Overhanging or low brows gives the undesirable look that you are angry or exhausted. To address this, brow lift surgery restores the youthful shape and lift to your eyebrows in a minimally invasive manner. This procedure, also sometimes called a forehead lift, refreshes the look of your face. As an added benefit, the scars are neatly concealed in your hairline.
Sometimes a brow lift procedure is done in combination with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Doing so maintains the facial balance or harmony between your forehead and your eyes.
How Do I Know Which Type of Browlift is Right for Me?
There are three main types of brow lift procedures, each with its own approach and recovery process. Here’s a brief overview of each:
- Open Brow Lift: This powerful technique involves making an incision across the upper scalp. The scar is typically hidden at the hairline. Dr. Tannan will then reposition the forehead skin and tissues to lift the brows and forehead. Any excess skin will be removed along the line where your forehead meets your hairline. Then the incision is closed with sutures that are removed 10 days after the procedure. This procedure maximizes brow elevation and removes wrinkled skin of the forehead, shortening a receding hairline and feminizing the face.
- Endoscopic Browlift: This minimally invasive procedure involves making a three- to five-inch-long incisions behind the hairline. An endoscope, a thin, lighted tube with a camera, is inserted through the incisions to visualize the underlying tissues. The surgeon will use the endoscope to lift and reposition the brows and forehead tissues. This approach does not involve removing skin, and it pulls the hairline farther back. The endoscopic browlift is limited in how much it can elevate the brow.
- Temporal Brow Lift: This technique is similar to an Open Brow Lift in that involves making incisions at the temporal hairline on each side of the head. Dr. Tannan lifts the skin along the temples and brows to elevate the outer (lateral) brow and remove excess skin. The incisions are then closed with sutures. This procedure does not elevate the inner eyebrow, it only elevates that lateral, outer eyebrow. While the Open Brow Lift scar goes from side to side across the front of the hairline, the Temporal Brow Lift involves two separate scars that are at the hairline along the temples and they don’t meet in the middle.
Depending on the patient and her needs, Dr. Tannan offers a blepharoplasty, or upper eyelid lift if there is extra eyelid skin in addition to droopy eyebrows. During your consultation, we discuss the differences between the two procedures as they pertain to you and determine which is appropriate. The brows can sometimes contribute to eyelid ptosis or sagging eyelids. Based on the amount of correction required, a simultaneous blepharoplasty with the brow lift is sometimes indicated.
Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Shruti Tannan performed a Brow Lift and Upper Blepharoplasty on this 60-yr-old patient. Take note of the scars expertly hidden in the hairline and along the upper eyelid crease.
What is the Recovery Like After a Browlift Procedure?
Recovery from a brow lift procedure varies based on the approach. In general, expect 2-4 weeks of limited activity, after which you can increase your activity level.
Here’s what you can expect during the recovery process for a natural-looking brow lift:
- Swelling and Bruising: Swelling and bruising are common after a brow lift, typically around the brows, forehead, and eyelids. This usually peaks within the first 24-48 hours and gradually subsides over the next two weeks.
- Pain: You may experience some discomfort or pain after surgery, which can be managed with pain medication prescribed by your surgeon.
- Numbness: It is common to experience temporary numbness in the forehead and scalp after surgery. This numbness usually improves over several weeks as the nerves regenerate.
- Bandages: Your surgeon will likely place bandages on the incision sites. These bandages are typically removed within a day or two after surgery and can be swapped out for more fashion-forward bands for the next two weeks.
- Returning to work: You can typically return to work within a week to ten days after surgery, depending on your job and the type of brow lift procedure you had.
- Strenuous Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for at least four to six weeks after surgery to allow for proper healing.
- Sun exposure: Sun exposure can worsen scarring. Be sure to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher after surgery, especially when outdoors. At Tannan Plastic Surgery you will be provided with a silicone scar cream to minimize scar formation and optimize your outcome.
Here are some additional tips to promote a natural-looking brow lift recovery:
- Apply cold compresses to the surgical area to reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Elevate your head during sleep to minimize swelling.
- Follow your surgeon’s instructions for showering and washing your incisions.
- Maintain a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids to promote healing.
- Get plenty of rest.
By following these tips, you can help ensure a smooth and natural-looking brow lift recovery.
Remember, these are general guidelines, and the recovery process can vary depending on the individual and the type of brow lift procedure performed. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s specific instructions for optimal results.
How Much Does a Brow Lift Cost?
We go over pricing for brow lift surgery with you during the consultation. In the meantime, visit our Plastic Surgery Cost Calculator to find the average cost for brow lift and other popular cosmetic surgery procedures.
