Brow Lift

A forehead lift or eyebrow lift is a procedure that restores a younger, refreshed look to the area above the eyes. The cosmetic procedure corrects drooping brows and improves the horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired. In a forehead lift, the muscles and tissues that cause the furrowing or drooping are removed or altered to smooth the forehead, raise the eyebrows and minimize frown lines.

Quick Glance

Who Is A Browlift Candidate?

If your forehead sags or your brows hang too low and too close to the eyes. If you have deep vertical furrows between the eyebrows (frown lines).

Intended Results:

A more youthful and rested appearance to the forehead and upper eyelids.

Procedure Description

The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. The incisions are usually made behind the hairline. For patients with high foreheads, the incisions can be placed in front of the hairline. The forehead skin is lifted and repositioned. The muscles that cause frown lines are weakened. Endoscopic Brow Lifts are performed through limited scalp incisions when done as isolated procedures.

Browlift Recuperation And Healing:

The patient goes home with head 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.

Other Options:

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

NOTE:

The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.

No surgeries are performed without risks. Dr. Vu’s goal is to perform the planned procedure, take extra precaution during surgery, and most important of all is to be safe and yet achieve utmost optimal outcomes. Following are some of the potential risks that are commonly discussed about regarding your browlift surgery.

A. Loss of Sensation - The upper part of the forehead and the top of the head usually experience reduced or absent sensation for several months to a year (or even longer) after surgery. As the sensory nerves regenerate, patients normally experience tingling, shooting sensations, or itching. Massage usually relieves these symptoms.

B. Hair Loss - A few patients experience hair loss in front of the incisions. When it does occur, it usually lasts only several months, during which the hair follicles remain in a resting phase.

C. Itching - Areas of itching in the forehead or scalp may occur and be annoying for a few months. This will usually resolve with time.

D. Nerve Injury - Permanent motor nerve damage (loss of motion of one or both sides of the forehead) is possible, but unlikely. Some weakness of one or both sides of the forehead can occur after surgery. In this occurrence, partial or complete improvement usually occurs after several months or a year or more.

E. Asymmetry - Please realize that everyone’s face is uneven from side to side. This will not be changed by this surgery. Preoperative differences in the appearance of your eyebrows will usually not be corrected by a brow lift. Small height differences between the two brows may be corrected.

F. Contour abnormalities - Partial removal of the muscles that cause frowning or forehead wrinkling may leave small skin depressions. This is not common, and if it occurs, is mild.

Special attentions are placed during your postoperative period. Dr. Vu’s goal is to make sure that you are comfortable after you leave the surgery center, and have proper instructions how to take care of yourself in order for you to have a pleasant surgical experience.

A. Shampoo - You may shampoo your hair as soon as 24 hours after surgery. Because of the decreased sensation that often occurs in this area, use warm rather than hot water, and gently use your fingertips. You may touch the staples, but do not pull or remove them. If you use a hair dryer, use the lowest heat setting.

B. Dressings - A nurse or Dr. Vu will remove your dressings the day after surgery.

C. Position - Keeping the head elevated helps reduce swelling and discomfort.

D. Sutures - Dr. Vu will remove the sutures or staples approximately one week after surgery.

E. Exposure to Sunlight - If you have thin hair, protect your scar from sun exposure for at least 6 months after surgery. Remember to wear a hat or sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 whenever you go outside.

F. Bruising and Swelling - If postoperative oozing occurs under your forehead flap, some swelling and bruising may develop in the upper eyelids or around the eyes. This will usually resolve within 2 weeks.

G. Numbness - Beware of bumping your head. The decreased sensation that often occurs in this area may make you temporarily unaware of an injury.

H. Activities - You may return to work as soon as you feel comfortable doing so (usually anywhere from 3 to 7 days after surgery). DO NOT DO ANY STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OR AEROBIC EXERCISE FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY. Strenuous activities can cause bleeding and swelling for longer periods than you realize.