A brow lift can also be referred to as browplasty or a forehead lift. The brow lift is a cosmetic procedure usually performed in conjunction with another facial procedure like eyelid surgery. Commonly, browplasty is used to remove the deep wrinkles across the forehead leading to a more youthful look. The operation can last anywhere from one to two hours.
Depending on the approach used, a brow lift can also address drooping eyebrows, scowl lines, and eyelid hooding issues that make people look angry or tired. In some cases general anesthesia is required, but typically, local anesthesia is used.
Classic forehead lift approaches are now giving way to less invasive techniques like the endoscopic forehead lift method. The conventional procedure involved making one long incision along the hairline. The forehead skin is lifted while trimming excess skin and tissue. The forehead muscles are repositioned and in some cases removed. The incision is then stitched or sutured and bandaged up. The endoscopic method utilizes more advanced techniques to minimize scarring. Several tiny incisions are made within the scalp which the surgeon inserts an endoscope. The endoscope is a thin tubular optical instrument connected to a television monitor used for viewing inside the body. Another instrument is inserted and the forehead skin is lifted. The muscles and tissue are lifted, altered, and possibly removed to smooth the outside of the skin. The eyebrows may also be lifted and fixed into a new position. Finally, the incisions are stitched or sutured.Regardless of whether the classic approach or the endoscopic method is used, plan for one to two days of bed rest. Following the initial recovery period, the bandage will be removed and you should be able to shower and shampoo your hair. A follow up visit with your surgeon approximately one week after the surgery is necessary to remove sutures.
