Brow Lift (Forehead Lift)

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert and Scottsdale, AZ

Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift is a surgical solution for a sagging, drooping brow. This procedure is perfect at smoothing out forehead lines and wrinkles and giving the upper third of the face a brighter, more alert appearance. As we age, our skin and muscle tissue loosens over time, creating a less awake, grumpy expression on our face. Our brow starts to droop over our eyes causing our whole face to look weighed down by life’s stressors. Through either a traditional or endoscopic approach, Dr. Robert G. Bonillas can give you a renewed, awakened expression with a brow lift.

Based in Scottsdale, Dr. Bonillas has quickly become the go-to plastic surgeon for Arizona and beyond. If you’re interested in learning more about how a brow lift can improve your visage or if you would like to learn more about our other procedures please schedule a personal consultation or call us at (480) 245-6380.

About

As we age, our skin and muscle tissue lose elasticity, resulting in loose, hanging skin in many different areas around our body. On the face this can result in a less contoured jawline, sunken cheeks, and a sagging upper brow. The sagging upper brow can be so severe that for some patients it can obstruct their vision.[1] This can be detrimental to a person’s self-confidence and self-image, because on the inside they may feel young and vibrant only to be constantly asked “Is everything okay? “Why do you look so tired?” “Are you upset?” This may lead to avoiding social situations altogether. However, with Dr. Bonillas’s brow lift approach, patients can achieve a younger countenance that lasts for years to come. 

Benefits

Long-Lasting Results

Other procedures such as Botox or fillers like Juvéderm can create similar results when injected into a drooping brow. These treatments may be perfect for clients who wish to see results but aren’t quite ready to go under the knife. While these treatments do garner similar results, they don’t quite last as long as a brow lift. For instance, the average time a Botox injection lasts is 3-4 months. While this may be ideal for some younger patients, patients looking for longer lasting results may find that a surgical brow lift is the best solution. Results from a brow lift can last up to a decade for many of our patients. 

A Brow Lift:

  • Lifts the sagging skin obstructing your vision
  • Improves expressiveness 
  • Minimizes deep forehead wrinkles
  • Erases fine lines around the seam of the brows

Candidates

The ideal candidate for a brow lift is someone who perhaps through aging or genetics has developed a drooping, sagging brow line. Likewise, the ideal candidate is someone who is tired of people overestimating their age, or being asked if everything is alright, or if they’ve gotten enough sleep. 

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation with Dr. Bonillas, he will go over the desired results you wish to see with a brow lift procedure. Judging by your skin’s current elasticity he will choose to go with either a traditional or an endoscopic brow lift. Then, if you are deemed an eligible candidate for a brow lift, a time and date for your procedure will be scheduled. In the interim it is important to follow the list of preparatory steps for your procedure. 

Preparation

To prepare for your brow lift, it is important to follow the individualized instructions Dr. Bonillas may have given you during your consultation. These instructions may also include tailored steps for your recovery, so please pay close attention to the post-operative instructions as well. 

Basic preparatory steps for your brow lift procedure include:

  1. Avoid smoking: smoking can decrease blood flow which can be detrimental to the healing process. Nicotine is known to constrict blood vessels and stress the heart, and this can cause excessive bleeding during surgery. 
  2. Avoid certain medications: do not take aspirin or any other anti-inflammatories, as they have been known to increase bleeding.
  3. Schedule a ride home: as general anesthesia is used in a brow lift, it is important to make sure you have a ride home after the procedure, because you will not be able to operate a motor vehicle.

Procedure

Based on your individual and procedural requirements, Dr. Bonillas will perform one of two types of brow lift on your: traditional or endoscopic.

Traditional

A traditional brow lift is performed in three steps:

  1. Slight incisions are made along the hairline. This is so they can be easily hidden after they have healed.
  2. The forehead skin is then lifted to erase any sagging features and diminish wrinkles. Next, the excess skin is trimmed off.
  3. The remaining skin is fastened in a secure position that is tight yet loose enough to still be animated. 

