Brow Lift

Many patients think that the eyes are the first part of the face to age, but in actuality, the brow can often play a bigger role in facial aging. In some cases, a brow lift is a better or complementary solution to an eye lift. We often furrow our brows, squint, and overwork brow muscles. This can lead to a “heavy” brow that impacts eye sagging, wrinkles, and bags. Plus, the brows themselves can be home to a person’s first wrinkles, from the tell-tale horizontal lines on the forehead to the glabellar lines or “angry elevens” between the brows. Fortunately, both a full brow lift (endoscopic brow lift) and lateral brow lift can give patients instant, natural-looking dramatic results using small incisions that are easily hidden in the hairline.

Addressing the aging of the brow area by combining surgical solutions with dermatological approaches can give patients optimal results. A customized plan that includes both surgical and dermatological procedures, as well as a comprehensive plan for at-home care with medical-grade products, can enhance and sustain your results. At RefinedMD, we offer a personalized “one-stop-shop” approach for all of your skin needs and goals, including the positively life-changing brow lift by double board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Sudeep Roy.

The RefinedMD Approach to a Brow Lift

Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift does much more than give you that perfect arch you’ve been trying to fake with a brow kit. When done right, brow lifts don’t change your inherently gorgeous natural brow arc at all. The procedure simply restores your brows to their youthful appearance while simultaneously removing the “heavy brow” furor and forehead wrinkles that seemed to have popped up overnight.

A brow lift is a surgery that fixes low, heavy brows to restore your face to its balanced symmetry. Sometimes a brow lift is combined with an upper eyelid lift for a real pick me up. Our eyes are flanked by some of the most delicate skin on our bodies and are the first to show the signs of aging. Muscles get tired, and those around your eyes can drag down your brows to give you a tired appearance. Giving the entire area a lift, including the eye and brow area, can be the perfect winning combination to regain your youthful, happy appearance. There are two types of brow lifts, and Dr. Roy will discuss each in detail with you during your consultation.

Lateral Brow Lift

If you want a reminder of what your natural brows should look like, take a look at photos from your youth. You might notice that your eyebrows have lowered as you’ve gotten older—but not the entire brow. The later brow, which you can see near the tail of your eyebrows, tends to “fall” more so than the rest of your brow. This is especially prevalent in your 40s and 50s but can happen when you’re younger, too.

Why do we get droopy tails? It’s frustratingly simple: Our outer brows have fewer attachments to underlying muscles. They’re predominantly held in place by loose fascia connected to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS). So, as the SMAS lowers with age, it drags your brows down with it. Our inner brows stay put because of the hearty bone and muscles they are attached to.

You might be a good candidate for a lateral brow lift if your eyebrow “tail” has descended but the rest of your eyebrow has stayed the same. You might notice that your outer eyes have become hooded or droopy. This can make you look more tired and older than you are, but a lateral browlift can instantly restore your bright-eyed, bushy-tailed aaesthetic. The lateral brow lift restores your eyebrows to their original location, keeping the central and inner portions of the eyebrow as they are. But what if you do need a boost of the entire brow and forehead area?

Endoscopic Brow Lift

We all age differently, and even though the muscles that are connected to the central and inner eyebrows are pretty sturdy, they can get tired, too. If your entire brow area is droopy and saggy, you might be a candidate for an endoscopic brow lift. This is usually what people think of when they hear “brow lift”—lifting the entire brow area—but the endoscopic brow lift is a way to do it with minimal downtime and scarring.

Today, the endoscopic brow lift is the ultimate full brow lift offered by the best surgeons. The incisions are very small and minimally invasive and are hidden in the hairlines. The procedure got its name from the little endoscope attached to a camera that’s used during the procedure.

