Brow Lift—Removing the Signs of Aging in the Forehead Region

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Between the age of 40 and 50, most people will develop expression lines across the forehead, creases in the upper part of the nasal bridge, drooping eyebrows, and sagging appearance in the upper facial region.  For these individuals, perhaps the most recommended plastic surgery approach is the brow lift which can reduce or even eliminate the visible signs of aging in the forehead area.

Because every person has a varying degree of sagging skin in the forehead, plastic surgeons today are using different types of brow lift surgery which are usually based on the length of the incision used.  But in general, the excision is placed behind or along the hairline in order to hide the scars.

For older patients, perhaps the most popular technique is the temporal brow lift which uses incisions made at the temples behind the hairline that will allow doctors to correct the wrinkles in the forehead, creases in the corners of the eyes or “crow’s feet,” and sagging cheeks.

If needed, this technique is performed with suture suspension in which plastic surgeons uses internal, permanent sutures to support the new, higher position of the muscles and tissues.

Another common technique for patients who need the most correction is the full coronal brow lift which involves making an extensive, temple-to-temple incision that runs across the crown of the head.  With this plastic surgery procedure, doctors can pull the muscle and skin upward and then tighten the forehead area.  If needed, they will also remove the excess skin that is causing the sagging appearance.

While this technique provides a dramatic result, there is a major downside which must be considered: the long incision may become visible for people who have thinning hair or receding hairline.

Because younger patients or those between the age of 35 and 50 usually need a minimal to moderate lift, plastic surgeons have developed a less invasive technique called endoscopic brow lift which uses a slender probe with a tiny camera attached to a screen.  Meanwhile, this instrument is inserted into three to six small incisions that are placed behind the hairline.

With this plastic surgery approach, patients can expect faster recovery, less post-operative pain and discomfort, minimal bleeding, and lower risk of scarring and other complications.

In some cases, the endoscopic brow lift is complemented with permanent sutures to support the muscles and tissues in the forehead in their new, higher position.  These internal sutures hold the tissue in place by suspending the muscles from a barb or just by passing through them.

Cosmetic Surgery Blogger @ December 21, 2011