Brow lift or forehead lift
A brow lift repositions the eyebrows to give the eyes a fresher, more open and youthful look. It can also:
- Correct wrinkles between the eyes
- Reduce the appearance of heavy eyelids
- Create a more pleasing shape and arch to the brows
- Reduce wrinkles, lines and ingrained facial expressions on your forehead.
Skin laxity and wrinkling above and between the brows can be caused by your pattern of facial expressions (for example, frequent frowning), which are almost impossible to change. Marked wrinkling between the eyes due to this type of muscle activity can be reduced during your brow lift, which is ideal for reversing the effects of hard work, stress or gravity for patients who want to turn back the clock.
Normal facial expression and adequate brow movements are preserved; however, it is essential to choose a surgeon who has the right training and experience to perform surgery on the face to avoid an unnatural or “pulled” look. There are different techniques for a brow lift relating to where the incisions are made, and Dr Bill Lyon will discuss which technique will suit you.
Some possible complications and risks associated with brow or forehead lift surgery may include:
- There will be scars associated with the procedure, every effort will be made to make them as inconspicuous as possible, however these scars may spread or thicken.
- Bleeding following the procedure may occur and may necessitate a return to the operating theatre.
- There may be bruising (black, blue and yellow) for several weeks post procedure.
- There may be times that fluid or blood will accumulate in the operative sites which may require aspiration or drainage. (Possibly a further procedure).
- Wound infection may occur necessitating further antibiotics and may affect the overall scar quality.
- There may be areas of wound breakdown / necrosis that may necessitate ongoing dressings or further procedures.
- That there may be swelling in the face which may persist for several weeks, and in some cases, much longer following the procedure.
- Irregularities may persist following the procedure.
- There may be scattered areas of numbness / sensory changes over the forehead following the surgery which may persist for an indefinite period of time.
- Rarely there is persistent pain or headaches.
- The facial nerve, that controls facial movement may be damaged causing persistent or temporary dysfunction or disfigurement.
- The hair line may be altered or there may be patches of hair loss.
- There may be changes in skin pigment following the surgery.
- Asymmetry / differences between the two sides of the face may become more obvious.
This is normally pre-existing and every attempt is made to match both sides of the face.
- There is no guarantee as to the amount of improvement either to terms of apparent age or permanency of the result.
Who is a candidate for a browlift?
A browlift is for women whose eyebrows are low and wish to improve the appearance of their forehead and eyes. Patients must be healthy enough to undergo an elective operation.
Will there be scars?
There are always scars when skin is cut. In the scalp, hair does not grow within a scar. If they hair is thick, they will not be seen. If the hair is thin, the scar itself is not visible, but the absence of hair in the scar may be visible. Usually the scar can be moved back to wear the hair is thicker so that the scar is uncommonly a problem.
What’s the difference between a browlift and an upper eyelift?
A browlift elevates the brows but doesn’t touch eyelid skin. An upper eyelift alters skin of the lids, eg reducing the amount of skin between brown and lash…but it doesn’t change the brow position or shape.
Will a browlift get rid of the frown lines between my eyes?
A browlift will reduce but not eliminate the frown lines. In the past an aggressive removal of muscles in the brow was done as a part of the browlift. It succeeded in temporarily reducing the frown lines. But without the muscles in that area, the brows would widen apart and that would look odd. It added to bruising and recovery and the nerve that gives feeling to the forehead is located in that muscle and some patients developed numbness of the forehead and scalp. If the muscles were thick, sometimes a depression would occur. And finally the muscles would often grow back. The advent of Botox™ made a difference because it is so effective at treating these lines.
Will a browlift get rid of the deep lines on my forehead?
The reason people develop the deep horizontal forehead lines is that they are trying to raise their brows. Once their brows are elevated, there is less of a need to lift the eyebrows. A browlift does not get rid of those lines, but it dramatically reduces them.
Will a browlift get rid of the deep lines on the sides of my eyes (crow’s feet)?
A browlift will not eliminate crows feet, but the effect of raising the brows often softens them. Hooding that goes beyond the end of the eye into the crows feet is significant reduced if not eliminated.
Will a browlift keep me from ever needing Botox™ again?
The need and frequency for Botox™ is greatly reduced with a browlift, and sometimes it is eliminated. The answer is different for each patient and depends upon the severity of their lines and what will be corrected with their browlift.
Will I have any numbness of my forehead after the procedure?
Forehead numbness is a risk of a browlift, particularly if there is an effort made to remove the muscles between the eyes. The numbness can even extend past the hairline.
Do you use a drain after a browlift?
A drain is occassionally left in overnight and removed in the morning. By removing fluid, there is less swelling and bruising, and the recovery is faster.
How soon can I go to work?
When you feel ready to do your job is highly individualized. So long as your work doesn’t involve straining and heavy lifting, you can expect to be back to work within a week. Some people go back even sooner, and many work from home the next day.
When can I drive?
You can drive when you are off of all narcotic pain medication and feel totally unrestricted by your discomfort such that you could make any movement you might need to safely drive your car. That is ultimately a decision that I cannot make for you.
Will I have bruising and if so, how long will it last?
Most patients get some bruising and swelling around their eyes after a browlift, though some get none. It usually fades by about five to seven days.
How long does the swelling last?
Swelling increases after surgery, usually peaking about 5-6 days after surgery. After that, the swelling will subside, rapidly at first, and then gradually. After one month, you’ll think the swelling is gone, but it will still go down more at three months, and even more at six months and even a year, though at that point changes are subtle.
What do I have to do to care for the incision?
No particular care is required for a browlift other than just showering and cleaning the area gently for several weeks after surgery.
When do the stitches need to be removed?
Browlift sutures are removed within a week after surgery.
Important note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
