Brow Lift
The brow lift is one of the plastic surgery procedures that has the most power to transform a person's appearance. A long-lasting procedure that often needs no revisions or repeat surgeries, the brow lift can be invaluable in refreshing and maintaining a youthful look in the face.
Procedure
The goals of the brow lift procedure, also called a forehead lift or upper facelift, include lifting the eyebrows to a higher level, correcting excess skin on the upper eyelids (especially the outer one-third), removing the frowning muscles between the brows and then plumping up these zones with soft tissue grafts made of fat or fascia, and modifying the frontalis muscle so the forehead is smoother with fewer wrinkles.
This surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. All surgery is done at Dr. Payne’s MediCare and California State Certified Pueblo Nuevo Surgery Center located within his office. Incisions are hidden in the scalp or placed at the anterior hairline, with a number of options for incision placement. These include endoscopic (using multiple shorter incisions), limited open techniques, and full open coronal approach. The methods each have pros and cons, and they will be discussed with each client. With all the incision options, however, the final scars will be hidden in the scalp or adjacent to it.
Results
As people age, the skin in the face begins to lose its elasticity and smoothness. The skin can become thinner. Chronic sun exposure results in lines, wrinkles, and irregular skin color. The fat under the skin can begin to melt away or droop, and muscles lose tone and bulk. Even bone can begin to resorb and melt away. All of these changes result in the appearance of the aging face, which looks tired, stressed, anxious, uncertain, or aggressive.
The brow lift very significantly helps correct the aging changes. This will result in a forehead that is smoother and tighter. The upper eyelids have excess skin moved upwards, which opens the eyes and makes them look brighter and younger. The area between the brows is smoothed and plumped. The entire upper face is rejuvenated.
Improvement after surgery can help communicate youthfulness, vitality, optimism, strength, and improved health. If our eyes, brow, and forehead communicate a positive message, others may be more positive, encouraging, and validating in their interactions with us.
Dr. Payne discusses all these elements in great detail with each client, discussing the face and neck as a whole and making treatment recommendations that include surgical and non-surgical issues. He will discuss skin aging and skin care, including diet, exercise, nutrition, hormone, and lifestyle issues.
For maximum results with the face and neck, multiple treatment options are often required. In addition to brow lift procedures, it may be valuable to consider blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), cheek lifts, face and neck lifts, rhinoplasty (nasal surgery), laser skin resurfacing, broad band light therapy or other laser technologies, chemical peels, dermabrasion, botox, restylane and other soft tissue injectable fillers, or other treatments. However, brow lifts stand up to the effects of aging and gravity better than many other operations, so the need for revision or repeat lifting is very low.
The future in this area is exciting, as new technologies continue to become available. Future developments may include the use of stem cells; improved delivery and targeting of hormones associated with aging; more effective use of vitamins and other diet supplements; longer-lasting soft tissue fillers; and better laser, light, and other technologies delivering energy to our skin and soft tissues, resulting in less down time and better aesthetic and health improvements.
After the Surgery
Brow lift operations are not painful and recovery is fairly rapid. Most clients need one week off work. It may be necessary to wear camouflage makeup, which Dr. Payne can provide, for a while until the bruising and swelling associated with facial surgery has resolved. Clients may resume exercise and engage in strenuous activity within 10 to 14 days after surgery if they feel ready.
Each client will be given detailed postoperative instructions and medications aimed at minimizing pain and discomfort. Dr. Payne usually calls clients the evening of surgery and the following morning to reinforce instructions and make sure the client is doing well. Most clients are seen one to two times per week for the first few weeks for careful monitoring and instruction. Clients are followed until they are fully healed and back to normal.
