What is a brow lift?
A brow lift—or forehead lift—is a surgical procedure to reduce the tired, older look of the forehead and area between the eyebrows by removing excess skin and rearranging the skin and muscles. This can remove the furrows on your brow and raise drooping eyebrows, which can be giving you a tired or angry look that does not reflect your real mood. There are several techniques like endoscopic brow lift that can be used for a brow lift and you can go here to read more about them.

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What is an endoscopic brow lift?
This is a brow lift done using endoscopic techniques, where a tiny camera and surgical tools are inserted through short incisions. Recovery is faster, but typically less correction can be done than with a regular brow lift. It is most often used on younger individuals who may not require much lifting. With an endoscopic technique, there is a greater chance that the brows and forehead will droop again than with other types of brow lift.

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At what age can a brow lift be performed?
A brow lift is usually performed on people who are in their late thirties or older. Some people have a furrowed brow and grooves between their eyebrows unrelated to age, and for them, a brow lift can be done earlier. Younger individuals can benefit from endoscopic surgery techniques that do not give a more extensive lift that older people may need.

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What happens during a typical brow lift consultation?
Your surgeon will examine you and take a complete medical history. He or she will also discuss your expectations of how you will look after brow lift surgery and go over how to realistically help you reach your goals. You will discuss the risks and complications as well as anesthesia choices, fees, and what to expect after the procedure. The consultation is also when you can ask questions and determine if this surgeon is for you. Do not be afraid to ask about anything.

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How is a brow lift performed?
There are several techniques that can be used in a brow lift. Basically, however, the surgeon will move and reattach the skin, muscle and other tissue of your forehead and eyebrows, depending on your specific needs. He or she may excise or clip your corrugator muscle to reduce furrowing in your forehead in the future. After the internal work has been done, incisions will be sutured, and a pressure dressing will be applied. For more information, see brow lift techniques.

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What should I expect postoperatively?
You can expect to be swollen, sore and possibly bruised. This is normal. If you're in pain, be sure to take your prescribed medications. You may experience numbness in the area around the incisions that may last up to several months.

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When will the stitches be removed, and does this hurt?
Sutures are usually removed a week to 10 days after brow lift surgery. Removing the sutures can hurt a little, but your surgeon can give you injections of a numbing agent if they are difficult or painful to remove.

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When will I be able to see the results?
The results of a brow lift are immediate, but you may not see them fully until the swelling does down. Full results should be visible in a few weeks.

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What are the risks of brow lift?
As with any surgery, there are risks. With a brow lift, there is a chance of infection, excessive bleeding, formation of blood clots, numbness from nerve damage and asymmetry and/or unsatisfactory results. Scarring may be visible, depending on where the incisions were made. Some patients may experience necrosis of the tissues at the incision lines, resulting in additional tissue removal. If an unskilled surgeon performs the brow lift, it is possible that your skin may be pulled too tightly, resulting in a permanently surprised look.

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Are the results permanent?
It may be better to say that the results are semipermanent. You (and the rest of us) are going to continue to age, and as you do, your forehead and brows will start to droop. Still, the results of most brow lifts will last a long time. Brow lifts using endoscopic techniques may not last nearly as long as a traditional brow lift, but they are by far less invasive and that is a trade-off that you will have to decide on.

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