Browlift
The browlift, also known as a forehead lift, elevates the eyebrows and lifts the heaviness from the upper eyelids, providing a more open appearance of the eyes. In reality, however, the actual opening between the eyelids has not changed. This procedure is performed in situations where patients may have a severe or tired appearance around their eyes. Patients may also present with significant, deep creases across the forehead caused by the attempt to constantly hold the brows in an elevated position. Normally, the eyebrow should sit at or just above the bony orbital rim. This procedure restores that normal anatomy.
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Age: 56yo
Procedure: Anterior hairline browlift, lower eyelid midface lift, facelift
Time after surgery: 10 months |
Surgery
There are several techniques for brow lift. The first is endoscopic. Six one inch incisions are made within the scalp (all within the hairline). A camera the size of a pencil, called an endoscope, is placed through one of these incisions and instrumentation through others. This enables the surgeon to elevate the forehead skin, release the eyebrows, and remove some of the muscles which contribute to the frown lines between the brows. The forehead skin and eyebrows are allowed to slide to a higher position and are then reattached. Often screws are placed temporarily to assist in this attachment.
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Age: 48yo
Procedure: Endoscopic Browlift
Time after surgery: 7.5 months |
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The other methods are termed open techniques. A coronal browlift involves making an incision (cut) in the scalp from the top of one ear across to the top of the opposite ear. The scalp and forehead skin are then lifted, the brows released from behind, and then elevated to a more anatomic location. In this case, the excess scalp is excised (removed) to maintain this elevation.
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Age: 49yo
Procedure: Coronal Browlift, S-lift, Lower Lid and Perioral Laser Resurfacing with Derma K
Time after Surgery: 1 month |
 An anterior hairline browlift is utilized in cases where a patient has a high forehead and the goal is to avoid raising the hairline further at the time of raising the brows. There is a rule of thirds.
The face is divided into thirds. The bottom 1/3 is from the chin to the base of the nose. The middle 1/3 is from the base of the nose to the space between the eyebrows. The top 1/3 is from the space between the eyebrows to the hairline. In cases where one has a high forehead, this top 1/3 measures greater than one third of the total length of the face. With the anterior hairline approach, the brows are elevated and the excess forehead skin is excised (removed) while at the same time bringing the hairline forward to bring the face into better proportion.
The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis with general anesthesia. Upon completion of the procedure, a bulky dressing is applied.
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Age: 46yo
Procedure: Anterior hairline browlift, Upper and lower blepharoplasty
Time after Surgery: 2 years |
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Recovery
The patient is instructed to sleep with his/her head elevated on two pillows. The following day, the dressing is removed in the office and the patient can shower and wash his/her hair. The closure consists of sutures and staples which are removed at 5-9 days after surgery. Once all of the sutures and staples are removed, the patient is asked to massage his/her scars when shampooing.
Headaches are common in the post operative period and there is associated numbness of the forehead and scalp which will last for months. The feeling comes back gradually over time, although not 100%. The patient is asked to limit his/her activity for the first 2 weeks from the day of surgery. At that time, he/she can gradually start resuming his/her usual level of activity with the expectation of being back to normal at approximately 3-4 weeks.
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Age: 61yo
Procedure: Anterior hairline browlift
Time after Surgery: 5 months |
Risks and Complications
Risks and complications are uncommon, but may occur. They include, but are not limited to: infection, bleeding, scars, sensory changes of the forehead and scalp, hair loss along the suture line which may require additional surgery to correct, weakness or inability to elevate the eyebrow (quite rare), and need for revision in the future.
Procedures that may complement:
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