The forehead lift or brow lift is usually performed simultaneously with the facelift or it can be done alone. The procedure is aimed at raising the level of drooping eyebrows, which widens the eyes and gives a more pleasant and youthful appearance. An elegant, natural eye/eyebrow unit is the goal. The "surprised look" is avoided at all cost.
Drooping of the eyebrow, or hooding is frequently one of the first signs of aging. The condition is often overlooked because most people are unaware of the problem and the degree of improvement it's correction can provide. Drooping eyebrows give the appearance of being tired and angry. It also causes a redundancy of the upper eyelid. If you were to stand in front of a mirror and with your fingers raise each eyebrow simultaneously about 1/2 inch you would see the typical correction from a forehead lift. It would help open the eyes, remove the upper eyelid bagginess and also help remove the "crow's feet" wrinkles on the corners of each eye. Typically the vertical midline forehead wrinkle can be improved by this procedure as well.
The Forehead Lift Before and After
Coronal Forehead Lift
The oldest form of forehead lift. The incision is placed behind
the hairline and excess skin is excised. This procedure is good
for those patient’s with medium to low hairlines. The incision
is not at all visible, however, the brows are raised in the same shape
and configuration.
Pretrichial Forehead Lift
In this procedure the incision is placed at the hair line.
The scar eventually becomes hidden in the hair. This procedure
raises the brows and forehead as a unit; keeping the same general brow
shape and configuration and returning them to their original position
before gravity and stretching took place. The vertical midline
forehead crease is also easily addressed during the operation.
Advantages are a hidden scar, an improved forehead / brow complex and
no change in forehead height.
Endoscopic Forehead Lift
Using several small incisions, the scalp is mobilized ,“slid” back
and fixed into position. This procedure is desirable in those
patient’s with medium to low hairlines who have only a small amount
of brow laxity. The endoscopic forehead lift does raise the hairline
slightly but scars are well hidden.
Direct Brow Lift
This procedure raises the brows by making an incision in a horizontal
forehead wrinkle, and adjusting the brow to the exact position desired.
Usually performed on men whose wrinkles are prominent, this procedure
is indicated for some women who, for instance, have a high hairline,
or who have forehead lines and prefer this method. With a direct
brow lift there is less post-operative care, the procedure is less time
consuming and the brows can be set in the exact position desired. The
procedure has a very good result, however, it is not performed on those
who cannot tolerate a wound on the forehead. With a little patience,
most patients find that the forehead scars are imperceptible within
months and can be totally camouflaged with makeup.
Temporal Lift
Incisions are made in the temple areas behind the hairline in order
to raise the outer brow/forehead areas. The procedure is performed
under IV sedation and scars are well hidden. The temporal lift
is good for those patient’s with only limited brow droop.
Neither the direct brow lift nor the forehead lift will remove bulging
fat from the eyelids, nor will they totally correct deep lines already
present. A chemical peel or laser skin resurfacing may be necessary
to smooth these lines.
These procedures are often performed in conjunction
with blepharoplasty
or facelift surgeries.
