Brow Lift

A brow lift is often referred to as a forehead lift or forehead rejuvenation, and is a cosmetic procedure intended to raise the brows, thus improving the appearance of the forehead and brow area. This is done by raising the soft tissue and skin of the brow and forehead.

The reason for this surgery is generally due to aging, as aging causes the brows to move down due to a loss of elasticity in the skin and soft tissue. This causes the distance between eyebrows and eyes to grow shorter. This can cause one’s appearance to seem tired or even angry. A brow lift can help restore a more pleasant and attractive appearance to the face.

Brow lifts are sometimes combined with other facial cosmetic procedures, including eyelid surgeries or a full face lift.

The Procedure

The procedure for a brow lift depends on the type of brow lift being implemented. There are different types of brow lifts, each with specific techniques that lead to different incisions.

Pretrichial Brow Lift: During a pretrichial or hairline brow lift an incision is made between the beginning of the hairline and top of the forehead. A small amount of skin and tissue is then removed from the top of the forehead, so that your hairline is not pulled back. This procedure is generally done for patients with a high forehead.
Coronal Brow Lift: Here, the surgeon will make an incision behind the hairline, from ear to ear across the top of your head. The forehead is then brought into its new position, and the scalp in front of the incision overlaps the scalp behind the incision. The part of the scalp that overlaps is removed, and the scalp is then sewn together.

Lateral Brow Lift: The lateral brow lift is for patients who need only a small lift of the lateral portion of the brow. In this case a smaller incision is made a couple centimeters behind the hairline in the lateral forehead/scalp region.

The Recovery

The surgeon may wrap a patient’s forehead after the procedure in order to minimize swelling to the area. Additionally, a tube may be placed in the incision site to drain excess fluid. Specific instructions will be given on how to properly recover after surgery.

During recovery the head should be elevated and rested, accompanied by pain medication recommended by the surgeon. Cold compresses can be used in order to relieve swelling to the area. Be sure to avoid any excessive pressure or motion of the incision area.

Numbness and itching may occur, but should lessen as the recovery time progresses. Incision bandages will generally be removed by the surgeon within a few days, and sutures will be removed from a week to ten days following surgery. Swelling may last several weeks.