A brow or forehead lift is a procedure that corrects drooping brows, and improves the horizontal lines and deep wrinkles that can make a person appear angry, sad, or tired. In this procedure, the muscles and tissues that cause the furrowing and drooping are removed or altered. This allows the eyebrows to rise, the forehead skin to become smoother, and the frown lines to be minimized.
Types of Brow Lifting:
- Complete Incision
- Partial (temporal) Incision
- Suspension (no incision in hair)
The Best Candidates for a Brow / Forehead Lift
A forehead lift can help people of any age who have developed furrows, deep wrinkles, or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity. Individuals with inherited conditions such as low, heavy brows or furrowed lines above the nose can achieve a more alert and refreshed look with this procedure.
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| Brow / Forehead lift before and after. Results may vary. |
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| Brow / Forehead lift before and after. Results may vary. Click to see more before and after pictures. |
A brow lift is often performed with a facelift to provide an overall smoother look to the face. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can also be performed at the same time as a forehead lift, especially if a patient has significant skin overhanging the upper eyelids. Sometimes patients, who believe that they need upper eyelid surgery, find that a forehead lift better meets their surgical goals.
Patients who are bald, have a receding hairline, or who have had previous upper-eyelid surgery may still be good candidates for a forehead lift. Dr. Ciano can alter the incision location or perform a more conservative operation, in these cases.
The Surgery
The forehead lift, for most patients, has a coronal incision. It follows a headphone-like pattern, starting at approximately ear level and runs across the top of the head and down the other side. The incision is usually made behind the hairline, so the scar will be concealed.
In mild cases of drooping brows, or in patients who want to avoid any scalp incisions, a new technique of suspending the brow through the upper eyelid incision (as in a blepharoplasty) can be used. This brow suspension procedure is less invasive, and may postpone the more involved surgeries.
Anesthesia
In the vast majority of cases it is not necessary to use a general anesthesia. We use a conscious sedation (a type of twilight sedation) whereby you are up and ready to go home after your procedure.
After Your Surgery
You may experience temporary discomfort around the incision; it can be controlled with prescription medication. You will need to keep your head elevated, for two to three days following surgery, to minimize swelling. While swelling may, also, affect the cheeks and eyes, it should begin to disappear within a week, and most patients will be able to drive short distances, and perform light activities at that time.
Dressings will be removed a day or two after surgery, and most stitches or clips will be removed within two weeks.
Getting Back to Normal
Although you should be up and about, in a day or two, plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. You should be able to shower and shampoo your hair after two days, or as soon as the dressing is removed. As the nerves heal, there may be some temporary numbness, followed by itching, on the top of the scalp. These sensations may take as long as six months to fully disappear.
Most patients are back to work or school in seven to ten days. Vigorous physical activity should be limited for several weeks, including jogging, bending, heavy housework, sex or any activity that increases blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to heat or sun should be avoided for several months.
For more information and to schedule a free consultation, call us at (503) 697 9777 or Request Information.
Dr. Jerry Darm is the medical director of Aesthetic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Aesthetic Medicine is federally-accredited facility by the Institute for Medical Quality and BBB accredited business with A+ rating.
