About the Procedure

In most brow lift surgeries, an incision is made behind the frontal hairline to hide the scar. The length of the incision is determined by how much of the brow needs lifting. If your hairline is already high or receding, the incision may be placed at the hairline to avoid adding height to your forehead. The brows are then elevated and excess skin is removed. The wound is then closed with sutures and/or staples. A brow lift procedure takes about two hours to perform. Some physicians prefer to perform this procedure using an endoscope. The endoscope is a tubular probe fitted with a tiny camera, and a bright light which is inserted through a small incision. During surgery, the surgeon watches a viewing screen which magnifies the transmitted images of the body's internal structures. With the endoscopic procedure, three small incisions are made behind the hairline just large enough for placement of the endoscope within the hairline. Most often the surgery is performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. This keeps you in a twilight state. Although you may feel some tugging and mild discomfort, you will feel no pain. Some prefer to have the procedure done under general anesthesia. This is a decision you and your doctor can make. A brow lift can be performed in conjunction with a face lift. Also, when appropriate, a brow lift may be combined with blepharoplasty.

Recovery and Healing

Bandages are removed one or two days following surgery. Sutures will be removed in 10 days to two weeks. You should be able to shower and shampoo your hair as soon as the bandage is removed. Following surgery, you may experience some numbness and temporary discomfort around the incision that may be controlled with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Be careful not to take any aspirin or aspirin-containing compounds. Swelling and bruising is normal but usually subsides in a few days. You may also experience slight headaches. Ice compresses can help reduce swelling. Swelling may also affect the cheeks and eyes and in some instances can even extend down to the jawline. This should all disappear in a week or two. Most people can resume normal routines within a week after surgery, depending on one's age and how many procedures are performed at the same time.

Risks

Hair loss can occur. In rare cases, the nerves that control the movement of the eyebrows may be injured, resulting in an inability to raise the eyebrows or wrinkle the forehead. Loss of feeling commonly occurs along or just beyond the incision line. This is usually temporary, but may be permanent in some people. As with all surgical procedures, bleeding and infection can occur.

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