Brow Lift
What Is a Brow Lift?
The eyes are the central feature of the face and can reveal a lot about a person. Not only are they indicators of age, but they readily connote alertness or drowsiness, honesty or shiftiness, and intelligence or vapidity. As the eyebrows descend with age, the sagging can affect the eyelids, giving them a tired and aged appearance. Attempts to compensate for this in the mirror leads to premature lines, wrinkles, and furrows in the forehead. Even the most potent over-the-counter or non-invasive treatments cannot address these signs of aging. Brow lift surgery can elevate sagging brows, smooth the forehead, and produce a revitalized appearance to the eyelids themselves. Schedule a Brow Lift consultation with Dr. J. Brian Boyd in South Bay.
Who Can Benefit From a Brow Lift?
Heavy brows that droop over your eyelids may cause you to appear constantly angry or fatigued. Low, hanging brows can also obscure your vision and make your eyelid skin appear redundant. Brow lift surgery repositions your brow and forehead muscles to tighten and lift the eyebrows. Correcting drooping brows can erase years from your face and brighten your overall appearance.
The stretching of tissues that leads to drooping brows may also cause vertical lines or wrinkles to form across the forehead as the individual tries to compensate by artificially raising his/her brows. A brow lift can significantly smooth the appearance of deep wrinkles that cannot be improved with injectables. A brow lift can also address the vertical (frown) lines that form between the eyes due to the action of the corrugator muscles.
Because tissue laxity and wrinkles are symptoms of aging, having these telltale signs in your upper face can make you seem old. By addressing upper facial wrinkles and laxity, a brow lift can restore a rejuvenated appearance that better reflects who you are. Higher eyebrows give an alert appearance, and the elimination of excess skin rejuvenates the eyelids.
Your Treatment Options
Endoscopic Brow Lift
The endoscopic brow lift is a technique that is used to limit the size and visibility of the traditional brow lift incision. Four to five small incisions are placed behind the hairline, and an endoscope is used to gain access and provide an image on an HD monitor of the underlying muscular structure. The magnification allows for precise correction of unwanted muscle action and permits the release of structures tethering the brow down. The endoscopic technique actually provides a better lift than the older, traditional method.
Upper Eyelid Lift Combination
While some patients who require a brow lift may also be candidates for an upper eyelid lift, Dr. Boyd does not perform them at the same time. The process of lifting the brows improves low-hanging eyelid skin, which often makes tissue removal unnecessary. Simultaneous removal of eyelid skin can actually lead to difficulty with eye closure. Dr. Boyd occasionally recommends upper eyelid surgery (under local anesthesia) three months after the brow lift if your results need further refinement.
Lower Eyelid Lift Combination
If necessary, a lower eyelid lift can be performed at the same time as your brow lift. Adjusting the brows has little impact on the look of the lower lids, but if excess lower eyelid tissue is left untreated, many patients retain a puffy or tired appearance. Removing lower eyelid skin or repositioning under-eye fat can restore a brighter, refreshed appearance that complements your brow lift results.
Addressing Your Concerns
Recovery
You will experience some bruising and swelling around your brows and eyes. For a week following your procedure, you should rest with your head elevated to reduce swelling. Most patients return to work within a week and resume their normal activities within four weeks. Most swelling should have resolved after six weeks; at this time, your final results should be visible.
Scars
Endoscopic brow lifts are designed to minimize the potential for visible scarring and limit the numbness of the scalp that follows coronal brow lifting. Any scarring that does develop is likely to fade over time.
Cost
The cost of brow lift surgery varies from patient to patient. You will be provided an accurate quote during your consultation once you have been evaluated by Dr. Boyd.
Pain
Tightness around your incision site is common. Oral pain medication can be used to control any associated discomfort. Most pain or discomfort dissipates within a few days.
Before & After Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
The type of anesthesia used during brow lift surgery depends on personal preference and the extent of correction needed. Patients receiving minor correction can use local anesthesia; however, most patients prefer to have their surgery performed under general anesthesia.
Surgery will correct moderate to severe drooping of the forehead and brows. However, patients with only mild sagging might benefit from a non-surgical option, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic. BOTOX® Cosmetic weakens muscles that tend to pull the brows downward. With artful placement of the product, Dr. Boyd will endeavor to shape your brows in the most attractive way possible.
While brow lift surgery can provide many long years of facial correction, it does not prevent new signs of aging from forming. Protect your face from sun exposure by using sunscreen and avoiding direct sunlight. Additionally, avoid other harmful lifestyle choices like smoking. Utilizing regular non-surgical options, such as facial fillers or laser treatments, can also help maintain the quality of your results.