Brow Lift
Where facelifts tighten and lift the lower two thirds of the face, brow lifts (also called forehead lifts) do the same for the upper face, making you look younger and more rested. If you are interested in learning more about the browlift and whether you are a candidate for treatment, give Dr. Robert Fante and Dr. Michael Hawes a call today for your personalized consultation. Dial 303-839-1616 for our Denver office, or (303) 839-1616 for our Broomfield or Boulder office.
No one wants to have a “surprised” expression and we are very careful to avoid excessive elevation of the eyebrows.
What is a Brow Lift?
A brow lift is a procedure that’s usually done on people about 40 to 60 years old, where the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the forehead is raised, smoothing out forehead wrinkles and raising the eyebrows. This gives us a more alert and youthful look. Extra tissue may be removed, and the skin is anchored in its new position, either with or without sutures.
What Problems Can a Brow Lift Fix?
A forehead lift can address the following concerns:
- Droopy or sagging eyebrows
- “Hooding” at the outer part of the eyes
- Wrinkles and creases, such as worry lines
- “Creping” appearance of the skin
Endoscopic Brow Lift Before and After
Types of Brow Lift Surgeries:
Endoscopic Brow Lift:
An endoscopic brow lift done using a narrow device called an endoscope, which is a small hollow tube with a camera and a light at the end of it. It can be inserted into small incisions. Dr. Fante can see on a TV monitor what he’s doing with the endoscope and can see the muscles and tissue under the skin to work safely through hidden incisions.
This is the most current, state-of-the art technique for forehead and eyebrow lifts. It’s minimally invasive, and requires only 4-5 very small incisions behind the hairline. Due to the minimal amount of incisions required, the recovery period is minimized, as are the possibility of hair loss and numbness.
This procedure can be tailored for younger individuals who don’t need as much rejuvenation from a forehead lift, and is also very successful in mature adults who want the best possible appearance.
Coronal Brow Lift:
These are usually reserved for women, because in a man who might become bald at some point, the scar would be clearly visible
An incision is made behind the hairline across the top of the head
A precise amount of scalp tissue is removed such that the forehead and eyebrows will be lifted higher above the eyes
The incision is closed and heals to a delicate scar
There is sometimes some numbness, temporary or (rarely) permanent, in the area between the incision and crown of the head. Hair loss along the scar also occasionally occurs
Hairline Forehead Lift:
This method is sometimes used for men or women who have a high hairline and who would like to have the hairline lowered so the forehead isn’t so large.
The incision is placed at the hairline.
A precise amount of extra skin and tissue is removed and recovery is much the same as with a coronal browlift
The scar is camouflaged by the hairline and fades with time.
Temporal or Lateral Brow Lift:
There are two incisions, one in the upper part of each temple. This lifts the brows and forehead laterally into a more desirable position. It does not require the specialized instruments used in an endoscopic lift (described above)
This method can create an outer arched brow look that can be tailored to be very subtle or exotic.
Internal Brow Suspension:
Always performed together with an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), this procedure provides only mild lifting and instead stabilizes the eyebrow position to prevent further drooping.
Dr. Fante use the eyelid incisions to access the eyebrow area and places internal sutures
Depending on the type of brow lift procedure you select, you may need different types of anesthesia, and the recovery times may vary greatly between the different forehead lift techniques. Endoscopic and Coronal procedures are almost always performed in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital, while temporal and internal procedures may be performed in our office surgical suite.
Who is a Good Candidate for a Brow Lift?
If your eyebrows have begun to droop, or you have horizontal wrinkles across your forehead, or if frown lines are giving you a worried or angry look, you could be a good candidate. You can test the potential result of a brow lift. Just put your fingers at the Centre and outer edge of each eyebrow and raise them up a little. This is approximately what the procedure would do for you.
Patient Testimonial
"Outstanding! Dr. Fante is extremely competent and caring. Will most certainly recommend him to others who will benefit from his services and skills."
Eyebrow Lift Procedure
There are several techniques for performing brow lifts, and Dr. Fante will work with you to decide on the most suitable one for your face:
- Endoscopic brow lifts
- Coronal browlift
- Subcutaneous brow lift
- Temporal or Lateral brow lift
- Internal brow suspension
How Long Does Brow Lift Surgery Take?
Depending on your specific circumstances, the procedure can last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.
What is the Recovery From a Brow Lift?
- There’ll be some bruising and swelling at first. The bruising will fade after 2 or 3 weeks.
- There could be some numbness but it will be temporary.
- During the first week or so, keep your head elevated, including while you sleep.
- Dr. Fante removes stitches after about a week.
- If there are any bandages were, Dr. Fante will remove them the following day. A second, lighter bandage might be used for a few more days.
- You’ll usually look good enough to return to work after about 2 weeks, although you’ll probably feel fine after the first few days.
- Avoid strenuous exercise during those 2 weeks.
Typically, the recovery time lasts about 2 weeks. Most people return to work after 10 to 14 days. If you had an endoscopic brow lift, the recovery time is shorter than 2 weeks.
Are Brow Lift Results Permanent?
They’re long-lasting, but of course, we all continue to age as the years go by. You’ll look younger and more rested, but your lifestyle and heredity will affect how long the brow lift lasts.
Are There Risks to a Forehead Lift Procedure?
- At first you’ll notice some swelling and bruising in the area and this may persist for up to about 10 days. Dr. Fante will give you advice about using cold compresses to minimize this.
- There may at first be some mild pain or discomfort, and you’ll have a prescription to deal with that.
- If there are any dressings or tubes, Dr. Fante will remove them within a few days.
- The first night afterwards, sleep with your head elevated.
- As the first days go by, you may feel some numbness and/or itching as the affected areas begin to heal.
Get lots of sleep and rest and don’t worry about things; that will help you heal more quickly.
Camouflage Post Surgery Bruising With Make-up
Call Dr. Fante for a Brow Lift in Denver, Co!
If you are interested in a brow lift, contact our Denver office today! Call 303-839-1616 to schedule a consultation with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Fante.