As we age, the scaffolding that supports our skin weakens and sags. This leads to drooping eyebrows, sagging eye skin, and deep forehead wrinkles. As a matter of fact, the skin can visibly age by the time you reach 30 years old. Today, our aesthetic experts at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL are answering some of the most frequently asked questions about a forehead lift.
A forehead lift, sometimes referred to as a brow lift or eyebrow lift, improves the appearance of the upper face by lifting the eyebrows and erasing forehead wrinkles. During this procedure, excess skin can be removed and a small amount of excess fat may be excised.
However, what is primarily accomplished during the procedure is the lifting and tightening of the loose, sagging facial tissues. Whether your visible aging is caused by sagging upper facial muscles, sagging upper facial skin, or both, a brow lift can reverse the signs of aging. Your skin will be smooth, tight, and completely wrinkle-free.
Exactly what happens during a brow lift depends on the technique used. We will decide the best technique to use during your initial consultation based on your unique concerns and goals. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular techniques.
A classic brow lift, sometimes known as a traditional or conventional brow lift, is the most complex brow lift. The first step in the process, irrespective of the technique used, is cleaning the treatment area and administering anesthesia. Once you are prepared for your procedure, we will make an incision that starts just above one ear and runs across the top of the forehead.
Depending on your unique facial structure and aesthetic goals, an incision may be made next to the hairline. Through this incision, we will remove any excess skin, fat, or muscle tissues that may be negatively affecting your appearance. We will also elevate loose skin and manipulate your muscle tissues as necessary to reverse the signs of aging. Once your wrinkles have been eliminated and your eyebrows have been raised, we will stitch the incision closed.
An endoscopic brow lift is similar to a classic brow lift in that it eliminates the signs of aging from the upper face. However, instead of making one very long incision, a number of tiny incisions are made in the scalp. Through these incisions, special fiber-optic tools are used to elevate the sagging forehead tissue.
Once the facial tissue is lifted, any excess skin, fat, or muscle will be excised. Once your procedure is complete, we will fasten the elevated facial tissues with sutures and stitch the incisions closed. Due to the minimally invasive nature of this procedure, the post-op recovery period is minimal.
Like an endoscopic brow lift, a temporal brow lift is minimally invasive. Also known as a medial brow lift, this procedure is performed when the medial brows are sufficiently elevated but the lateral brows are flat or slope down. Tiny incisions are made to elevate the outer third of the eyebrows during this procedure and recovery following a temporal brow lift is minimal.
A number of factors go into determining which forehead lift technique is right for you. It is only after an in-depth evaluation that we can determine which technique will best help you achieve your aesthetic goals safely and effectively.
We will determine the most appropriate technique to use based on:
If you are mentally and emotionally prepared to receive a longer procedure, we may recommend a classic brow lift. Typically, this procedure is most appropriate for individuals with a smaller forehead or more severe cosmetic concerns.
If your primary objective is to achieve a dramatic arch or you’re most worried about the outer third of your eyebrows, there is a good chance that a temporal or endoscopic brow lift will be right for you.
One of the reasons people are hesitant to commit to surgery is a worry about visible scarring. With a brow lift, you don’t have to worry about that. Whether you need one incision or several incisions, your incisions will be hidden in your hairline, scalp, and natural facial creases. Nobody will be able to see your incisions as they are healing.
One of the most compelling benefits of a brow lift is the results usually last for 12 to 15 years. Many clients seek this procedure when they are in their mid-60s and only need one or two procedures to maintain their youthful visage. Injectable muscle relaxants can provide dramatic results, but the results typically last for two to six months. Therefore, there is a fairly significant time requirement to maintain a youthful visage with injectables.
Brow lifts aren’t just great for improving your self-confidence. They also offer physical benefits. Research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that almost two-thirds of people with severe migraine headaches that received a traditional brow lift no longer experienced migraines post-op.
Severe migraines can be treated with a traditional brow lift because the procedure can remove the muscle and nerve tissue triggering the migraines. Also, 83% of people studied reported fewer migraine headaches and no fewer than half of them still had fewer migraine headaches one year post-op. All told, there was a 92% success rate in using a classic brow lift to treat migraine headaches.
If you have sagging eyebrows, there is an excellent chance that your vision will improve after this procedure. Sagging eyebrows and forehead skin can push down on the skin around the eyes. When severe, it can push skin into the eyes. This can block a portion of your field of view, making reading difficult and driving unsafe.
A brow lift also offers mental and emotional benefits. People often seek a brow lift because they feel self-conscious about the appearance of their upper face. When the appearance of their upper face is improved, their self-confidence improves and they find their mood improved. Also, feeling happy and confident with your appearance can make you want to take better care of yourself, further bolstering your mental wellbeing.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons conducted a study regarding the relationship between depression and cosmetic surgery. This study’s results revealed that roughly one-sixth of people seeking cosmetic procedures took antidepressants pre-op. Six months later, the number of people taking antidepressants decreased by nearly one third.
Further research is required to gain a better understanding of the relationship between cosmetic surgery and depression relief. However, it would appear that the effect of improving your physical appearance on your mental health is profound.
The length of your recovery period depends primarily on the type of brow lift you receive. Since a traditional forehead lift involves making one long incision, the recovery period is the longest. As a general rule, you can expect to be back at work within a week or two of your procedure. On the other hand, the recovery period following a temporal brow lift or endoscopic brow lift is much shorter.
Following a traditional brow lift, you may not engage in vigorous physical activity for at least six weeks. On the other hand, you can be back to your usual routine just seven days after a temporal brow lift. Note, regardless of the technique that is right for you, there are steps you can take to shorten your recovery period. For instance, you should focus on hydrating, nourishing, and resting your body.
During a brow lift, loose, sagging facial tissues are tightened and lifted. In some cases, excess skin, fat, or muscle tissue is removed, too. If you think you could benefit from this procedure, contact us today at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL to schedule an initial evaluation.
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