Due to gravity and the natural aging process, our forehead and eyebrows can lose elasticity and begin to droop down towards the eyes over time. This can create a heavy and tired look. To address these age-related concerns, brow lift surgery is recommended to tighten the forehead skin and reposition the brows to a more youthful location. The procedure can also smooth wrinkles on the forehead for a more rejuvenated appearance. Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Emily Hrisomalos, has many years of experience performing brow lift procedures and customizing treatment plans in a way that is most beneficial for the patient and their cosmetic goals.
What Are the Benefits of a Brow Lift?
A brow lift can provide dramatic, long-lasting benefits by reducing facial creases and eliminating sagging or drooping skin above the eyebrows. By tightening the forehead skin and lifting the deep tissues, the brows can be restored back to a higher and more youthful position. This often also indirectly improves the appearance of the upper eyelids. Dr. Hrisomalos uses only the latest cosmetic surgery techniques to make sure that the results remain natural-looking and nicely compliment the other facial features. Brow lift surgery is most often performed endoscopically, however in certain cases other techniques may be optimal depending on each patient’s unique anatomy and goals. Other types of brow lifting performed by Dr. Hrisomalos may involve incisions directly above the eyebrows (direct brow lift), within creases on the forehead (indirect brow lift), or just in front of the hairline (trichophytic brow lift). These each have unique benefits and some are preferable and individualized for patients based on their hairline (or lack thereof!), the degree of lift desired, or in the presence of brow asymmetries. If there are deep wrinkles or lines on the forehead, brow lifting is often combined with use of non-surgical procedures like neurotoxins (such as Botox® or Dysport®) and/or laser treatments for skin resurfacing.
Who Is a Good Brow Lift Candidate?
Generally, good candidates for a brow lift have brows that have descended or become ptotic with age and time, which can give a tired or angry appearance. This can also make the eyes look smaller and often patients raise their eyebrows throughout the day to compensate for this heaviness. This constant raising of the brows can create unwanted lines on the forehead as well. During your consultation, Dr. Emily Hrisomalos will perform a detailed examination of the brows, forehead, and eyelids in order to determine whether a brow lift is the best procedure for you to achieve your desired goals.
How Is an Endoscopic Brow Lift Performed?
The patient is given anesthesia before the procedure begins to ensure that the surgery is as comfortable as possible. Sedation or general anesthesia is recommended. Dr. Hrisomalos most often uses the endoscopic approach for brow lift surgery, meaning that she uses an endoscope (a thin telescope with a camera) and other special equipment during the surgery to visualize the deep tissues while minimizing the length of incisions. Dr. Hrisomalos carefully makes small incisions within the hairline and gently elevates the brow tissue through those incisions under endoscopic visualization. She pays special attention to the tissues, muscles, and ligaments beneath the skin to achieve the desired result. After the necessary changes have been made and the deep tissues are anchored in place, Dr. Hrisomalos closes the incisions meticulously.
“I am so glad I chose Dr. Hrisomalos to be my surgeon! She is so kind and truly cares about her patients. She is extremely talented and I could not be happier with my results. I feel so much better about myself thanks to her! I would 100% recommend her to anyone looking for a great facial plastic surgeon.”
What Is Recovery from a Brow Lift Like?
There will initially be a head-wrap in place during the first few days after surgery. This is important to seal and stabilize the tissues as well as to protect the area during the early phases of healing. It generally takes about 2 weeks for the majority of swelling and bruising to resolve, and patients are generally feeling well enough to go back to work around this time (10-14 days). It is important to keep in mind that there will still be a degree of swelling and often numbness present by the 2-week point, and all patients heal at different rates. We recommend keeping the head elevated as much as possible, including at nighttime, along with the use of cold compresses during the first week of recovery. These strategies help in significantly increasing the resolution of swelling and rate of recovery. “Social” recovery is unique to each patient and when they feel most comfortable going out in public. Makeup can often cover up bruising, and Dr. Hrisomalos will let patients know when it is okay to apply cosmetic products. In order for recovery to be as quick, comfortable, and successful as possible, it is important for brow lift patients to carefully follow the post-surgical instructions that Dr. Hrisomalos provides them.
