Commonly performed on people between the ages of 40 and 70, a forehead lift (or brow lift) treats deep lines and furrows that accumulate with age.

Brow lifts are an increasingly popular forehead treatment, with well over 50,000 procedures performed in 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Brow lift is a cosmetic plastic surgery typically used for reducing creases that appear with age in the forehead.

Most brow lift patients are between the ages of 40 and 70. The best candidates are healthy people seeking a solution to unwanted furrows and deep forehead lines. Other good candidates may include younger people suffering from premature aging signs such as drooping eyebrows. Brow lifts may be used in conjunction with hair transplants to treat a receding hairline or baldness; or with fat transfers to create volume; or with blepharoplasty or facelift to achieve a fully satisfactory outcome.

A forehead lift is performed in an outpatient medical facility, office surgical suite, or hospital. You should discuss the appropriate type of anaesthesia with our doctor and the anaesthesiologist. A forehead lift usually requires only local anaesthesia (awake but sedated), though occasionally general anaesthesia (asleep). Time in surgery is about one to two hours, and you return home the same day.

Brow lift may be performed through a conventional-incision method. Alternatively, your surgeon may use an endoscope tool that acts as a visual guide, which requires a smaller incision. The advantages of an endoscopic method can include a smaller incision, no general anaesthesia, reduced bruising, quicker recovery time, and less scarring.

Before the procedure, your hair is trimmed and tied back from the area where the incision will be made. The doctor will choose the least visible area to make the incision, such as along your hairline, within the scalp, or along the natural bone structure lines on the scalp.

For a conventional forehead lift, one long incision is made. The incision begins at one ear, cross the forehead region, and ends at the other ear. The forehead skin is lifted, excess tissue is removed, muscles are repositioned or removed, and the eyebrows are lifted. Extra skin in any of these areas will then be trimmed. The incision is stitched or clipped and gauze is applied. A bandage is often wrapped around the head following the procedure. Bandages may be removed within two days of surgery. Stitches and clips are generally removed within two weeks.

After a conventional forehead lift, you may experience

• Temporary discomfort and numbness. This is managed with medication.
• Headache. This can be a side effect from anaesthesia
• Swelling. This is managed with head elevation and typically subsides within a week.
• Unusual sensations, which may include itching or lack of sensation at the incision line. This symptom normally disappears within six months.
• Hair Loss. Regrowth usually occurs in one to three months.

For an endoscopic forehead lift, several tiny incisions are made within the scalp. The surgeon inserts the endoscopic instrument to produce a visual map of the inside of the forehead and eyebrows. The surgeon then inserts another instrument into the other incisions to lift the skin and to remove excess fat, muscle, or skin on the forehead and eyebrows. Temporary screws or sutures may be fastened to hold the position of the altered skin or muscle. The incision is stitched or clipped and gauzed. After surgery, a bandage is often wrapped around the head. Stitches and staples are removed within a week, and screws are removed in about two weeks.
After an endoscopic forehead lift, you may experience

• Temporary discomfort and numbness. This is managed with medication.
• Swelling. This is managed with head elevation and typically subsides within a few days.
• Unusual sensations, which may include itching or lack of sensation. This is usually a minimal side effect that disappears in a short time.

Complications are rare; however, there are risks associated with any medical procedure. Some patients may not be able to move their eyebrows or forehead. Additional surgery may correct this problem. Scar formation and permanent hair loss within the scar area may occur. Permanent lack of sensation at the incision line is also a rare complication. Infection, bleeding, and other minor complications are possible. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, endoscopic patients experience less frequent complications — reporting an incidence of less than 1 percent.

Keep in mind that you may need a modified or additional procedure to achieve your goals and expectations. For example, a forehead lift is often performed during a facelift, eyelid surgery, hair transplant, or chemical peel. Our doctor can help develop a successful strategy, which often includes a combination treatment plan customized for each individual.