesthetic, including:

Post-operative pain control

The local anesthetic lasts for several hours and will reduce pain upon awakening from the general anesthetic. It serves as a bridge until oral pain medication takes effect. Local anesthetic may reduce overall requirements for pain medication post-operatively.

Hydrodissection of the surgical plane

When local freezing is injected, the fluid volume follows natural tissue planes. This injection helps to dissect the surgical plane and causes less trauma than entirely using surgical instruments for the exposure.

Less bleeding during surgery

The local freezing also has epinephrine, which is a vasoconstrictive agent. It constricts blood vessels to reduce bleeding during surgery. This may reduce the need for using electrocautery during browlift, which also lowers the risk of injury to hair follicles and localized hair loss.

Less bruising

Along the same lines, the local anesthetic may also reduce the degree of bruising post-operatively, particularly when combined with post-operative cold compresses.

Incision placement varies based on the planned browlift technique. Some patients may benefit from a more extensive approach (coronal incision), which leaves a scar that is generally hidden within the hair-bearing scalp from ear to ear. This is the most powerful technique in achieving brow elevation. For patients interested in achieving elevation of only the outer brow, a limited temporal incision may used. The incision for a temporal browlift is placed at the hairline in the temple region. Occasionally in patients with prominent forehead creases and male pattern hair loss, a direct browlift may be an option to avoid placing a more prominent scar on the scalp. The incision for a direct browlift is placed just above the hair-bearing brow.

Who is a candidate for a browlift?

A candidate for browlift surgery wishes to elevate their brow position for periorbital enhancement. It may also be performed to correct brow asymmetry or to reduce the appearance of excess upper eyelid skin that is due to a heavy or lowered brow. By elevating the brows, the appearance of redundant upper lid skin may be reduced in these cases. Many patients consider a surgical browlift when pleased with the results of Botox browlifts, but no longer wish to undergo repeat injections. Surgical results may achieve more long-lasting results than undergoing repeat injections every 3-6 months. In addition to elevating brow position, browlift may soften forehead wrinkles and creases to achieve a more youthful forehead and periorbital appearance. If recurrent brow ptosis develops through natural facial aging following history of browlift, a patient may also be a candidate for repeat browlift.

The most appropriate candidate for browlift surgery is otherwise healthy. Other medical conditions should be optimized before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery. Non-smokers are the best candidates for browlift, although it may be possible to undergo surgery if smoking cessation is achieved for at least one month before and after surgery. Following this guideline has been shown to lower the risk of surgical site infections and other wound healing complications. A patient’s aesthetic goals will also be discussed in detail to assess whether they may be realistically met with browlift surgery.

What are the different procedure options for a browlift?

Procedure options for browlift surgery will depend on a patient’s aesthetic goals and clinical presentation. Different options include:

Coronal browlift

While this option often seems the most invasive to many patients, it may result in the most dramatic and long-lasting brow elevation as compared to other techniques. The scar is confined to the hair-bearing scalp and great care is taken to minimize risk of injury to surrounding hair follicles through surgical technique. The hairline is carefully examined pre-operatively when designing incision placement to avoid elongating a prominent forehead. The scalp and forehead tissues are undermined to the orbital rim region and elevated. The deep tissues are resuspended and secured to achieve brow elevation. Redundant skin is then removed to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles and creases.

Limited temporal browlift

For patients wishing to achieve elevation of the outer brow, a limited temporal browlift is an option. It is less invasive than a coronal browlift and involves a small incision at the hairline in the temple regions. Through this smaller incision, the outer brow may be elevated and redundant skin removed.

Direct browlift

This procedure is not commonly performed for cosmetic browlifts, however may be an option for patients with more pronounced forehead creases and male pattern hair loss. The incision is placed directly above the hair-bearing eyebrow and elevates the brow through direct skin resection at this site. It may be an appropriate option in patients within hair thinning to avoid placing a more prominent scar at the top of the head.

