A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, is the surgical removal of excess fat and skin, as well as a tightening of the muscles in the forehead area. It corrects sagging brows or deep furrows between the eyes.
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Our facial plastic surgeons are innovators and national experts in their field. They are among a small group of surgeons uniquely trained through double board certification in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Through their training and extensive experience, they have the best-in-class skills needed to transform your appearance.
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Our Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery subspecialists are double-board certified as head and neck surgeons, delivering patients the skills required for superior results in both cosmetic and functional procedures. Our physicians are national leaders in the most complex and innovative facial reconstruction techniques needed for traumatic injuries, cancer and other conditions.
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Answers to Your Brow Lift Questions
A brow lift, or forehead lift, is a type of cosmetic surgery used to lift sagging eyebrows or deep furrows between the eyes. It is often performed along with a facelift for a smoother facial appearance.
There are two types of forehead lift surgery — the classic forehead lift and the endoscopic forehead lift.
Classic or coronal forehead lift
The surgeon makes a cut or incision that starts at about ear level and goes across the top of the forehead to the other ear. In some cases, the surgeon may place the incision at the hairline. The surgeon then carefully lifts the skin of the forehead and removes any excess tissue and fat. If needed, the surgeon realigns the muscles. During the procedure, the eyebrows may also be placed at a higher level. Any excess skin is trimmed.
Endoscopic forehead lift
The difference between this method and the classic forehead lift is the size of the incision. With the endoscopic forehead lift, the surgeon makes three to five short scalp incisions that are each less than 1 inch long. A thin tube called an endoscope is then inserted through one of the incisions. This tube has a small camera on one end so the surgeon can see the muscles and tissues underneath. Then the surgeon places another tool that can lift the forehead skin into a different incision. Excess tissue and fat are then removed. If needed, muscles are realigned. Like the classic forehead lift, the eyebrows may also be placed at a higher level. There is minimal scarring and a shorter recovery time than the classic forehead lift.
Any surgery has risks. Possible complications that may happen with a forehead lift include:
Scar formation. In rare cases, you may have a scar. Surgery can be done to remove the wide scar tissue. This allows a new, thinner scar to appear.
Eyebrow movement problems. Also rare, the nerves that control eyebrow movement may be injured. You may not be able to raise your eyebrows or wrinkle your forehead. Surgery may be needed to fix this problem.
Hair loss. You may have hair loss over the scar or just surrounding the scar.
Sensation loss. It’s common to lose feeling around the incision. This happens most often with the classic forehead lift. It is often short-term but can be permanent.
Problems during the procedure. During an endoscopic forehead lift, there is a slight chance of problems that could cause the surgeon to switch to the classic forehead lift. This can cause a larger scar and a longer recovery time.
After surgery, you could also experience some short-term side effects of surgery:
Numbness and temporary discomfort around the incisions.
Swelling and bruising that may affect your cheeks and eyes.
Numbness on the top of your scalp that over time may be replaced by itching.
Pain is usually minimal.
A forehead lift can help people of any age who have furrows or frown lines. These may be caused by stress or muscle activity, or they may be caused by inherited conditions, such as a low, heavy brow or furrowed lines above the nose. This procedure is most often done on people ages 40 to 60 to reduce the visible signs of aging.
Experience and Expertise
UC Health facial plastic surgeons advance the science of discovery and provide state-of-the-art surgical techniques by doing research, teaching the next generation of physicians and pioneering new procedures.
UC Health’s facial plastic surgeons are at the forefront of care. They are double board-certified and highly trained to transform your appearance and restore important function, ensuring only the best results.
Our surgeons trained at the nation’s most prestigious institutions and have performed thousands of facial surgeries, making their expertise unmatched.
We are committed to providing optimal care to patients by collaborating with healthcare professionals throughout our community and provide several avenues for patient referrals and easy access for referring physicians and clinicians to consult with UC Health specialists.
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