Brow Lift

Brow Lift

Brow Lift Fact Sheet

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Why a Brow Lift?

• Often with age, lines along the forehead can become obvious and permanent. A brow lift can help to restore a more youthful appearance to the area above the eyes
• Repositions a low or sagging brow that is hooding the upper eyelid
• If you have deep vertical furrows between the eyebrows (frown lines).
• Raises the eyebrows to a more alert and youthful position
• Many men have a brow lift to reduce the deep furrows that appear on the forehead that can make you look angry, tired or sad. It can give you a more youthful and alert appearance.

A brow lift is an individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself. Brow lift surgery is a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy
• You don’t smoke
• You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance

Pre operatively

At consultation you will discuss with your surgeon the operation, you will also be asked to sign a consent form. Your consent shows that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your consent for it to go ahead. There are risks involved in undergoing any surgery, and these will be explained in full by your consultant during your initial consultation. You may also have to hae blood test etc.

The operation

The surgeon will usually make an incision just behind the hairline, to minimise visible scarring, roughly from ear to ear. The skin will then be tightened to the required degree, and in some cases tissue, muscle and skin will be manipulated or removed. Once complete, the incision will be closed with stitching and then bandaged.

There are many ways a brow lift (or forehead lift) can be performed and your cosmetic surgeon will go through the options with you and assess which procedure is the most appropriate for you.

1) In a coronal brow lift, a cut is made across the top of your scalp and hidden by your hairline. The surgeon removes excess skin, shortens the muscles that cause frown lines and lifts your eyebrows.

2) In a different technique, the surgeon may use an endoscope for keyhole surgery. Tiny cuts are made in your hairline and the endoscope inserted to reduce the muscles that cause frown lines. This type of brow lift has the advantage of minimal scarring but fewer changes can be made.

The area will be tender for the first few days but should heal quickly and painkillers can help to relieve any discomfort.

The operation will usually take place under general anaesthetic, which means you will need to stay in hospital overnight. You should arrange to be off work for a week to allow the area to heal and to recover fully. The bandage should be ready to remove after a couple of days, and the area should be shampooed and washed gently to begin with. Your consultant will advise you regarding this before you leave hospital. Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least three weeks.

1 - Anaesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anaesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

2 - The incision

A brow lift may sometimes be performed using an endoscope (surgical video device, as discussed above) and special instruments placed through small incisions made within the hairline. This allows the tissue and muscle beneath the skin to be repositioned, altered or removed, correcting the source of visible creases and furrows in the forehead.

                         
Correction of a low-positioned or sagging brow may be made with or without the use of an endoscope through incisions at the temples and in the scalp.
This technique may be done in conjunction with incisions hidden within the natural crease of the upper eyelids to eliminate frown lines between the brows, on or above the bridge of the nose.

An alternative brow lift technique is the coronal brow lift. The coronal brow lift can pinpoint specific regions of the brow to correct.
This technique involves an incision from ear to ear, lifting the forehead and removing excess skin from the scalp.
Recovery time is often longer than the endoscopic brow lift due to the size of the incision.

                    
The incision lines from a brow lift are well concealed within the hair or natural contours of the face unless they are placed at the hairline to shorten the forehead.
Results appear gradually as swelling and bruising subside to reveal smoother forehead skin and a more youthful, restful appearance.

3 - Closing the incisions

Brow lift incisions typically are closed with:

• Removable or absorbable sutures
• Skin adhesives
• Surgical tape
• Special clips

 4 - The results

Brow elevation may be maintained by the use of:

• Permanent sutures
• Small surgical screws
• Absorbable fixation device placed inconspicuously at the temples

Initial wound healing may take 5 to 10 days, at which time any sutures or clips will be removed. You will be ready to return to work and normal activity at this time. Cosmetics can camouflage any bruising that remains.

Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling dissipates and incision lines refine and fade and it may take several months for your complete recovery.

Post Operatively

On discharge your head will be wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed on the first or second day after surgery.

Initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.

Sutures or staples are removed within 10 days.

Most swelling and bruising is gone in 7-10 days.

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another surgery may be necessary.
                                                                                                                                                                                      
The risks include:

•   Unfavourable scarring
•   Bleeding (hematoma)
•   Infection
•   Poor wound healing
•   Anaesthesia risks
•   Blood clots
•   Correctable hair loss at the incisions
•   Elevated hairline
•   Facial nerve injury with weakness or paralysis
•   Facial asymmetry
•   Skin loss
•   Numbness or other changes in skin sensation or intense itching
•   Changes in skin sensation
•   Eye irritation or dryness

Eyelid disorders that involve abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis), loose eyelid skin, or abnormal laxness of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can coexist with sagging forehead and eyebrow structures; brow lift surgery will not correct these disorders; additional surgery may be required

•   Fluid accumulation
•   Pain, which may persist
•   Skin contour irregularities
•   Skin discoloration and swelling
•   Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
•   Possibility of revisional surgery

OTHER OPTIONS
Additional procedures that may enhance the result are Lower and/or Upper Eyelid lift, Face Lift, or other facial procedures or implants.