Forehead Lift

…To correct drooping brows, lines, and furrows of the forehead…

A forehead lift, also called a browlift, can help give a more relaxed, refreshed look to your upper face.

A forehead lift can open the eyes and soften the wrinkles and furrows on the forehead and between the brows.

Patients may have too much skin on the upper eyelids in addition to descent of the eyebrows. Browlifts are therefore often done with upper eyelid surgery.

How is the surgery done?

The surgery is done either under general anesthesia, or under intravenous sedation (to make you relaxed and drowsy) combined with local anesthesia. It is an outpatient procedure typically lasting 2 hours or longer, depending on the extent of surgery and any other procedures that may be done at the same time.

What to expect after surgery…

Bruising and swelling will occur around the eyes and may take one or more weeks to totally resolve. Patients are usually off work from a week to ten days and can resume most activities after three weeks.

Pain after the surgery is controlled with prescription medications, and sutures are removed within the first week.

Where are the scars from a browlift?

There are three general techniques for browlifts, all of which give different scars. The first two methods (“open” or “classic” lifts) consist of a scar which runs like a headphone (ear to ear) hidden in the hair, or a scar that runs just at the junction of the hairline and the forehead.

Several small incisions are used in the endoscopic technique.	The incisions are hidden in the hairline.

The third method (endoscopic forehead lift) uses specialized fiber optics, pencil-like cameras, and instruments so that the surgery is done through several small incisions in the hairline. The surgeon sees the underlying tissues and muscles on a television screen during the surgery.

All three methods create a smoother forehead, and can raise the eyebrows to a more restful, youthful position.

What are the possible complications?

All surgery runs the risk of bleeding, infection and scarring. Fortunately, these are rare with forehead lifts. Damage to underlying nerves can lead to some numbness of the forehead or scalp, and rarely the nerves allowing you to raise your eyebrows may be weakened. It is important to review and understand all of the possible complications with your plastic surgeon.

How long does a browlift last?

Although a browlift will give a youthful result right away, the process of aging will continue. Generally speaking, however, even many years later, you will look more refreshed than if you had never had the browlift at all.

If you are interested…
Please call our office for further information. The information was prepared by Dr. Anna Drzewiecki and may not reflect the thoughts or approach of all plastic surgeons. The best way to obtain a better understanding of forehead lift surgery is through a personal consultation with your plastic surgeon, at which time you should feel comfortable asking for any additional information.