If you are concerned about the heaviness of your eyelids, a tired appearance, or an unnatural facial expression, a brow lift can help. In fact, eyelids often look heavier due to how the brow droops down. Instead of a blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift, sometimes it is necessary for a brow lift. Thankfully, patients have a wide range of options to consider if a brow lift is needed.
A brow lift can be performed non-surgically or surgically. Two of the non-surgical procedures include fillers in the form of Botulinum toxin A or soft tissue fillers. Surgical methods for brow lifts are divided into three separate categories consisting of trans-blepharoplasty eyebrow lift, direct eyebrow lift, and trans-forehead eyebrow/forehead lift.
Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Brow Lifts
The most popular method for a brow lift is the endoscopic forehead lift approach. However, its longevity can be limited. Surgical treatment requires more downtime compared to non-surgical options. The need for pain management or swelling reduction may persist longer with surgical treatment than non-surgical treatment.
Non-surgical methods are easier to correct if complications occur. Non-surgical methods are also temporary, which means the endoscopic forehead lift approach, although popular, has limited longevity.
Brow Lift Techniques
According to the National Library of Medicine, there are a variety of advantages and disadvantages associated with brow lifts.
While non-surgical methods consist of Botulinum toxin A injection or soft tissue fillers, surgical methods consist of the following:
- Internal browpexy – avoids the cost and morbidity of more formal brow-lifting techniques
- Glabellar myoplasty – long-lasting improvement of vertical glabellar rhytids at the time of treatment
- Direct brow lift – the greatest elevation per millimeter of excised tissue
- Tissue suspension with suture – avoids large incisions and greatly reduces recovery time
- Coronal forehead and eyebrow lift – extensive incision with potential of persistent hair loss or numbness
- Endoscopic forehead lift – small incision with little risk of persistent hair loss and numbness
- Trichophytic forehead and brow lift – general anesthesia is not required and the frontal hairline is lowered
- Mid-forehead brow lift – general anesthesia is not required and the frontal hairline is lowered, as seen with the trichophytic forehead and brow lift
These vastly different brow lift techniques offer numerous options for patients seeking a brow lift.
Commonly Used Techniques
To learn which type of brow lift is best for you, consider speaking with your doctor.
While there are many brow lift options to consider, common techniques include the following:
- Full forehead/brow lift – Typically used for patients with significant brow drooping as well as significant forehead wrinkles, this type of surgery provides optimal results in patients with good hairlines that hide incisions.
- Browpexy/internal brow elevation – This method works exceptionally well for patients wanting brow elevation. For those who want brows out of the eyelid and eye area, the process is performed through the same incision made for upper eyelid blepharoplasty, so extra incisions or stitches are not necessary.
- Botox lift – This is a non-surgical method that achieves brow elevation. With strategic injections every 3-4 months, a Botox lift is for patients who do not want surgical brow elevation.
Find which brow lift is best for you today!
Find Treatment
At Eyelid Surgery of Minnesota, we are proud to provide patients with a wide variety of treatment options. Whether you require cosmetic eyelid surgery or want an eyelid or brow lift, our professionals have the skills to provide you with what you need. Our eye surgeons can take a closer look at the areas surrounding your eyes, helping with any cosmetic changes.
Consider our eyelid surgery center if you need a brow lift, dark circles removed from under the eyes, reconstructive surgery, or an eyelid lift. Our services include revisional, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery for the eyelids and surrounding area around the eyes. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about your surgical and non-surgical options.