Browlift in Okatie, SC (Forehead Lift)

A brow lift, also referred to as a forehead lift, is a surgical procedure designed to diminish signs of aging on the forehead and eyebrows. It can also address specific hereditary facial features. Often, a brow lift is performed alongside other procedures, such as a facelift, to enhance the overall youthful and harmonious appearance of the face.

Who is a Suitable Candidate for a Brow Lift?

Your Blepharoplasty Consultation

During your brow lift consultation, your plastic surgeon will perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and discuss your desired goals from this procedure. He or she will evaluate the thickness, texture and elasticity of your facial skin, the structure of your facial bones and skin, the overall appearance of your eyebrows and eyelids, and the position of your eyebrows. Your plastic surgeon will use this information to determine the most appropriate surgical approach, which will be explained to you in great detail.

Common Brow Lift Techniques

Traditionally, brow lift surgery involved a large incision across the top of the forehead. Advancements in technology have led to the endoscopic technique, in which three to five small incisions are made across the forehead behind the hairline. These shorter incisions allow for a shorter recovery time when compared to the traditional brow lift technique. During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will explain the exact approach he or she will use for your brow lift procedure.

Preparing For Brow Lift Surgery

Patients that smoke are advised to stop smoking several weeks before brow lift surgery to improve post-operative healing. Be sure to advise your plastic surgeon of all medications and supplements you are currently taking, as some of them may have to be temporarily stopped before the procedure. Patients undergoing brow lift on an outpatient basis will need a friend or relative to drive them home afterwards, and to remain with them for the first night.

The Blepharoplasty Procedure

Brow lift surgery usually takes about one to two hours to perform, and may take place at a hospital, an office-based surgical suite, or an ambulatory center. Either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation will be used for this procedure; your plastic surgeon will choose the best option for you. Depending on the surgical technique used, an incision or series of small incisions are made across the forehead. Then, the tissue and muscle underneath the skin are moved or repositioned as necessary. At the end of the procedure, the incisions are closed with sutures, screws, adhesives, or surgical tape, and you will be moved to a recovery area for observation.

Recovery After A Brow Lift

Most patients return home the same day as their brow lift, although an overnight stay may be necessary for some. Swelling may be pronounced for the first day or two after surgery, although most swelling goes away within two weeks. To prevent post-operative bleeding, you should refrain from bending or heavy lifting for the first few days after your brow lift. It may take up to six months for all swelling to fully subside and for all scars to fade.

Brow Lift Results

Depending on your pre-surgical appearance and your goals, the results of your brow lift may either be subtle or dramatic. Within a few weeks after surgery, your results should be noticeable. To maintain the results of your brow lift, it is important that you use sunscreen when spending time in the sun and refrain from smoking.

Risks Associated With A Brow Lift

Brow lift surgery is a relatively safe procedure; however, most procedures carry a slight risk of complications. Although they rarely occur, these risks may include adverse reactions to anesthesia, injury to facial tissue, and hematoma (accumulation of blood under the skin). You can minimize the occurrence of complications by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon for your brow lift.

How Can a Brow Lift Improve My Appearance?

Your brow lift is a personalized procedure tailored to your unique facial structure, natural brow position, and desired results. Depending on the technique used by Dr. Smith, this procedure can address multiple concerns simultaneously, including:

• Worry Lines: As your brows begin to sag, you may unconsciously use certain muscles to lift them throughout the day. This action pulls the skin higher on the forehead, leading to horizontal lines, commonly known as worry lines.

• Frown Lines: Similar to worry lines, frown lines are created by the repetitive movement of muscles around the eyes.



• Crow's Feet: While a brow lift may not entirely eliminate all fine lines around your eyes, it significantly reduces the appearance of crow's feet, which can form as the tissue at the outer edges of the eyebrows droops.

• Eyelid Folds: When the eyebrows fall below their usual position on the upper orbital rim, it can push down on the soft tissue of the upper eyelids. This excess folding may give your eyes a hooded, tired look.

How Does a Brow Lift Differ From Eyelid Rejuvenation?

Brow lift surgery is similar to blepharoplasty, the surgical eyelid rejuvenation procedure that is commonly performed today, but not the same thing. The similarity is only that, in select cases, the brow lift can refresh the appearance of the eyes by reducing hooding caused by the brows pushing down on the eyelids. If the tissue that makes up your upper eyelids is lax and loose, chances are your brow lift will have a limited effect on them. Blepharoplasty is performed on the eyelids themselves, via incisions made at the crease of the upper eyelids. Surgical eyelid rejuvenation focuses only on the eyelids themselves, so will not reduce lines and wrinkles at the corners of the eyes.

Are the Results of a Brow Lift Permanent?

Brow lift surgery can reverse the signs of aging and restore a beautiful, natural brow position through the tightening of your forehead muscles. Reversal is one thing, stopping the hands of time is another. After your brow lift, your natural aging process will continue and, at some point, your forehead muscles and skin will weaken. That said, the effects of aging don't mean you'll need another brow lift in the future. While every case is different, we generally expect the results of a brow lift to last 10 years or longer.