What Can I Expect From My Brow Lift Results?
Brow lift results can vary depending on each patient’s unique anatomy, goals, and overall facial structure. Unique features and characteristics that can affect outcomes include gender, age, ethnicity, prior trauma or scar tissue, bony structure of the forehead and orbits, strength and thickness of muscles in the area, position of the hairline and/or lack of hairline (alopecia), as well as thickness of the scalp. The goal is to achieve a rested and rejuvenated result without being “overdone” or unnatural in appearance. Sometimes lifting is very slightly over-corrected to allow for settling into the proper position with time.
How Long Do the Results of a Brow Lift Last?
When performed by an experienced surgeon, the results of brow lifting should be long-lasting. Of course, this rejuvenation procedure resets the clock, however, aging will continue to occur, and decreases in collagen along with continued aging and time will eventually lead to the descent of the tissues, as is the case with any surgery that “lifts.” Dr. Hrisomalos chooses the techniques she uses for their safety, longevity, and natural outcomes and the procedure is customized to each patient. Following the post-procedure care instructions provided by Dr. Hrisomalos is the best way to support a proper recovery and ensure the most successful long-term brow lift outcomes.
Will I Have Brow Lift Scars?
Typically, with an endoscopic brow lift (the surgical approach most often used by Dr. Hrisomalos), the procedure leads to very little noticeable scarring, as these are placed behind the hairline and are hidden well. During the procedure, a few small incisions are meticulously placed in discreet locations in the scalp. Upon healing, the residual scars should gradually fade and become virtually undetectable.
How Much Does a Brow Lift Cost?
The price of a brow lift varies depending on the patient’s unique treatment plan, which includes surgery, anesthesia fees, facility fees, and all post-operative follow-up appointments. There are many factors that can influence the full price of a brow lift, including:
- Complexity of treatment
- Surgeon’s fee
- Anesthesiologist’s fee
- Surgical facility fee
- Post-operative medications
During your consultation, a member of our team will provide an accurate price quote and go over available financing options that work best for your budget. Browlift surgery is considered cosmetic and is typically not covered by medical insurance.
Brow Lifting can provide a variety of aesthetic and functional benefits and can be truly life-changing. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hrisomalos, please contact us today.
Can I Get a Non-Surgical Brow Lift?
While a surgical brow lift is the optimal way to achieve the most personalized, natural-looking, and long-lasting results, there are non-surgical options that can produce benefits for qualified patients. For example, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections may be able to help to soften the appearance of creases, lines, and wrinkles in the forehead, reduce frown lines between the eyebrows, and modestly raise the lateral brows to open the eye area for a more refreshed aesthetic. However, if patients have excess tissue on the forehead, the upper eyelids may actually become heavier after BOTOX® Cosmetic injections as the brow tissue relaxes and descends. Additionally, for patients that have more advanced changes including skin laxity and significant drooping of the brows, appreciable improvement cannot be addressed with injectables alone. When used in appropriate candidates, BOTOX® Cosmetic is naturally metabolized by the body over three to four months, at which point touch-up appointments will need to be scheduled to maintain the results.
Overall, while neurotoxin injections such as BOTOX® Cosmetic may be temporarily effective in achieving a subtle lift, improvements achieved through a surgical brow lift are considered to be significantly more effective and long-lasting. Consultations with Dr. Hrisomalos include a detailed discussion of your cosmetic concerns through which a treatment plan will be developed including surgical and non-surgical options, and possibly a combination of both.
If you are interested in learning more about brow lift surgery, or would like to schedule a consultation with our experienced facial plastic surgeon, please contact us today.