Eyebrow Lift / Forehead Lift (eye lift)

Eyebrow Lift/Forehead Lift Surgery (eye lift)

The process of aging, exposure to sun, wind, and the pull of gravity all affect the face, resulting in frown lines, wrinkling across the forehead, and increasing heaviness of the eyebrows. Even people in their mid- thirties may have faces that look older than their years. A forehead lift, or eyebrow lift (eye lift), is a procedure that restores a more youthful, refreshed look to the area above the eyes.

1. Is an eyebrow lift for you?

A Brow-lift is usually performed in patients in the 35-65 age range to minimize the visible effects of aging. It can also help people of any age who have developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity. Some individuals with inherited low, heavy brows or furrowed lines above the nose can also achieve a more alert and refreshed look with this procedure.

Try this at home. Place your hands above your brows and outside the edges of your eyes. Now gently raise your skin upwards. Like what you see? If you do, come and see us to see if it is the right procedure for you.

This procedure is often combined with a blepharoplasty and other facial procedures to achieve a more harmonious, youthful appearance. Sometimes patients who believe they need upper eyelid surgery find that a eyebrow lift (eye lift)/forehead lift better meets their surgical goals.

• Non surgical: For younger patients and those who would like to attempt a minimally invasive approach to brow-lift, Botox™, facial/dermal fillers such as Juvederm™, and autogenous fat graft can be attempted. One large limitation of this type of brow-lift is the need for the procedure to be repeated every 4 to 6 months. For this reason, the non-surgical approach to brow lift is not recommended for patients who request a more permanent result.

• Brow Pexy: The brow Pexy can be performed at the time of upper eyelid surgery. In this procedure, a suture is used to anchor the brows at a slightly higher position. This procedure is used if there is minimal brow ptosis and does not address the forehead.

• Direct Brow-lift: This procedure is used for patients who have severe brow ptosis and do not want to proceed with a larger procedure such as coronal brow-lift or pretrichial brow-lift. With direct brow-lift, the excess skin above the brow is marked and excised. Since the incision is placed above the brows, some patients may be worried about a visible scar. This should be of little concern because I use meticulous closure techniques. Again, it must be noted that this procedure does not address the forehead.

• Endoscopic Brow-lift: This is the newest and most commonly used method of brow and forehead lift. This procedure utilizes 3 to 5 small one cm incisions behind the hairline to elevate the entire forehead and brows. Most patients like this method because it is not as invasive as other Brow-lift procedures, as with the below two procedures, and has a faster recovery time.

• Pretrichial Brow-lift: Patients who have longer foreheads and brows will benefit from this procedure. The pretrichial brow-lift involves making the incision right at the hairline. Once the entire forehead and brow are elevated, the excess skin is measured and excised. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and along with coronal brow-lift, lasts the longest.

• Coronal Brow-lift: Similar to pretrichial brow-lift, except the incision is placed on the scalp from one ear to the other, and the excess skin is marked and removed. The coronal brow-lift is probably the most permanent of all brow-lifts, and it addresses both the forehead and the brow. This is an outpatient procedure and is done under general anesthesia.

3. What is the recovery like?

There may be some tightness of the head for the first 1-2 days after the surgery. Although you should be up and about in a day or two, plan on taking it easy for at least the first week after surgery. You should be able to shower and shampoo your hair within two days, or as soon as the bandage is removed. Discoloration and swelling around the eyes will improve over 5-7 days. Most patients are back to work or school in a week to 10 days.

Endoscopic patients may feel ready to return even sooner. Vigorous physical activity should be limited for several weeks, including jogging, bending, heavy housework, sex, or any activity that increases your blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to heat or sun should be avoided for several months. Most of the visible signs of surgery should fade completely within about three weeks. Minor swelling and bruising can be concealed with a special camouflage makeup. You may feel a bit tired and let down at first, but your energy level will increase as you begin to look and feel better. Feel free to contact us to organise a consultation and find out more about getting an eyebrow lift (eye lift).