Brow Lift

Introduction to Brow Lift

Our natural eyebrow position changes as we age due to the effects of gravity, loss of tissue elasticity and tone, fat atrophy, and continuous eyebrow and forehead muscle use over time. In our daily interactions, our face sends a message, and the position of the eyebrows is a significant part of that message. Patients often complain that they look “worried,” “angry,” “tired” or “stressed” when they don’t feel that way. Their facial expression doesn’t present how they truly feel inside. Seattle Face & Skin offers Eyebrow and Forehead Lifting as ways to address eyebrow position and loose or wrinkled forehead skin and underlying tissue. To fully understand the benefits of eyebrow and forehead lifting, one must be aware of the importance of the position of the eyebrows.

What is Brow Lift?

In addition to these unpleasant facial expressions, brow descent will lead to a “crowding” of the eyes by excess eyelid skin. The “hooding” of the eyes by the eyelid skin, in addition to the feeling of eyelid heaviness, will often lead to a subconscious drive to use your forehead muscles to counteract the drooping brow. Though this action will camouflage the brow droop, it will lead to the development of forehead creases and lines that will deepen over time. A browlift or forehead lift, often in combination with fat grafting to restore volume, can significantly improve these facial features, and restore a person’s naturally rested, rejuvenated appearance. Not only will the elevation of the brow lead to a more “open and alert” appearance to the eyes, but it will also naturally diminish the development of the forehead lines which leads to a more aged appearance.

There are several types of eyebrow and forehead lifts. The type you and your surgeon choose will depend on your current eyebrow position, your hairline, your facial structure, and what is possible to maximize your appearance. The main types of forehead lifting that we offer at Seattle Face & Skin are as follows:

The Pretrichial (Hairline) Brow/Forehead Lift

Though the Pretrichial Brow Lift requires a longer incision along the hairline, Dr. Bhrany feels that this gives the most powerful and long-lasting lift with an aesthetically “friendly” incision. This procedure is ideal for patients who want to lift their eyebrows while shortening the forehead by removing a strip of skin and underlying tissue along the incision. Because the forehead is shortened, the hairline is lowered which is ideal for those with a high forehead. This procedure lifts everything from the hairline down to the eyebrows and can address eyebrow shape and asymmetry. The scar from the incision, once healed, is virtually undetectable as the incision is made in such a way that hair follicles are preserved allowing for hair growth through the scar. Following the procedure, there will be some bruising and swelling. Patients usually return to their normal daily routine in 1-2 weeks.

A Coronal browlift is a similar type of surgery, except the incision, is made on the crown of the head further back in the hairline. Though this hides the incision well, it increases the height of the forehead which is usually not desired.

Endoscopic Brow/Forehead Lift

The Endoscopic Eyebrow/ Forehead Lift is very popular as it requires 5 small incisions hidden in the hair and leaves no visible scar. This procedure can lift everything from the hairline to the eyebrows. It tightens and smoothes the entire forehead while lifting the eyebrow area which “opens up” the entire upper face. Eyebrow shape and asymmetry can be addressed with this type of lift. This type of lift may not be ideal for someone with severe brow descent or heavy skin, and may not be as long-lasting a lift as the pretrichial method. Following the procedure, there will be some bruising and swelling. Patients are usually comfortable returning to their normal routine activities in about 1- 2 weeks.

The Mid-forehead or Direct Brow Lift

The Mid-forehead, sometimes called “Gull Wing”, lift or Direct Brow Lift requires removing a section of skin and underlying tissue above the eyebrows or in the forehead. This procedure is best for a patient with a severe brow droop that already has significant forehead wrinkles which hide the incision. It is also preferred for patients with an extremely thin or balding hairline. As it is a less invasive procedure, it can often be done under local anesthesia. The “Gull Wing” beautifully lifts a sagging brow while tightening and smoothing the forehead by pulling the skin and tissue of the forehead down rather than up. It, therefore, lowers the hairline which is ideal for a receding hairline and/ or a high forehead. This procedure also addresses eyebrow shape and asymmetry. Care is taken to position the scar just along the eyebrows so that it is maximally camouflaged as shown below. Patients will experience some bruising and swelling following the procedure. They are usually comfortable returning to their normal routine activities in about 2 weeks.

What are the Benefits of Brow Lift?