Endoscopic browlift

An endoscopic browlift utilizes small incisions in the hairline to resuspend the brow under camera visualization. The muscles of the glabellar region may also be weakened to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles at this site. The results are not long-lasting based on plastic surgery research and the amount of brow elevation is limited. It may also result in a region of alopecia (localized hair loss) at the site of brow suspension. Based on these findings, I do not recommend this procedure in my practice.

What are risks and benefits of browlift surgery?

Browlift surgery may lead to aesthetic improvements relating to the brows, forehead, and upper lid skin. It elevates the brow, reduces the appearance of forehead wrinkles and creases, and through a secondary effect it may reduce the appearance of excess upper lid skin. Although aging will continue and brow position may gradually lower over time, the results are more long-lasting and dramatic than those achieved following non-surgical techniques. A Botox browlift may result in a few millimeters of brow elevation. A surgical browlift is a much more powerful technique to achieve brow elevation. Muscles in the glabellar region that create dynamic wrinkles may also be partially resected during a surgical browlift. This may reduce or eliminate the need for Botox injections post-operatively.

If patients undergo routine Botox injections of the forehead or glabellar regions, it is important for the treatment effect to have worn off by the time of browlift to avoid distortion of clinical examination.

Risks of browlift surgery include bleeding, hematoma, infection, delayed wound healing, and potential injury to surrounding structures. Aesthetic complications include over- or undercorrection, asymmetry, and potential hair loss surrounding incisions due to injury to hair follicles. When performed in appropriately selected patients with well-defined surgical goals, browlift surgery is generally a well-tolerated procedure with low risk of complications.

Brow Lift FAQs

Can a brow lift be done under local anesthesia?

A brow lift may be done under local anesthetic, but is more commonly performed under general anesthetic for patient comfort.

Does a brow lift get rid of forehead wrinkles?

A brow lift may reduce the appearance of static forehead wrinkles. Patients may also decide to undergo neuromodulator injections after brow lift to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles (those which are related to muscle movement).

Does a facelift include a brow lift?

A facelift addresses the midface, lower face, and neck, but does not include a brow lift.

Does brow lift change eye shape?

A brow lift does not change eye shape, but may reduce the prominence of redundant upper eyelid skin to some degree.

How do I know if I need a brow lift?

If you have concerns about brow heaviness or lowered position over time, you may need a brow lift. If you feel that you are often compensating by raising your eyebrows, brow lift may also be an option.

How long do brow lifts last?

Most techniques of brow lift surgery lead to long-lasting results. Aging will continue, however your brow position and orbital region should look more refreshed after a brow lift.

How long does a brow lift last?

Surgical results from a brow lift should be long-lasting although aging will continue.

How long does numbness last after brow lift?

Numbness usually resolves within a few months after brow lift surgery.

Is eyebrow lift surgery painful?

Eyebrow surgery is not very painful compared to other types of surgery. You may also experience less discomfort by performing cold compresses over the first 48 hours and elevating your head when sleeping for a few weeks.

What age should you get a brow lift?

You should get a brow lift when you have aesthetic concerns about your brow position and forehead. It is important to see a board-certified plastic surgeon in consultation to determine whether you are a good candidate.

What can I expect after a brow lift?

After a brow lift, you can expect bruising and swelling over the first week or so. You may require pain medication for a few days as discomfort gradually resolves. You will notice aesthetic improvement as final results are achieved by one year post-operatively.

What is a direct brow lift?

A direct brow lift is a surgery that places an incision immediately above the eyebrow. It is very effective in lifting the brow, but may leave more prominent scarring. It may be a good option for men with a heavy brow and deep forehead wrinkles.

Will brow lift cause hair loss?

Certain techniques of brow lift may cause areas of hair loss due to scarring along the frontal scalp.

Does endoscopic brow lift raise hairline?

