Temporal Lift
Fine line and wrinkles do not only develop in the mid and lower face. The signs of facial aging can affect the brow and forehead areas as well. With age, the lateral brows (outer brows) tend to droop, causing you to look old and tired. If you are not happy with how your upper eyelids and brows look, there are various brow lift techniques that can offer a solution. These include endoscopic brow lift and coronal brow lift. There is also a minimally invasive technique that addresses concerns in the lateral forehead called a temporal lift.
Please continue reading to learn more about brow rejuvenation with a temporal brow lift. Find out how this brow lift technique is associated with minimal risks and recovery time. Also discover how brow lifting techniques can restore a more youthful appearance to your upper face and add to your natural beauty.
What is a temporal brow lift?
There are different types of brow lift techniques such as coronal and endoscopic brow lifts as well as upper eyelid surgery. Surgeons use these techniques to address concerns such as heavy eyebrows, drooping eyebrows, and upper eyelid hooding. You can even get a non surgical brow lift with injection treatments with Botox and Dysport, which are neurotoxins.
In addition to these treatment options, a temporal brow lift is a popular procedure. Also known as a lateral brow lift, a mini brow lift, or a mini forehead lift, this brow lift technique involves making changes in the forehead and brow area like the other techniques. However, the changes made during this type of forehead brow rhytidoplasty procedure are limited to the outer third of the brow area. Meaning, people have a temporal lift performed for brow elevation at the corners of the eyes only.
Why choose a temporal brow lift?
Many patients prefer to have a lateral temporal lift for forehead rejuvenation because, unlike the other type of brow lifts, it does not leave big scars.
However, a temporal lift may not be appropriate for all patients. For example, it may not be the best choice for patients needing reconstructive surgery after trauma causing severe eyebrow asymmetries or facial nerve paralysis. It may also not be the best choice for patients with severe forehead wrinkles in the middle forehead area.
The ideal candidate for a temporal lift plastic surgery procedure is someone who has not benefited from a non surgical brow lift and who desires a mini brow lift to correct lateral eyebrow drooping.
What are the benefits of temporal brow lift surgery?
Recovery and Risks
A key advantage of a temporal brow lift surgery over other brow lift techniques is that it involves shorter and less invasive incisions with faster recovery, minimal downtime, and less risks. Yet, this procedure provides good results. What's more, the incisions for this surgical procedure are hidden behind the hairline so there are no obvious or visible scars.
Lasting Facial Rejuvenation
Plastic surgeons perform a lateral temporal lift to give patients a vibrant, refreshed, more youthful and aesthetically appealing appearance with results that last for years. A mini forehead lift plastic surgery can reduce fine lines and wrinkles at the corners of the eyes (crow's feet), lift the outer one-third of the eyebrows and forehead, smoothen the skin in the upper face, lift sagging cheeks, reduce hooding of the upper eyelids, give the eyes a more alert appearance, and overall enhance a person's facial features.
Subtle Results
As mentioned, unlike a traditional brow lift (coronal lift) or endoscopic brow lift, a lateral temporal lift focuses on the outer one-third of the brow and forehead. It does not lift the central forehead and brow. Most patients simply want a classic arched brow, even younger patients who do not have signs of aging as yet. Based on the National Plastic Surgery Survey, some patients prefer this technique because it does not give a surprised look due to overly opened eyes.
Combined Procedures
A temporal lift can be performed with other procedures, such as an eyelid lift or blepharoplasty, to improve the appearance of the eyes. The surgical procedure can also be complemented by Botox and other injectables to address deeper lines in the center of the forehead and between the eyebrows.
How is a temporal brow lift performed?
A temporal brow lift is performed through small, less invasive incisions behind the hairline in the upper forehead. Although this is a less invasive technique than other types of brow lifting cosmetic surgery, it does still require incisions. The exact type and size of the incisions for the temple lift depends on each patient's facial structure and the extent of lift desired. In most patients, the incisions are hidden above the lateral brow, a minimum of 1 cm behind the hairline above the temple on either side.
Plastic surgeons then use the incisions to reposition underlying tissue in the outer brow area to perform the lateral brow lift. The procedure takes around 1 hour to complete. The incisions are then closed with sutures (stitches).
What to expect during recovery from a lateral brow lift?
Because these types of brow lifts involve small incisions, lateral brow lifts can be done using local anesthesia. This is associated with a shorter recovery and less downtime. It is an outpatient procedure and you don't need to stay overnight in the hospital. The majority of patients can recover from a temporal lift in a few days (often over the weekend) and resume normal activities within a week. Other types of brow lifts like endoscopic brow lifts or a coronal brow lift can require 10-14 days of recovery.
How does a temporal brow lift compare to other types of brow lifts?
Your plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon is the best person to discuss the type of brow lift that is right for you. This will depend on your desired results, facial structure, and the degree of aging and other changes in your face. In general, a temporal lift is best suited to patients who have fine lines at the corners of the eyes, a good position of the medial brow (inner brow), and a flat or drooping lateral brow (outer brow).
In terms of comparison, the lateral or temporal brow lift procedure involves less risk and is the safest among the different brow lift techniques. It is also a less invasive procedure, is done with local anesthesia, and involves a shorter healing time than other types of brow lifts which address the whole forehead and entire brow.
However, if a patient has more severe signs of aging such as deep frown lines, forehead lines, and groves between eyebrows, or desires more dramatic results, a traditional brow lift or endoscopic brow lift technique may be more appropriate.
Will I have visible scars?
A temporal lift is a surgery that is done by making incisions. All incisions leave a scar when they heal. However, the scars from a temporal brow lift are well hidden in the hairline and are not visible. This is one of the things patients love about this procedure - the fact that visible scarring is not a big issue.
How long do the results of a temporal brow lift last?
After your temporal lift heals, you will notice that your sagging eyebrows are gone and the plastic surgery has given you more a youthful and vibrant positioning of the eyebrows. These results typically last for 7-10 years. The changes made by the temporal lift surgery are permanent, but with age, there is loosening and sagging of the underlying tissue, which can lead to some degree of sagging in the brows and upper eyelids.
What are the risks of the procedure?
Like all surgical procedures, a temporal lift has potential risks and complications. Notably, this type of brow lift technique is associated with the least risk among brow lifts. On rare occasions, patients can have infection or bleeding after the plastic or reconstructive surgery.
How much is a temporal lift?
The average cost of a temporal brow lift or lateral brow lift is $2,500 to $5,000. Keep in mind that the price of a temple lift can vary greatly depending on where you live and the skill and experience of your surgeon.
Finding a surgeon for a temporal brow lift
When you're having surgery on your face, it's essential to choose a highly experienced cosmetic surgeon who not only understands surgical techniques but also has a keen sense of aesthetic detail. The MeTime app connects you to top-rated plastic surgeons in your area who perform a lateral temporal lift. You can share photos, ask questions, do a video consultation, and book an appointment, all through one user-friendly interface. Download the MeTime app today and find out if you can benefit from a temporal lift.
