Description
Eyebrow lift - also called browlift or forehead lift - is a procedure that restores a more youthful refreshed look to the area above the eyes and reduces furrows in the brow that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired. Forehead lift is often performed in conjunction with a facelift to provide a smoother overall look to the face.

How It's Done
The classic method is to make one continuous incision starting at ear level and move up around the hair line, but making sure to stay behind the hairline so that the scar won't be visible. The forehead skin is lifted and the muscles and underlying tissues are removed or altered to produce a smoother appearance.

A more modern method is an endoscopic lift, where the surgeon will make about 3 to 5 shorter incisions in the scalp, and then insert a scope into one of the incisions. This will allow the surgeon to view the tissues and muscles from a screen.

Length of Procedure
1 to 3 hours.

Results
Long-lasting. A forehead lift can minimize the appearance of aging for years. As time passes, you may want to repeat the procedure.

Anesthesia
Local with Sedation
General

Recovery
Most patients are up and about within a day or two, and back to work within a week. Endoscopic patients may recover even sooner. Vigorous physical activity should be kept to a minimum for several weeks, and prolonged exposure to heat or sun should be limited for several months. Most visible signs of surgery usually fade completely within about three weeks.

Side Effects / Risks
Complications are rare and usually minor. In rare cases, the nerves that control eyebrow movement may be injured, resulting in a loss of ability to raise the eyebrows or wrinkle the forehead. A usually temporary loss of sensation along or just beyond the incision line is common, especially with the classic forehead lift procedure.