Endoscopic 

During an endoscopic brow lift, Dr. Bonillas will make a series of small incisions around the hairline rather than one long incision. The endoscopic technology reduces the need for large incisions.[2] Equipped with an endoscope, a medical ultrasound imaging tool, Dr. Bonillas can modify the corrugator muscles on the forehead and elevate the eyebrows to the desired orientation.[3] After the skin is redraped and situated in the ideal location, Dr. Bonillas will suture it in place. These sutures will be able to be removed 2 weeks after your surgery date. 

Recovery

Patients report experiencing some numbness and discomfort around the area of their incision. This numbness should completely subside in the next 6 months. For the next 2-3 days after your surgery you will need to keep your head elevated; this is especially crucial when sleeping. After two days, Dr. Bonillas will remove the bandages and in 1-2 weeks he will remove the sutures. Near the incision site, hair might have fallen out. This is completely normal and the hair should return in a few weeks to a few months. 

If Dr. Bonillas elected the endoscopic approach then you should expect less downtime than a traditional brow lift. 

Results

After a few weeks, your brow will settle into a well-rested, alert position with symmetrical results. Some patients report seeing results right away and as the swelling subsides their desired results become even more noticeable. To retain your results, it is important to keep up with a diligent skincare routine as well as avoid prolonged exposure to UV rays. This will help the skin keep its elasticity for longer – all the while prolonging the results of your brow lift.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures 

Dr. Bonillas has many more procedures to accentuate the incredible, countenance-changing results from your brow lift. These can be done in tandem with your brow lift or separate on a later date. 

Facelift

A facelift is a surgical solution that tightens the skin and muscles of your face. This is done by creating an incision around your hairline and ears. Next, the skin is pulled back while the underlying muscles are moved to rest naturally under the altered encompassing skin. This is a perfect procedure to address facial aging – whether that be volume loss, wrinkles, or a “droopy” look to the face. When paired with a brow lift, it can produce a totally revamped appearance.

Rhinoplasty

Colloquially known as a nose job, a rhinoplasty procedure is either done for cosmetics or function. Depending on your specific needs during the procedure, Dr. Bonillas will tailor an approach to address things like a deviated septum, a prominent bump, the tip’s orientation, or perhaps the overall shape of the bridge. 

If you’re interested in these or any of our other procedures please feel free to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Bonillas today!

Cost

The cost of your brow lift procedure will vary depending on what approach Dr. Bonillas decides is best for your specific needs. If you’re interested in learning more about our pricing please feel free to visit our financing page or give us a call at (480) 245-6380.

FAQ

Can a Brow Lift Fix Hooded Eyes?

A brow lift can definitely fix hooded eyes! The procedure’s goal is to create a more awake and youthful appearance in the eyes. Hooded eyes are caused by lax muscles in the eyelid. This causes the tissue around the eyes to sag and droop, sometimes obscuring vision. If an eyelid lift, blepharoplasty, is added this can ensure optimal results.

What Is A Good Age For A Brow Lift?

A prime candidate for a brow lift is between the ages of 40-65. This is because as we get older our facial muscles and skin tissue weaken, losing elasticity. The result of this is droopier, older looking skin and more facial wrinkles. To combat these signs of aging, a brow lift is the perfect solution. 

Does A Brow Lift Hurt?

During your brow lift, you will be placed under local anesthesia and will experience little to no pain or discomfort. 

How Long Do Results From a Brow Lift Last?

A brow lift is a facial rejuvenation procedure that offers long-lasting results. With proper skin care, these results can last up to 10 years. This is because while the lax muscle and skin were altered during the procedure, these features will continue to age after the brow lift. 

References

  1. Graham, D. W., Heller, J., Kirkjian, T. J., Schaub, T. S., & Rohrich, R. J. (2011). Brow Lift in Facial Rejuvenation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 128(4), 335e341e. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0b013e3182268d41 
  2. ‌Jones, B. M., & Lo, S. J. (2013). The Impact of Endoscopic Brow Lift on Eyebrow Morphology, Aesthetics, and Longevity. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 132(2), 226e238e. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0b013e3182958b9f 
  3. Rohrich, R. J., & Cho, M.-J. (2019). Endoscopic Temporal Brow Lift. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 144(6), 1305–1310. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000006238