A forehead lift, also referred to as a brow lift, is a form of plastic surgery that can aide in a more youthful look by lifting sagging or drooping brows. The practice is used to soften or remove the frown lines between your eyebrows and the horizontal lines across your forehead. It is common to have a forehead lift by itself, or in combination with other procedures such as eyelid surgery, a facelift, or nose reshaping which will further enhance the appearance of your face.
A forehead lift is usually an outpatient procedure and can last several hours depending on how extensive your particular lift is. Based on your individual surgical plan you’ll be given local or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia indicates you’ll be numbed around the areas where surgery will be performed. You’ll be awake during surgery, but relaxed and will feel no pain. General anesthesia indicates you’ll be asleep during the operation and will feel no pain and have no memory of the surgery.
There are many different ways to do a forehead lift. The most common procedures include coronal incision technique and endoscopic technique. The technique your surgeon uses will be made prior to surgery and will be based upon your expectations and your surgeon’s comfort with each method.
The coronal technique is the more traditional way of doing a forehead lift. It’s an open surgery in which the surgeon makes incisions across the top of the scalp, usually above the ears and within the hairline. After the incisions are made, the surgeon separates the skin from the tissue and muscles below. The surgeon can now change or remove parts of muscles or excess skin to get the desired post-operative result. When the procedure is complete your surgeon will close the incision with small stitches and cover them with bandages as well.
The endoscopic technique is much newer and less invasive, although results may not last quite as long. The surgeon makes several very small incisions on the scalp instead of one long, continuous incision as is done with the coronal procedure. The surgeon inserts a small tube with a tiny light and video camera into one of the small incisions. The camera is linked to a television monitor to guide the surgeon and give some insight into what is taking place beneath the skin. Through another small incision, the surgeon inserts tiny instruments that will lift the forehead skin from the muscle below and allow the surgeon to remove muscle, tissue, and excess skin to get the desired post-operative result.
Post-operatively you should expect to be swollen, tender, and even bruised. If you are in pain you will be given pain medication and you should take it as directed. You’ll also be given antibiotics to fight infection, it’s very important to remember to take them, as you do not want to develop an infection at the incision site. You will probably be quite groggy from the anesthetic for a day or so and this will help you get the rest you need to adjust and heal with the least amount of pain possible.
The results of a forehead lift are immediate but you will have to be patient through the healing process. The full results will be visible in a few months, but relief from swelling and bruising is varies from patient to patient. Your brows may appear too high initially, this is normal, and they will relax and return to a more natural position. Any numbness should subside in a matter of months but can remain indefinitely in some patients. The key to post-operative satisfaction is patience.
The results from a forehead lift are semi-permanent. Regardless of plastic surgery we are going to continue to age and our brows will droop, this is an unfortunate fact. No surgery can completely stop the aging process; instead a forehead lift can help lessen its effects. As with all forms of cosmetic surgery, you need to have realistic expectations. Discussing your expectations with your surgeon will give you a clear indication of whether your desired results are something that can be achieved. Even if your results are exactly what you expected, you must remember that cosmetic surgery will not solve all the difficulties that may come your way. Surgery will not change who you are, rather it can help with the self-confidence you may be lacking.
