Raise a ‘heavy’ brow for a smoother, younger-looking forehead

Procedure Summary

Facial plastic surgery has its roots in the pioneering reconstructive surgery of World War 1. The skills developed then, along with the dramatic technological advances of the last century, have enabled cosmetic operations, such as brow lifts, to take place, improving the physical appearance, as well as the confidence, of a great many patients.

Is brow lift surgery right for you?

Some people are born with a low brow, others may experience it as they get older. Whatever your starting point, the combined effect of age, facial expressions, the weather and gravity can increase the downward sag of the eyebrows as the skin loses its elasticity.

“My naturally ‘heavy’ brow gave the impression of a permanent frown, and I had all the wrinkles associated with it,” said one patient after undergoing the procedure. “Cosmetic surgery ‘opened up’ my expression, making me look and feel more fresh and awake.”

By placing your fingers above your eyebrows and to the side of your eyes and gently raising he skin upwards you can get an impression of what plastic surgery to raise the brow will leave you looking like. Your skin’s surface will not be changed, so any scars or markings will remain after the surgery, and although the results can sometimes be permanent, the effect will diminish as you get older or put on weight.

Surgical solutions to a brow lift

There are two common ways to carry out a brow lift  procedure - the open brow lift and the endoscopic (‘keyhole surgery’) brow lift. Both procedures will take 1 to 2 hours and can be performed under local anaesthetic.

The open brow lift:
An incision will be made just behind the hairline from ear to ear to avoid permanent visible scarring (another option, especially for men with a high hairline owing to baldness, is to make the incision within the deep lines in the forehead. The forehead skin will be separated from the underlying tissue and the forehead muscles either relaxed or released. The skin will be gently pulled upwards to raise the eyebrows and then closed with stitches or clips.

The endoscopic brow lift:
Instead of making one long incision across the forehead, this procedure involves making 3 to 5 small incisions, each approximately 25mm long, in the scalp. An endoscope (a narrow tube with a camera on the end connected to a monitor that can be viewed by the surgeon) is used to view the underlying tissue through each of the incisions. As in the open lift, muscles will be relaxed or released and the eyebrows lifted and secured into a raised position using stitches beneath the surface of the skin or by temporary screws placed behind the hairline. The incisions will then be closed with stitches or clips.

In addition to open and endoscopic methods, brow lifts can also be performed using suture, or threadlift, techniques. This involves placing sutures, or threads, with tiny 'teeth' into the brow through a small insertion and pulling them upwards and securing them to raise the brow.

How you will feel after the procedure

After surgery you will most likely experience some temporary swelling, numbness, headaches and bruising. You will be required to stay in hospital overnight and take 7 to 10 days off work. You will also be advised to sleep upright for a week which will help to reduce the swelling.

Sutures will be removed at some point between 7 and 14 days. Care should be taken to minimise any irritation to the scalp for the initial couple of weeks by, for example, keeping your hair clean using baby shampoo and not using hair styling products. Although, strenuous physical activity will be possible after 3 to 4 weeks, exposure to the sun should be limited for several months.

”After my surgery,” said one brow lift patient, “I felt rather sore and tender, and to make things worse my hair fell out around the incisions. However, the tenderness soon eased, and as my hair grew back it covered the scaring.”

There is always some degree of risk associated with surgery, which the cosmetic surgeon will discuss during your consultation. Possible problems include bleeding, nerve damage and blood collecting under the skin. The nerves in your face may be damaged during surgery, restricting facial movement, and you may be left with asymetric eyebrows. Despite this risk, thousands of brow lifts are carried out each year. When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, and when the patient complies with all pre and post operation advice, the results are typically successful.

Choosing a surgeon

A brow lift procedure should be carried out by a cosmetic surgeon with relevant skills and experience in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission. Prices for a private brow lift procedure can range from £3000 to £4000. If this is something that you are considering, you can discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.

Have your say!

If you've had experience with this procedure then why not leave a comment below and share your thoughts and advice with our readers.