Many of our Seattle Brow lift patients have discovered the following benefits from their surgery:

• Diminished forehead lines
• Eliminates the “tired” or “angry’ look
• Improved vision by opening up your eyes
• Improves the appearance of the forehead
• Long-lasting results
• Reduced sagging in Upper Eyelids
• Removal of excess skin
• Restored natural arch in your eyebrows

Who are the Best Candidates for Brow Lift?

A patient that has a low eyebrow position that seems to fall in the eyes is an excellent candidate for a brow lift. Patients that tend to furrow their brows and develop “angry lines” between the eyebrows are often also good surgical candidates. Other characteristics a good brow lift candidate would have are:

• Age 40 or above. This is when most people begin seeing more wrinkles, fine lines, and brow drooping. Younger patients may also not see long-lasting results.
• In good general health
• Have wrinkles and sagging skin in the area around the eyes and forehead that they want to get rid of
• Maintain realistic expectations for results
• No history of bleeding, clotting, or negative reactions to anesthesia

What’s the First Step?

The First Step in getting a Brow Lift in Seattle is to contact Seattle Face & Skin for your personal consultation with Dr. Bhrany. During this appointment, you will be able to discuss the aesthetic goals you have for your forehead, ask any questions, and address any concerns. Dr. Bhrany will examine your forehead and create a surgical plan that he believes will best suit you. It is important, to be honest with Dr. Bhrany about your medical history during this consultation to ensure the best, most positive results and avoid any potential risks. You will also discuss which technique is best for you so there are no surprises during your surgery and will help Dr. Bhrany when creating your surgical plan. If you agree to this plan, you will be able to schedule your surgical appointment with our Patient Coordinator, who will also provide you with instructions to follow before your procedure.

What to Expect on the Day of Brow Lift

When you come in for your Brow Lift surgery, you will first be administered either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation with local anesthesia, depending on what is discussed during your consultation. Once the anesthesia begins to take effect, Dr. Bhrany will begin the brow lift surgery that is discussed during your consultation. For a better understanding of what to expect during your procedure, please refer to the techniques listed above.

Regardless of which technique you and Dr. Bhrany decided upon, most brow lift surgeries will take about one to two hours.

Brow Lift Recovery

You will be able to return home after your Brow lift surgery, however, we highly recommend that you take the first week off from work so that you may recover comfortably. After the first day or so, you will be able to shower as long as you are gentle when cleaning near the incision sites. While you are recovering, you will probably experience some slight discomfort and tightness throughout your forehead. You can also expect swelling and bruising to occur for the first 10 days, usually entirely subsiding after two weeks. Dr. Bhrany will prescribe you some temporary pain medication to ease any pain during the beginning stages of your recovery.

After the first week of your surgery, you will need to return for a follow-up appointment where Dr. Bhrany will remove the sutures from your head and examine your healing. At this time, you will be able to return to a sedentary position at work, but you may notice that you might become tired a little faster than usual, so an initially limited work schedule is advised. After about 2 to 4 weeks, you can gradually resume exercise with Dr. Bhrany’s clearance.

How Much Does Brow Lift Cost in Seattle?

The cost of a Brow Lift in Seattle will vary on a variety of factors, including which technique is used and the degree of change you are hoping to achieve. After meeting with Dr. Bhrany and having your surgical plan created, our Patient Coordinator will be able to use that information to provide you with a breakdown of the entirety of your treatment.

Unfortunately, Insurance companies will rarely cover a brow lift procedure as it is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. In rare instances, however, if a patient’s eyebrows are so low as to encroach into a patient’s visual field, exceptions are possible. If your surgeon feels that you may be such a candidate, standardized photography and visual field testing will be necessary to send to the insurance company to obtain preauthorization. Increasingly, even in cases where insurance companies “preauthorize” surgery, they have denied payment afterward. In these instances, the patient would be responsible for covering the cost of the surgery.

Why Choose Us?

Dr. Amit D. Bhrany devotes his practice to aesthetic facial rejuvenation and reconstruction. As a double board-certified in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology and a member of AAFPRS (American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), Dr. Bhrany feels privileged to have the opportunity to make a difference in his patients’ lives and even more privileged to have your trust to allow him to participate in your care. As the leader of Seattle Face & Skin, our team shares Dr. Bhany’s goals in helping our patients achieve a healthy, more youthful, and natural appearance, that leaves them feeling better and more confident inside.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you live in the Seattle area and feel it’s time to get rid of that furrowed brow, contact Seattle Face & Skin (206) 599-3223 or contact us online to schedule your Brow Lift consultation with Dr. Bhrany.