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What is a Brow Lift?
As we age, our forehead skin can become lax, causing the descent of the eyebrow, leading us to appear aged and tired. Others may mistake your appearance as tired, angry, or sad when this is not how you actually feel. Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift tightens the tissues of the forehead to create a more youthful contour to the forehead, upper eyelids, and eyebrows.
Who is a Candidate?
Individuals with a sagging or low eyebrow position, deep horizontal lines across the forehead, frown lines between the eyebrows and the top of the nose, and excess skin or tissue that hangs over the eyes can often benefit from a brow lift. The best way to determine if this treatment is for you is through a consultation with Dr. Fichadia.
Brow Lift Benefits
Some of the benefits you can expect when you have a brow lift at our Portland, OR office include:
- More youthful appearance
- Fewer forehead and frown lines and crow’s feet
- Reduced sagging upper eyelids
- More refreshed appearance
- Boost in confidence and self-esteem
- Lift the brows to a more youthful position
- Long-lasting results
Types of Brow Lifts
We perform a few different brow lift options: the open, endoscopic, and limited incision brow lift.
Open Brow Lift
During this technique, an incision will be made across the forehead around the hairline or in one of the creases in the forehead. Then, the skin will be lifted away from underlying tissues, muscles will be loosened, and fat removed. Excess skin will be eliminated, and the remaining skin will be pulled down and secured with stitches.
Endoscopic Brow Lift
An endoscope, or a thin, long tube attached to a video camera, is inserted through small incisions in the scalp. This allows Dr. Fichadia to work on the internal structures of the forehead without making large incisions. In the right patient, this procedure results in less risk of numbness and scarring while having a faster recovery.
Limited Incision Brow Lift
This technique combines both the open and endoscopic techniques. An endoscope is not used, but this technique only uses limited incisions. This technique is meant to target wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, and resulting scars are hidden in the hairline.
The type of brow lift technique that is right for you will depend on your individual anatomy and desired aesthetic outcomes.
What to Expect During a Consultation
During your initial brow lift consultation, Dr. Fichadia will review your medical history, perform an examination, and address any questions or concerns you have. She’ll then build a customized treatment plan that meets your needs and helps you achieve your aesthetic goals. Your treatment plan will also include the type of brow lift that’s right for your specific concerns.
The Procedure
To start your brow lift, we’ll administer general anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure. Once that kicks in, Dr. Fichadia will make the necessary incisions to lift the skin (or insert the endoscope) and reconfigure the tissues and muscles. Where the incisions are placed and how much excess skin is removed will depend on the type of brow lift chosen during your consultation.
Brow Lift Combination Procedures
A brow lift can be combined with other cosmetic procedures for a complete facial rejuvenation. Some of the procedures most often combined with a brow lift include facelift, eyelid lift, and injectables like Botox and dermal fillers. Combining these procedures in one surgical session can ensure you only have to go through one recovery period.
Results and Recovery
You will experience a certain amount of swelling and bruising in the 10-day period following surgery. In some patients, this condition may include the cheek and eye area as well as the forehead. You will be advised to keep your head elevated in order to reduce swelling. Cold compresses may further reduce swelling. As the incisions heal, you may experience some numbness as well as itching, both of which will diminish with time. The sutures are usually removed within seven to 10 days following surgery. If bandages have been used, they are removed in one to three days. It is essential to follow the advice of your surgeon on resuming normal activities. For most patients, the recovery time will not exceed two weeks, but patients may still be advised to avoid strenuous activities for longer periods. Any prolonged bruising can be camouflaged with standard make-up techniques.
Risks of Brow Lifts
Some of the risks associated with brow lift surgery include the following:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Nerve damage
- Receding hairline
- Poor wound healing
Plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, cosmetic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.
Insurance does not generally cover surgery that is purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve sagging foreheads and brows that interfere with vision may be covered in whole or in part. If you are interested in learning more about brow lift surgery in Portland, contact our office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Fichadia.
Dr. Fichadia is a double board-certified, comprehensively trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon. She completed general surgical training at St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, an affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, and subsequently completed a highly competitive plastic surgery program at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She has presented research from her time in Boston and Portland at national and international surgical meetings such as Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons and annual meeting of American Society of Plastic Surgery.
