Eyebrow Lift
Eyebrow Lift
Eyebrow lift, or forehead lift, is an operation which aims to elevate the position of the eyebrow thus reducing the weight on the upper eyelids and giving a fresh look to the face.
With age the outer aspects of the brow droop.
This distorts the normal flare of the brow line, which can purvey tiredness, sternness or even anger. To compensate, patients’ raise their brow by contracting forehead muscles, accentuating forehead wrinkles.
Most patients focus their attention on their eyelids and fail to realise that their brow position can be the primary cause of their aged appearance. Combining a brow lift with blepharoplasty may optimise the rejuvenating effect of surgery.
How is an eyebrow lift performed?
Historically, a brow-lift was performed as an open procedure, through a long incision in the hair. With advances in endoscopic surgery technology plastic surgeons can perform the operation through five small incisions hidden in the hair bearing scalp.
Through these ports the forehead skin and muscle is delicately lifted away from the scalp. Elevation of the “freed-up” scalp at defined points raises and reshapes the brow. The position is maintained by hitching the forehead up onto specially designed surgical tacks that are fixed to the skull.
The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic and takes up to 90 minutes.
What to look for:
- A flat brow line
- A hooded brow
- Descent of eyelid skin
- Loss of the field of vision
- A stern or angry gaze
- Increase contraction of the forehead
- Forehead wrinkles
Solutions
The judicious use of botox may effect a lift of the brow whilst at the same time act to reshape its profile. In more severe cases a brow lift can be considered. This can be performed instead of an upper lid blepharoplasty or the two operations can be combined where needed.
Recovery after an eyebrow lift
After surgery you will recover in hospital. A bandage is applied to the forehead to reduce the risk of a haematoma forming after surgery. This will be removed before you are discharged.
You may experience a headache which should settle within a day or so.
Once discharged we ask that you rest at home, sleeping with two or three pillows and avoiding bending down or straining. Sutures are removed at your first follow appointment, 10 days after your surgery.
At this stage expect some swelling and bruising but you will feel comfortable enough to be with close friends and family. Over the course of the next two to three weeks much of the swelling will reduce and by the 6th week of surgery you should be able to return to strenuous exercise.
By the third month you will start to appreciate the results of the surgery. Scars take upto 12 to 18 months to fade. The tacks take several months to resorb and therefore you will be able to feel these as lumps beneath your brow line.
Risks of an eyebrow lift
An EndoBrow lift does cause permanent scarring but this is concealed within the hairline but the scars themselves will not bear hear.
Expect temporary bruising and swelling. Complications of a Browlift includes bleeding, under / over correction, infection, asymmetry, adverse scarring, prolonged numbness, nerve damage, alopecia, haematoma.
