Three types of brow lift are done. Your surgeon may prefer an endoscopic technique, requiring only three half-inch incisions. Many other surgeons use a coronal procedure, creating a large ear-to-ear incision above the hairline. However, these types of incisions can cause hair loss, numbness and scarring.

For patients with a high hairline, your surgeon may use the third type of incision, which is one at the hairline. During this type of surgery he also will remove some excess skin, producing a lower hairline and lifting the brow. The incision does not cause hair loss because it is in front of the hairline, and the scar fades well into existing lines on the forehead.

A forehead lift is most commonly performed in the 40-60 age range to minimize the visible effects of aging. However, it can also help people of any age who have developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity. Individuals with inherited conditions, such as a low, heavy brow or furrowed lines above the nose can achieve a more alert and refreshed look with this procedure.

Forehead lift is often performed in conjunction with a facelift to provide a smoother overall look to the face. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) may also be performed at the same time as a forehead lift, especially if a patient has significant skin overhang in the upper eyelids. Sometimes, patients who believe they need upper-eyelid surgery find that a forehead lift better meets their surgical goals.

Patients who are bald, who have a receding hairline, or who have had previous upper-eyelid surgery may still be good candidates for forehead lift. The surgeon will simply alter the incision location or perform a more conservative operation.

The surgery will generally take between one and one-half hours. IV sedation or general anesthesia is often used. Most patients will return home the same day, and recovery time will generally last seven to ten days before they can return to work. Bruising may occur beneath the eyelids, but will resolve in around ten days. Patients should be able to read immediately. Make sure that the head remains elevated with no bending or lifting for one week.

Frequently Asked Questions about Brow Lifts

Q: Why do you prefer endoscopic over traditional brow lifts?

A: Endoscopes reduce the size and number of incisions. This is important in brow lifts because it reduces the risk of hair loss and other complications of traditional brow lifts.

Q: When would you not do an endoscopic brow lift?

A: Patients who have a high hairline and long forehead are better served by a hairline brow lift so that the hairline can be lowered while also elevating the brows.

Q: Do you do facelifts, brow lifts, and eyelid lifts all at the same time?

A: Yes. Doing all three at once creates better harmony between all areas of the face, because no one area appears much younger than others that have not received treatment.