Double Board-Certified Facial Surgeon Dallas-Fort Worth
A brow lift is a procedure that raises sagging brows, and improves the wrinkles and creases across the forehead and between the eyebrows, resulting in a rested, youthful and alert appearance.
What are the benefits of a brow lift?
The passing years take a toll across our bodies, but some areas are more visible than others. The brows and forehead are certainly that. Some people have a genetic predisposition to descending brows. For others, it’s simply aging that has caused their brows and forehead to sag downward. Problem is they’re right in front for all to see, and aging brows can give others the wrong impression. Sagging brows above the eyes can give the impression that you’re either perpetually tired, sad, or even mad. If the sagging is extreme enough it can begin to impact your field of vision.
A brow lift with Dr. Farris brings your brows back up, giving you back a more alert, refreshed look. This has a dramatic way of changing the tenor of your upper face and eye area. Brow lifts make you look younger, more attentive, and rested. They elevate your sagging brows, remove those irritating frown lines between your eyebrows, and erasing your forehead lines permanently.
Brow lifts are the perfect complement to a facelift with Dr. Farris. Brow lifts rejuvenate the upper face, while facelifts target the mid to lower face and the jawline.
Who is a candidate for a brow lift?
Patients who have a sagging brow that hangs over the upper eyelid (usually laterally) or who may have lines between the brows are candidates for a brow lift. These changes associated with aging may give the appearance and impression that you are tired, sad or angry.
How is a brow lift performed?
Dr. Farris uses various techniques depending on the patient’s areas of sagging. For instance, a “temporal brow lift” targets more sagging on the outer half of the brow. A “central brow lift” moves the focus to drooping of the inner brows.
These are the two basic options for a brow lift, depending on your personal situation.
- Coronal brow lift — This is also known as the “traditional” or “full” brow lift. It involves a single coronal (think of it as the shape of a pair of headphones) incision that runs from one ear, wraps up around the forehead, and terminates at the other ear. This incision is hidden within the hairline. The forehead skin is lifted away, and underlying muscles are trimmed and repositioned as appropriate. If necessary, the eyebrows may be lifted. The final step is to trim excess skin. Then the skin in re-draped and the incision is closed.
- Endoscopic brow lift — Thanks to continuing improvements in technology, the endoscopic brow lift is becoming the common method for these surgeries. In this method, Dr. Farris makes three to five short incisions within the hairline. An endoscope, a tiny instrument with a camera on the end, is inserted into one of the incisions. This provides excellent visuals of the area to be addressed without the need for the longer coronal incision. Tools are inserted into the other small incisions to manipulate the skin and muscles. As you would expect, there is very little scarring with this method.
During your consultation with Dr. Farris the two of you can discuss if he thinks the endoscopic method will enable the degree of correction necessary for your situation.
What are the risks involved with a brow lift?
Brow lifts have been performed for decades and have been proven to be very safe and effective. This is surgery, so the usual possible complications exist: excessive bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, infection, and the like.
A couple side effects are involved with this particular surgery. Usually these are involved with coronal brow lifts, due to the lengthy incision (That’s another reason Dr. Farris prefers the endoscopic method). Patients can experience hair loss along the incision (coronal method). There can also be some difficulty moving forehead muscles or your brows, but these are rare complications. The most common side effect/complication is itching along the incision locations. This can last for months, but eventually it resolves when your nerves have adapted.
What should I expect at my consultation for a brow lift?
Dr. Farris views every consultation as a complete give and take between the two of you. For your brow lift consultation, you’ll begin. You’ll describe what you’re seeing with the tissues around your eyes and up through your forehead. You’ll point out what you want to change and areas that are bothering you. You’ll detail what you hope to achieve with this surgery.
Then it’s Dr. Farris’s turn. First, he’ll examine your forehead and brow area. He’ll look at your sagging tissues and get an idea where elevation is needed. He’ll try and get an idea of the elasticity of your skin.
Then he’ll discuss what he feels would be the right approach for your situation. He’ll discuss if he feels an endoscopic approach will achieve the degree of elevation necessary. He’ll describe the procedure from start to finish. He’ll discuss what you can expect for recovery, along with the risks with this surgery. Then he’ll give you an idea of the results he feels can be achieved. Throughout the process he’ll encourage you to interject any and all questions you may have.
At the end of your consultation, whether you choose to move ahead with surgery or not, you should be well-versed in the ins and outs of a modern brow lift.
Will a brow lift correct drooping around the eyes?
A brow lift certainly will address drooping brows above your eyes. However, it doesn’t correct drooping eyelid skin, or drooping and bags under the eyes. These are the targets of eyelid surgery, which Dr. Farris also performs, often in conjunction with a brow lift.
What to expect after brow lift surgery?
Dr. Farris and his staff at Farris Plastic Surgery will provide specific instructions regarding your surgery. After your brow lift surgery, you will be able to go home the same day.
Postoperative pain is minimal. You may experience some tightness or change in sensation for the first few days. Swelling and bruising will subside by the second week. Apply cold compresses around the eyes for the first few days and keep your head elevated above the level of your chest for the first week. You may return to work and light activity after 1 week. Avoid strenuous activity or exercise for 3 weeks.
How long will it take to see my results after brow lift surgery?
Your results are immediately visible, but you will have swelling and bruising. If you keep your head elevated for the first two or three days, you can mitigate your swelling. You’ll have a really good idea of your final results right away, but those results will continue to tighten and improve as your swelling resolves and your tissues settle. While you can have some numbness and itching for up to six months, your full results should be completely visible within about two months.
How long will my brow lift results last?
The improvements made by Dr. Farris are permanent. Your transverse and frown lines on your forehead will never be as severe again. However, your brows will continue to descend with age. Your best results will be visible for 10-15 years, but your sagging will never be severe again.
What is scarring like after a brow lift?
Dr. Farris hides your incisions within the hairline, and they become virtually invisible in a relatively short time. They will be pink and somewhat raised initially, but this will calm, and they will regain the tone of your adjacent skin. Since Dr. Farris uses the endoscopic method whenever possible, the incisions are short to begin with. If you require a coronal brow lift, the incisions are longer, but they are still hidden in the hairline as much as possible.
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