As an individual ages, they often begin to feel as though they look older and tired around their eyes. While some areas of the face will begin to droop, the upper face, specifically, plays a big role in the way a person looks and feels.
Our Atlanta plastic surgeons, Dr. Connors and Dr. Hart, offer several brow lift techniques to Atlanta patients that can help lift the eyebrows and forehead, providing periorbital rejuvenation and often resulting in a more alert and awakened look. In addition, the surgery can smooth forehead lines and loose skin around the eyes. Our surgeons will determine which brow lift technique will best meet your aesthetic goals.
- Recovery Time: One to two weeks
- Procedure Recovery Location: Outpatient
Brow Lift Surgery vs. Facelift Surgery
Many times, the effects of aging take place in the forehead region alone. If wrinkles, loose skin, and sagging eyebrows exist on the forehead, then a brow lift or forehead lift may be sufficient. For drooping jowls and wrinkles along the lower area of the face, then another procedure such as a full facelift may be worth consideration. Sometimes these procedures can be combined for maximum results. We can discuss your goals in further detail during your initial consultation.
How Is A Brow Lift Performed?
There are several techniques that can be considered during a brow lift procedure. Some of the approaches are interchangeable with a forehead lift, but may be used to achieve different objectives.
Eyebrow Incision
Also known as a “direct brow lift,” this approach places the incision in the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Depending on the structure of the brow, an incision can also be made at the brow hairline to complete this process. Weak and sagging skin and tissue will be lifted and reattached to the brow bone. This approach generally does not affect the forehead and works to treat a sagging eyebrow and eyelid.
Endoscopic Brow Lift
This approach can provide a subtle change in the position of the eyebrows. It uses several small incisions (one inch or smaller) near the hairline where an endoscope (specialized camera) is placed, and surgical tools are used to elevate the eyebrows. The stitches are located inside the incision to help minimize scarring. While this technique is a common approach, sometimes the results can be unpredictable.
Coronal Brow Lift
This approach places the incision lines several inches above the hairline of the head. These incisions are typically long, yet still hidden by the patient’s hair. This technique can reposition the eyebrows by pulling them up to offer an alert and revitalized appearance. Sometimes hair will need to be removed during the incision closure process where the skin is reattached. This particular approach often offers dramatic results, and in most cases, actually repositions the hairline higher.
Lateral Brow Lift
Sometimes called a “mini” or “temporal” brow lift,* this method involves the placement of a small incision hidden within the lateral hairline. It was designed to reposition the lateral brow, improve the arch of the brow, and make the brow look more revitalized and youthful. A lateral brow lift is
generally considered a less invasive technique and often requires a shorter recovery time.
While a brow lift can produce results that allow patients to appear more awake and alert, the results are often subtle. An experienced surgeon will work within the confines of a patient’s facial structure and skin tone to create natural results that avoid a wide-eyed or hyper-alert appearance.
What Does Brow Lift Recovery Entail?
Patients can generally return to work and resume normal activities within a few days following surgery. Patients may feel that their new facial structure is not as symmetrical as it should be, nor how they anticipated. This is a common anxiety. Facial features will settle and take on a natural look within a few weeks. It may take several months for the optimal surgical results to take effect.
Does Brow Lift Surgery Cause Scarring?
The incisions made during a brow lift procedure are usually well-concealed once they heal. Whether they are placed in the hairline or brow line, every effort is made to keep the incisions along natural folds and hairlines so they are not visible after surgery.
Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives to Brow Lift Surgery?
In many cases, BOTOX® Cosmetic can be a great non-surgical option that can reduce wrinkles and fine lines of the forehead. However, it will not lift the forehead or improve sagging and drooping features if they exist. Patients who are contemplating surgery may want to try BOTOX® Cosmetic first and see if the results satisfy their aesthetic goals. If BOTOX® Cosmetic proves ineffective, then a brow lift will probably help in this area.
To learn more about brow lift surgery, schedule a consultation with Plastic Surgery Group of Atlanta today.