An endoscopic brow lift does not raise the hairline.

Does insurance pay for brow lift?

Insurance generally does not cover brow lift as it is considered a cosmetic surgery.

How can I lift my eyebrows?

You may achieve a subtle eyebrow lift from neuromodulator injections. When the muscle around the orbit is weakened through this non-surgical treatment, this leaves the forehead (frontal) muscle unopposed and may lift the outer brow. Brow lift surgery may also lead to more long-lasting results.

How much does a brow lift cost?

A brow lift costs $6-8000 on average depending on the technique.

How much is a brow lift?

A brow lift is usually between $6-8000. You will receive a surgical quote following your consultation.

Is a brow lift permanent?

No surgical result is truly permanent since aging will continue after surgery, but results are usually long-lasting.

Is eyebrow lift dangerous?

It is important to understand the risks of eyebrow lift, which will be discussed during your plastic surgery consultation. If the procedure is considered dangerous based on your medical health, medications, or other lifestyle factors, you should not proceed with elective cosmetic surgery.

What is endoscopic brow lift?

An endoscopic brow lift is performed using a small camera through limited incisions at the hairline. The forehead soft tissues are elevated and lifted while the glabellar muscles are also weakened. While less invasive, results are not as long-lasting as other brow lift techniques.

What is the difference between a brow lift and blepharoplasty?

A brow lift elevates the brows while blepharoplasty removes redundant skin of the eyelids. A heavy or droopy brow may accentuate the appearance of redundant skin of the upper lids. A brow lift may therefore have a secondary effect of reducing the prominence of upper eyelid skin.

When can I wash my hair after brow lift?

You may shower and wash your hair the day after brow lift surgery.

How long do browlift results last?

Results following browlift surgery are generally long-lasting, but no surgical results are permanent. Aging will still continue in the periorbital region following browlift. Brow ptosis may recur over the long-term and some patients may wish to undergo repeat browlift surgery years later.

How long is recovery after browlift?

Recovery following browlift varies between patients. Most patients are able to return to office-based work within one week. Bruising may develop, which may take up to 10 days or so for complete resolution. Swelling also decreases over the first few weeks post-operatively. For the first few days, applying cold compresses is important to reduce swelling and risk of bruising. Sleeping with your head elevated on 2-3 pillows over the first month may also reduce swelling.nnIt is recommended to refrain from exercise, heavy lifting, or strenuous activity for one month after browlift to lower the risk of bleeding, bruising, and further swelling.

Can browlift be combined with other facial cosmetic surgeries?

Yes, browlift may be performed with other surgeries. The surgical plan will be discussed in detail with Dr. Power pre-operatively to ensure that aesthetic goals may be safely met. Combining surgeries will depend on the body sites – which determine positioning during surgery – as well as anticipated length of general anesthetic. Procedures that are commonly combined with browlift surgery are blepharoplasty (eye lift) or facelift. If combined with an eye lift, the browlift is generally performed first since brow position affects the appearance of the upper lid skin. Browlift may also be combined with a facelift since face and neck lift does not address the forehead (upper facial third) region.

Can a repeat browlift be performed?

It may be possible to perform a repeat browlift in the future if brow ptosis recurs with natural aging. Great caution is taken during repeat browlift since scarring is present along the surgical planes, which may distort normal anatomy. Meticulous surgical planning and execution are important to lower risk of complications during a repeat browlift.nnDuring consultation for browlift surgery, each patient will be examined carefully in order to determine the optimal surgical plan to achieve one’s goals. The incision is most commonly placed at the frontal hairline or within the hair-bearing scalp depending on forehead anatomy and aesthetic goals. By removal of excess skin and suturing techniques, the brows may be resuspended. The corrugator (central forehead) muscles may also be weakened during surgery to soften the furrowed brow appearance and dynamic rhytids. Sutures will be in place for one week post-operatively and patients will be permitted to shower on the day after surgery.

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