A brow lift is also referred to as a forehead lift. It is usually done to correct such issues as wrinkle lines or sagging eye brows. Most surgeons who perform a face lift do not include the brow lift in their quoted price unless requested.

It is hard to find good, quality surgical care, especially for patients that want elective surgery (such as a brow lift) or don't have insurance. The other concern is that the outcome of a surgeons work is not always the same, therefore you want to find the right surgeon for you that will take their time and make sure that you get the best results possible. That is hard to find nowadays in the US when plastic surgeons don't even need to be US Boarded to perform such surgeries.

Procedure Details

A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, removes wrinkles in the forehead, raises eyebrows, and generally provides a more alert and younger appearance by surgically altering the tissue, skin, and muscles of the forehead. Brow lift surgery is often performed in conjunction with face lift and/or blepharoplasty, also known as an eye lift or eyelid surgery.

A brow lift may be performed by traditional or endoscopic surgery. In traditional surgery, the surgeon will choose the best location for a coronal incision. A patient's hairline and hair density are taken into consideration so the scar is strategically located in the most inconspicuous location. With endoscopic surgery, 2 to 6 small incisions are made at various points. These will be hidden by hair or contour lines of bones.

Both procedures begin by tying the hair up in bands and clipping any hair that would hinder surgery. After anesthesia is administered and an incision made, the surgeon alters muscle and tissue, then removes excess skin. Sutures or clips are used to close the incision, and the patient is released the same day. These are outpatient procedures, so there is no required hospital stay.

Risks and Side Effects

After having a brow lift a patient should expect to take 1 to 2 weeks off work. For the first few days following surgery, pain medication may be prescribed.

Some possible complications from having a brow lift include nerve damage, temporary hair loss at the scar site, a wide scar, loss of sensation at the scar site, infection, or bleeding. These are rare complications and can usually be easily alleviated.

Post Operative Care

The first few days following a brow lift surgery, the patient's head should be elevated. Numbness, followed by itching, at the scar site is to be expected. In 2 weeks, sutures or clips can be removed at a follow up visit with the surgeon. Patients may have bandages that need to be replaced every few days, but some surgeons do not use bandages for a brow lift. In 2 days, showering and shampooing hair may be resumed. Strenuous activities and sun exposure should be avoided for a few months.