Can a brow lift be done at the same time as a facelift?
Yes, a brow lift and facelift can be performed at the same time. The skin of the eyebrows, face, and neck often sag at about the same age as the skin loses its elasticity. It may be desirable to do both procedures to maintain the overall harmony and balance of the face and neck. This approach has the advantage of a single anesthetic and recovery period, and as long as you are in good health, these procedures can be combined safely.
Is a brow lift permanent?
Unfortunately, few procedures in plastic surgery are permanent because we continue to age. In a brow lift, the eyebrows are elevated and held in position by a bioabsorbable device that is slowly absorbed by your body. The new brow position is then held in place by internal scar tissue.
Lifting of the brow is counteracted by the forces of gravity and by the muscles that close the eye, which pull down on the brow. As a result, the eyebrows may lose a small amount of their elevation in the first few months but will then stabilize and the correction should last for five to ten years.
What are the risks of a brow lift?
Brow lift complications seldom happen, but their possibility should be considered before you have the surgery. The two categories of risk are:
- General risks associated with all surgical procedures — bleeding, infection, allergy to the anesthetic, and scars
- Risks specific to a brow lift — temporary numbness of the forehead; temporary weakness of the eyebrow muscles; high position of the eyebrows (but this is very uncommon unless skin is removed from the forehead or scalp); and difficulty closing your eyes (but this is also very uncommon unless skin is removed from the upper eyelids).
As in all cosmetic surgery, there are some risks in a brow lift but if proven and conservative techniques are used, the risks can be minimized.
Does a brow lift leave visible scars?
The technique that I use in my brow lift results in hidden scars. In most cases, I do an endoscopic brow lift, in which three short incisions are placed in the scalp behind the hairline. Under the guidance of an endoscope, or surgical telescope, the tissues of the eyebrows and forehead are set at a higher level. In certain situations, the brow can be elevated through the same incision used for cosmetic upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), which is hidden in the crease of the upper eyelid.
Call Renaissance Plastic Surgery at 317-575-9152 or contact our Indianapolis office online to schedule an initial consultation. Dr. Fata will answer your brow lift questions and you can meet his Indianapolis staff. We hope to hear from you.
