Brow Lift

The eyebrows should be at or above the level of the bony rim of the orbit. They may sag below the rim with age and skin laxity. Frequently, sagging eyebrows contribute to excess skin problems can exist together. Sagging brows contribute to overhanging skin of the upper lids.

A scornful look from deep vertical frown lines between the brows is the result of overactive, thickened corrugator muscles. Transverse forehead lines are cause by overactive frontalis muscles.

The Eyebrow Lift

Mild forehead lines are temporarily diminished by collagen injections. If transverse lines are deep and prominent, they are improve or eliminated with a brow lift by weakening the frontalis muscle. Removing segments of the corrugator muscle through a brow lift diminishes or erases the vertical frown lines. The brow lift also tightens the forehead skin, smoothing it and drawing the eyebrows back up to their normal position over the superior rim of the orbit.

When the only problem is sagging eyebrows, the brows may be lifted by removing a segment of skin just above the brow or across the middle of the forehead. This is frequently done in older adults. This local brow lift in younger men and women with smooth skin may leave a noticeable scar. For this reason, the plastic surgeon usually places the brow lift incision line in the hairline or in the scalp behind the forehead hairline.

The Coronal Brow Lift

The coronal brow lift surgery is performed through an incision in the scalp behind the hairline. There may be numbness of the scalp to varying degrees with the brow lift. Following surgery, there are varying degrees of swelling and bruising of the forehead and cheeks. This becomes most noticeable several days after surgery and subsides in two to three weeks. Infection is rare. Pain after eyebrow lift surgery is usually mild. Loss of the hair following surgery is rare, but has been noted with coronal and forehead hairline incision placement. The effect of a brow lift can be dramatic in the improvement of one’s appearance.