Brow Lift

A brow lift surgery, also called a forehead lift, is a facial rejuvenation surgery that is used to improve the upper part of the face by elevating low or sagging brows and repositioning the skin and tissues of the forehead. It is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures to restore the youthfulness of the face and alleviate signs of aging. A Forehead lift improves sagging skin of the brows and forehead, fine lines and wrinkles, frown lines, and craw’s feet.

When you decide to have brow lift surgery your surgeon will give you some instructions to prepare for the surgery and have a successful operation. To have better results from brow lift surgery you should:

• Avoid smoking for 2 to 4 weeks before the surgery
• Stop consuming alcoholic beverages for at least a week before the surgery
• Tell your surgeon about any medications and supplements, especially blood thinners, you are taking, and ask him/her if you need to stop them
• Avoid getting sunburns by using good sunscreen when you go out
• Have a healthy diet
• Arrange for someone to drive you after the surgery
• Avoid eating or drinking anything 12 hours before the surgery 

A brow lift surgery can be done with general anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation in a clinic or hospital. If it’s done with general anesthesia you will be totally unconscious throughout the operation and if local anesthesia and sedation (also called twilight anesthesia) is used you will not be unconscious but you will be in a relaxed, drowsy state and won’t feel anything while the surgeon is carrying out the operation.

A forehead lift is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require the patient to stay in the hospital overnight. It usually takes from 1 to 2 hours based on the technique the surgeon uses.

A surgeon performs a brow lift by making one or more incisions within the hairline or scalp, and sometimes in the forehead, and adjusting the tissues and muscles to improve the appearance of the forehead and brows area. After making the necessary changes, the surgeon closes the incision with sutures or adhesive tapes. There are different types of incisions surgeons use for forehead lift surgery and this is what different types of brow lifts are distinguished by.

There are several techniques and methods for brow lift surgery. They are different mainly in the type of incision that is made to perform the surgery. The one your surgeon will use depends on several factors such as your facial features and your preferences.

Open brow lift surgery

The classic brow lift, often known as an open brow lift or coronal brow lift, is the oldest forehead lift technique in which the surgeon makes a continuous incision from ear to ear across the top of the head or hairline. Open brow lift surgery is best suited for patients with small foreheads. As the incision is long and covers the entire hairline, a coronal forehead lift produces dramatic changes. However, it involves the most scarring compared to other methods, which is a reason some surgeons and patients opt for other techniques.

Trichophytic brow lift

In this type of forehead lift surgery, the surgeon will make a small incision across the hairline to remove some of the skin of the forehead and pull the rest of the skin upward to tighten it. This type of forehead lift is preferred for patients who have a high hairline and those who do not want to lift their eyebrows too much.

Endoscopic brow lift

The endoscopic brow lift is a minimally invasive technique in which a few small cuts are made above the hairline, through which a camera and surgical instruments are inserted to see the underlying tissues and reposition them. Endoscopic forehead lift has a fast and less painful recovery and minimum bruising and scarring.

Temporal brow lift

A temporal brow lift, also called a lateral brow lift, involves making small incisions at the upper corners of the forehead (temples) in the hairline and is used to raise the outer ends of the eyebrow. A temporal forehead lift does not lift the entire brows but targets only the lateral portion of them, improving the droopiness of the lateral one-third of the brows and wrinkles at the corners of the eyes (craw’s feet).

Brow lift surgery is usually a safe procedure, but you should know that there is always a possibility to have some side effects or complications. Brow lift surgery side effects usually last for a short period and may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Itchy scalp
• Reaction to anesthesia
• Skin loss near the incision
• Visible scars
• Persistent pain
• Nerve damage 
• Facial asymmetry

The cost of brow lift surgery can vary dramatically depending on several factors. It can be also different from one country to another. For example, the price range of brow lift surgery in the United States of America is between $2,000 and $8,000. In the United Kingdom, It can cost from $4,000 to about $7,500.

The prices in some countries like Iran and turkey can be lower. In Turkey, the forehead prices range from $1,700 to $4,500, and in Iran, they range from $1,500 to $2,000.

The recovery period after brow lift surgery is different for each technique. In general, it may take from 10 to 14 days for your forehead to heal. During the first two days following the surgery, you will need to remain in bed and have complete rest. The doctor may recommend lying on your back with your head elevated.

During the first week, you will still have some bruising and swelling. You are usually permitted to wash your hair and have a bath after the third day (it is better to consult with your surgeon before doing so). At the end of the first week, you may have to go to the surgeon to get the stitches removed, unless dissolvable stitches are used.

After a few weeks, you will be able to return to your normal routine and resume your regular activities. After 6 to 8 weeks, you will see the final results of the surgery. 

Caring for your incisions after a forehead lift is important for a fast and healthy recovery. You need to take good care of yourself to improve your healing and have better results. Your surgeon may give you some post-op instructions like:

• Keep your head elevated for at least 48 hours after surgery while sleeping
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking for 3 to 6 weeks
• Avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise
• Apply cold compresses to the swollen area to minimize swelling
• Avoid sun exposure for about 6 weeks after the surgery
• Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor
• Avoid wearing make-up for a week following the surgery 

Will forehead lift cause hair loss?

You may notice some hair falling near the incision after a forehead lift. This is usually temporary and your hair will grow back in a few weeks but may take longer in some cases. It is possible to have permanent hair loss after brow lift surgery, however, this is very rare.

Should I have a brow lift or eyelid surgery?

If you have droopy or puffy eyelids, eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is best for you but if you have sagging eyebrows or hooded eyes, brow lift surgery is the right choice for you.

Is brow lift surgery painful?

As you are under anesthesia during a forehead lift surgery, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. But after the surgery, you may feel mild pain and discomfort in the first few days, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain killers.

Will brow lift surgery leave scars?

As brow lifts involve incisions, they will leave scars. However, the visibility of forehead lift surgery depends on different factors, including the size and place of incisions, your hair thickness, and your wound healing quality. A well-trained surgeon will try to make the incisions well within your hairline to hide the scar as much as possible. Be sure to ask your surgeon about this before your surgery. Moreover, avoiding smoking and exposure to sun rays for a few weeks following the surgery can help the wound heal better and make the scar less noticeable.

Is a brow lift permanent?

The results of brow lift surgery are long-lasting or permanent. However, this does not mean that the surgery will stop the aging process. Your skin will always get new wrinkles as you age and it is impossible to stop that altogether.