A forehead lift or browlift can be performed with or without a cheek lift. It rejuvenates the upper face for a more youthful, refreshed look to forehead and eyes. A browlift corrects sagging of the eyebrows, restores the elegant lateral lift shape of the eyebrow, softens horizontal creases across the forehead and erases the worried or angry expression that can result from frown lines.
Though skin on the brows can be tightened by a browlift, it doesn’t change skin texture. If you have sun damage, wrinkles of the lower face, irregularities in skin color, acne scars or age spots, you may want to consider skin-resurfacing procedures in combination with a browlift to improve the skin.
A browlift can be done in combination with other facial cosmetic procedures, such as eyelid surgery or a facelift, to give a more balanced, natural rejuvenation.
These conditions might indicate that browlift surgery is right for you:
Men or women with deep forehead creases, drooping eyebrows or furrows that make them look sad, tired or angry will greatly benefit from a browlift. Patients are usually between the ages of thirty and sixty but there is no age limit.
Men or women who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone surgery, as weight loss can drastically change the appearance of the face. As with any procedure, patients are better candidates if they are near their goal weight.
A browlift is usually performed with an endoscope, the least invasive technique available. The browlift may be modified to include an upper cheek lift which augments the cheekbone area and corrects hollows that occur with aging in the lower eyelid. This procedure is called the Temporal Brow Midface Lift. Upper or lower blepharoplasty or traditional facelifting can be combined with forehead lifting for a balanced, total facial rejuvenation. The procedure usually takes one to two hours but varies depending on the extent of work required.
There are just a few very small incisions which allows scars to remain concealed in the scalp.
There are nonsurgical options as well. The amount of brow lifting achieved with Profound, AccuTite, Morpheus8, Emface, Exion and temporal placement of injectables like Sculptra give as much brow elevation as surgery, without the need for surgery or anesthesia.
Dr. Samuels and her office staff will give you specific instructions regarding surgical preparation. This includes medications to avoid and recommendations of eating, drinking and smoking.
If you smoke, be prepared to quit 6 weeks prior to your surgery and not resume for at least 6 weeks after surgery.
The surgery is done on an outpatient basis under either IV sedation or a light general anesthetic.. Patients should arrange for someone to drive them home after surgery and assist them in the immediate recovery period, which averages 7-10 days.
Dr. Samuels operates in her own fully Quad A accredited in-suite surgical facility. Patients who stay overnight in our facility are cared for by our private-duty nurse.
Coronal (Open) Browlift
Many patients who have extensive drooping in the brow and upper eyelid prefer the coronal brow lift, which allows for a better lift and wrinkle treatment. A single incision is made across the top of the scalp at or behind the hairline. Dr. Samuels then manipulates tissue, muscle and skin to create a more youthful appearance of the upper face.
The coronal browlift incision is designed so scars are inconspicuous or hidden behind the hairline when healed. However, due to the larger size of the incision, there may be a longer recovery time.
Endoscopic Browlift
This is a less invasive alternative to the open browlift. It’s often preferred for younger patients with mild drooping and wrinkling in the brow area.
During an endoscopic browlift, Dr. Samuels accesses the brow area with a thin flexible scope through several small incisions in the scalp. The attached light and video camera allows Dr. Samuels to see and work on various internal structures of the forehead and brow to create a more youthful-looking appearance to the upper face.
Patients may have headaches, swelling, bruising, numbness or tingling during the immediate recovery period, which is 7-10 days.
You will have staples and sutures placed in the hairline, which are removed 10-14 days post-op. A head dressing is placed immediately after surgery. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, with an office visit the day after surgery to remove the head dressing.
It may take patients weeks to feel like themselves again. Most people return to work after one week (this doesn’t include jobs with large amounts of physical activity). Exercise may be performed after 4 weeks, but strenuous exercise should be postponed for 6 weeks.
The scars take approximately three months to fade and flatten out. While they never completely disappear, they remain hidden in the hairline.
Dr. Samuels offers non-invasive or minimally invasive energy devices that can approach the results of a surgical browlift. Utilizing devices such as Profound, Morpheus8, Emface, and Exion microneedling with radio-frequency heat energy creates a very aesthetic brow, especially in conjunction with injectable therapies, laser treatments and injectables such as Botox.
During your consultation, Dr. Samuels and her staff will discuss less invasive options and combinations of options to add to or replace a surgical browlift.
Learn more about your options:
For more information about forehead lift or to see if you’re a good candidate for this procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Samuels at 502-897-9411.
Our practice serves Louisville, KY and the surrounding areas.
