The eyes and forehead are important components in the overall beauty of your face. With age, most people develop some degree of sagging in the region, causing them to look sad or tired. A brow lift or forehead lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that can help rejuvenate the upper third of the face and restore a more youthful appearance to it. An endoscopic brow lift is a less invasive type of brow lift that is associated with a shorter recovery period compared to other techniques. For this reason, it has become the procedure of choice for many surgeons. Keep reading to learn what an endoscopic brow lift involves, what it can achieve for you, and what your options are in terms of other types of brow lifts.
What is endoscopic brow lift surgery?
Like other types of brow lifts, an endoscopic brow lift is performed to help correct a heavy or sagging brow and wrinkles in the forehead region. The procedure can give the upper third of your face a more youthful, refreshed appearance with minimal scarring and a relatively quick recovery period.
An endoscopic brow lift is performed with a device called an endoscope that contains a tiny camera. The advantage of this technique is that the camera allows the surgeon to visualize the tissues and perform the surgery while keeping the incisions small. As a result, patients have smaller scars, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.
Why have a brow lift?
With age and the effects of gravity, the eyebrows tend to sag and become furrowed. As the name suggests, a brow lift corrects this problem by raising the eyebrows. The procedure also reduces frown lines and forehead wrinkles. The result is a more alert, youthful appearance.
An endoscopic brow lift can be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Some patients choose to have more extensive work done to correct the signs of aging in the mid and lower face as well. Ultimately, the goal of all these cosmetic procedures is to boost your confidence and help you look younger by addressing common signs of facial aging.
Types of brow lift surgery
Sagging of the eyebrows is a part of the natural aging process. There are several brow lift techniques that can be employed to address this problem. Some brow lift surgery procedures are described below:
Coronal brow lift
This is an older technique in which a single incision is made, extending from ear to ear. A coronal brow lift is a good option for patients who wish to achieve a lifting of the hairline as well. However, the incision is relatively large and sometimes the patient is left with numbness.
Temporal brow lift
This is a less extensive browlift that addresses brow ptosis (eyebrow sagging) in the outer third of the eyebrows only, which tend to descend with age, giving the upper eyelids a heavy appearance. It is often combined with eyelid blepharoplasty to address signs of aging in the eyelids.
Trichophytic brow lift
This is an approach in which an incision is made behind the hairline to elevate the eyebrows. The advantage is that because the incision is behind the hairline, the scar is camouflaged when hair grows over it.
Endoscopic browlift
This minimally invasive method involves making several small incisions near the brows. The surgeon inserts a tiny camera through the incisions to visualize the tissues and raise the brow position. This approach may involve placement of a fixation device to lift sagging skin.
Brow Lift vs. Eyelid Lift vs. Facelift
During a brow lift, the surgeon focuses on the eyebrow area and manipulates muscles and skin between and around the eyes. A lid blepharoplasty or eyelid lift focuses exclusively on the skin and muscles of the eyelid. Both techniques, blepharoplasty and brow lift, can address problems such as drooping, loose skin, wrinkles, and furrows to open up the eye area and give the patient a more refreshed, alert, youthful look.
Whereas a brow lift or lid blepharoplasty will address problems like forehead wrinkles and sagging brows, a facelift is performed to improve the appearance of jowls, loose neck muscles, deep nasolabial folds, and facial wrinkles. It may be possible to combine a brow lift and facelift in one surgery. You can also combine a surgical procedure with a non-surgical procedure like laser skin resurfacing.
Who is a good candidate for a brow lift?
You are an appropriate candidate for an endoscopic brow lift if you have sagging eyebrows that give you a sad or tired appearance, deep creases across the forehead, and furrows or frown lines between the eyebrows.
When should endoscopic brow lift surgery be avoided?
An endoscopic brow lift is usually not recommended in patients who have excessive hairline recession, for example, due to male pattern baldness. This is because an endoscopic brow lift raises the hairline slightly and can make the forehead seem bigger. Also, some patients with a curved forehead or frontal bossing (prominent ridge) may not be candidates for an endoscopic brow lift because the anatomy does not allow the surgeon to pass the endoscopic instruments.
What happens during the endoscopic brow lift procedure?
Before the surgery
You will have a consultation in the cosmetic surgery office. The surgeon will discuss your options with you. At this time, the healthcare team will obtain a complete medical history to ensure the surgery can be performed safely. Your aesthetic provider will also take photos for comparison purposes.
In preparation for the endoscopic browlift, you will be advised to stop taking certain medications like blood thinners that can increase the risk of bleeding. Your surgeon will also advise you to stop smoking for 4 weeks before and after the surgery to reduce the risk of healing complications. You should avoid drinking alcohol 2 days before. You may also receive instructions about not eating or drinking anything 6-8 hours before the surgery.
During the surgery
An endoscopic brow lift may be done either under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia with sedation. The plastic surgeon will make several small incisions, 3-4 cm in length, in the eyebrow and forehead area. The incision sites are within the hairline and well hidden. The surgeon will remove excess skin and adjust the forehead muscles and brow tissue to reduce sagging and wrinkles. The excess tissue will be tacked down on the scalp with a fixation device called an Endotine device or bone tunnel to hold the tissue up while it heals. The incisions will be closed with sutures (stitches) and bandages will be placed.
Aftercare and recovery
Immediately after the endoscopic brow elevation procedure, your forehead will be swollen and bruised. You will be given antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection and pain medication to reduce discomfort. The stitches and staples are usually removed after about a week. Initial recovery takes around 2 weeks. Complete recovery can take several months. However, most patients return to normal activities in 1-2 weeks.
How long do the results last?
The results of an endoscopic browlift are noticeable immediately and are permanent. However, over time, the signs of aging can reappear gradually.
What are the potential complications of the surgery?
Patients may experience altered sensation in the forehead or temporary hair loss. Complications and side effects are rare when the surgery is performed by experienced surgeons.
What are the alternatives to endoscopic brow lift surgery?
Injections with botulinum toxin (Botox) can temporarily relax the muscles that depress the eyebrows, thereby allowing the brows to be elevated. The results last for 3-4 months and the injections need to be repeated thereafter to maintain brow elevation.
What is the average age of people who have this surgery?
An endoscopic brow lift is most often done in patients who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s and have signs of aging such as heavy or low brows, forehead wrinkles, and furrows in the glabellar area (between the eyebrows).
Choosing a cosmetic surgeon
The MeTime app makes it easy to find experienced aesthetic providers in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Want to find out if an endoscopic brow lift is right for you? Try the MeTime app now!