Brow Lift Candidates, Surgery, and Recovery

A Safe, Comfortable Brow Lift: Anesthesia and Recovery

At RefinedMD, patient safety and comfort are always a top priority. Both endoscopic and lateral brow lifts happen under anesthesia, which can range from sedation to general anesthesia. Both are types of anesthesia, and while sedation is part of the general anesthesia “family,” there are many differences. When a patient receives general anesthesia, they are rendered unconscious in a controlled environment under the care of an anesthesiologist. Patients in this state do not feel, hear, see, or remember anything about the procedure.

Sedation is a “lighter” form of anesthesia. In a state of sedation, patients are extremely relaxed and sleepy but are not unconscious. No pain is felt, but they know what is happening. The exact type of anesthesia for your brow lift will depend on a few factors and will be discussed during your consultation. Some patients have a preference for general anesthesia or sedation, and these are always taken into account.

Whether you opt for a lateral brow lift or endoscopic brow lift, you’ll be fitted with a head dressing for one day post-surgery. Most of the bruising and swelling will subside in one to two weeks, and sutures or staples are removed after one week. Patients can get back to their low-impact activities in two weeks and high-impact workouts or activities in three or four weeks.

Ideal Brow Lift Candidates

Having perfect brows has become a beauty staple for both men and women. However, there’s a lot more to these “eye frames” than you think. Droopy brows can make a person look angry, sad, and in some cases even interfere with vision. Many patients aren’t sure if a brow lift is the right complement to an eyelift, or which type of brow lift is the best for their needs. Dr. Roy is committed to ensuring patients get the results they want in a safe and comforting environment. You can discuss your goals and concerns during your consultation and figure out if a brow lift is a right choice for you.

The only way to discover which procedure(s) and treatment(s) will give you the results you seek is during a consultation. There are a variety of options available, and a brow lift can be a fantastic way to “lighten” the brows, vanquish and minimize wrinkles, brighten and open the eyes, and ultimately make you look several years younger. Take a close look at your brow and the surrounding area. Although we’re often drawn to the eye area, you might discover that your brow is responsible for making you look older. A brow lift can give you the youthful, refreshed look you want or can be the perfect complement to the eyelift you have been considering.

Complimentary Treatments to Brow Lift Surgery

Many patients rightfully want to take advantage of anesthesia and their brow lift surgery by combining the procedure with complementary surgeries. This is a great way to reduce recovery time as well as fees related to anesthesia.

One of the most common complementary procedures to an endoscopic or lateral brow lift is an eyelid lift. Eyelid lifts, also known as blepharoplasty, can include the upper and/or lower eyelids. An eyelid lift can also “complete” a facelift, which is a procedure that addresses the mid to lower face—not the forehead area. Today’s facelifts feature small incisions that are easy to hide in the natural creases near the ears. There’s also the thread facelift, which isn’t quite as dramatic as a full facelift and is perfect for younger patients or those who want to avoid additional incisions entirely.

Complimentary cosmetic surgeries aren’t the only way to maximize your brow lift results. There are also several non-surgical and dermatological add-ons, and one of the most popular is a neurotoxin like Botox or Dysport. These injectables temporarily freeze overworked muscles responsible for causing wrinkles. The forehead is the most popular area for the use of injectables and can help extend the results of a brow lift. A brow lift helps you achieve a smooth, light, wrinkle-free appearance and patients naturally want to sustain that youthful look as long as possible. Neurotoxins can help. You’ll also want to check out Ultherapy, Chemical Peels, and Dermalinfusion to help boost your results.

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Contact RefinedMD Today About Brow Lift Surgery

At RefinedMD, the best in surgical and non-surgical options are offered so our patients have everything they need to reach their aaesthetic goals. The vast majority of people experience some level of droopy brows with age, and genetics also plays a role. There’s no perfect age for a brow lift, but if you’ve noticed that your eyes are more hooded than they used to be or that your brows descend more than they used to, a brow lift might be your personal fountain of youth. Dr. Roy is committed to providing patients with natural-looking and stunning results for their brow lift. If you are looking for the absolute best results, contact RefinedMD today.