Forehead lift / Browlift

Do you need a forehead lift/browlift?

Forehead and brow region shows the earliest signs of aging. Usually from the fourth decade or sometimes even earlier, the brow starts to drop. The outer part of the eye brow is more affected than the inner part. This causes excessive hooding and fullness of the outer part of the upper eyelid which can be so severe at times that it can interfere with the vision. To compensate for this drop the eye brows are lifted by contracting muscles of the forehead. This causes transverse creases on the forehead. In addition, repeated use of frowning muscles creates frown lines near the middle forehead. Together, these changes give a tired, disinterested or angry apppearance, which need not match a persons emotional status.

A forehead/brow lift removes or alters the muscles and skin that cause such visible signs of aging as drooping eyebrows, ‘hooding eyelids’, forehead furrows and frown lines. In young people, a brow lift can correct inherited conditions such as a low or heavy brow. Brow lift is more commonly performed on people aged between 40 and 60.

To see what a forehead/brow lift can do for you, use your fingers to gently lift the outer part of your eyebrows. As with any aesthetic surgery a realistic expectation is necessary. Your choice of the facial plastic surgeon is also important.

What is Forehead/Brow lift?

Whether it is called forehead lift or brow lift this procedure lifts the forehead and brow from the dropped position to a more aesthetically pleasing position. It can be done using different approaches. In a classic method, an incision called coronal incision, that starts at about the ear level and continues across the top of the forehead to the other ear is made. Forehead lift can also be done by placing the incision just above the eyebrow or hidden in the transverse crease of forehead or using an incision hugging the hair line. At present most of the forehead lifts are done using an endoscope. The main advantage is the small incisions, three to five of them, each measuring about 2 centimetres, placed inside the hair line making it virtually invisible once healed. The advantages of the endoscopic method are smaller incisions, reduced bruising, quicker recovery time and less scarring. After making the incisions the skin and underlying soft tissues are separated from the bone, detached from its attachment to the margins of the eye socket and then lifted up to reposition it in the new favourable position. Sutures or clips are applied to close the incisions. A soft compressive bandage is applied over the forehead to reduce the swelling.

What to expect after the operation

You would normally be allowed to go home the same day. You should keep your head elevated for 2 to 3 days. The bandage is removed on the second day. An antibiotic ointment is given to apply over the sutures or clips till they are removed in a week’s time. Ice packs can be applied over the eyes for a day to reduce the chance of bruising. Bruising is rare but can be severe in a minority of cases. Even severe bruising will settle down in 1 to 2 weeks time. Standard painkillers are usually sufficient to control any pain which can be associated with this procedure.

Complications

Complications are rare with this procedure. Mal position of eye brows, recurrence of brow drop, numbness, temporary or permanent weakness of forehead muscles are rare possibilities.

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