Brow Lift Little Rock
A brow lift can renew the upper portions of the face and provide a more youthful facial appearance. The procedure corrects descending of the brows and reduces the appearance of horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired. A brow lift can also enhance the results of a facelift in Little Rock by further lifting the upper face and reducing signs of aging.
Who can benefit from brow lift surgery?
At our practice, Little Rock cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman typically performs this procedure on patients who are in the age range of 40 to 60 years. However, people of any age who have developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity may be good candidates.
The best brow lift candidates
Common indications for a brow lift are as follows:
- Low, heavy brow
- Furrows above the nose
- Crow’s feet
- Horizontal forehead lines
The brow lift procedure can correct or reduce the appearance of these conditions and provide a more alert and refreshed look. If a patient displays a significant degree of skin hanging over the upper eyelids, Dr. Branman may also recommend eyelid surgery, but in some cases, it isn’t necessary. In some cases, patients who believe they need upper-eyelid surgery find that a brow lift can better meet their needs.
“As a middle-aged woman I simply wanted to look as youthful and energetic as I still felt inside. Dr. Branman listened to me and understood exactly what my goals were. Also, as a registered nurse myself it was very important to me to find a surgeon that I had complete confidence in. I truly found that in Dr. Branman. Thanks to Dr. Branman people no longer ask me if I am tired when I am not. Would I do it over again? Yes.”
Your Brow Lift Consultation
During your consultation with Dr. Branman, you will discuss your goals for the surgery and be asked to share your medical history. The doctor will need to know about certain medical conditions that could cause problems during or after the procedure, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood-clotting problems, or a tendency to develop large scars. You should also disclose information about smoking habits, medications, drugs, and previous surgeries.
If you have a modest amount brow wrinkles or drooping brows, you may prefer a non-surgical solution like Sofwave skin tightening. Sofwave uses ultrasound energy to achieve noticeable lift effects with little to no downtime.
If you decide to proceed with a brow lift, Dr. Branman will explain the surgical technique, the anesthesia, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, the risks, and the costs involved.
What’s the difference between a brow lift and an eyelid lift?
Learn from Dr. Branman as he explains both brow lift and eyelid lift surgery on Good Morning Arkansas.
Video transcript »
“We continue covering many parts of the face and body with Dr. Rhys Branman as he steps in here, but today, something I know a lot of people complain about or hear is, ‘Are you tired?’ Usually, it’s those droopy eyelids, right?
You know, it’s one of the first things that people notice about the face—the eyes. You sort of focus in on that, and a lot of times, people come to me and they’ll say, ‘People tell me I look tired, but I’m not,’ and they go, ‘What can I do about that?’ Many times, it’s either an upper blepharoplasty, which is the technical term for eyelid surgery, or a lower lid blepharoplasty.
Is there a certain age that starts showing up?
We see it sort of in the late 20s—that’s sort of rare—but then we see it all the way into the 60s and 70s. One thing that’s interesting is that some people come to me and they’ll say, ‘My eyelid’s drooping,’ but really it’s the brow. If you think about it, the eyebrow and the eyelid are components that work together. So many times, we’ll address not only the eyebrow but the eyelid too—both of them at the same time because they are so connected. They are very connected, basically the same thing.
All right, we’ve got some pictures so you can maybe show us a little better what you mean, and these are some before-and-afters.
Well, if you look right here, do you see this sort of hooding area where the eyelid has sort of dropped down and you can’t see that natural crease that occurs? Part of that is because the eyebrow has dropped also. Now, after a blepharoplasty, you can see that natural line—that wonderful line that everybody likes to see—that allows us to see the eyelid again. And if you look, we’ve brought the brow up a little bit, but it doesn’t have that sort of ‘deer in the headlights’ kind of look, like ‘Oh my god, I’m overdone.’ This is just a natural, clean look, and it’s very nicely done. That’s the kind of look that we’re really going for.
We’ll look at some more pictures here. I think a lot of women notice that they don’t have anywhere to put their eyeshadow anymore. I think that’s when a lot of them realize that the eye is drooping, or they have to do this—’Oh, I can’t get my eyeshadow on right.’
That’s right. Okay, so here’s another picture. Here’s another one, same sort of thing—you see this sort of hooding right here, the brow is down. Now, we didn’t do anything with the brow in this case. What we did is we gave her just a little bit more of that natural curvature of the eyelid and allowed her to be able to, like you said, put on that eyeshadow.
It’s a very nice way of doing it, and it’s natural-looking. It gives it that natural look.
That’s right. It’s sort of ‘I’ve brought back time,’ you know, we moved the clock back to that sort of natural look that she had many years ago.”
What is Brow Lift Surgery Like?
This procedure is performed in our office or an outpatient surgery center, under general anesthesia or IV sedation. Before the operation begins, your hair will be tied with rubber bands on either side of the incision line. Your head will not be shaved, but hair that is growing directly in front of the incision line may need to be trimmed.
During a brow lift, the muscles and tissues that cause furrowing or drooping of the brow are removed or remodeled to smooth the forehead, gently raise the eyebrows, and reduce frown lines. Working through the incision, the skin of the brow is carefully lifted so that the underlying tissue can be removed and the muscles of the forehead can be altered or released. The eyebrows may also be elevated and excess skin at the incision point will be trimmed away to help create a smoother, more youthful appearance.
The incisions are closed with stitches or clips. Your face and hair will be washed to prevent irritation and the rubber bands will be removed from your hair. Dr. Branman will then cover the incision with gauze padding and wrap the head in an elastic bandage.
Your Incision Options
Each patient has different needs and goals. Dr. Branman will use the surgical technique that will achieve the most natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing results. Whenever possible, he prefers to use the endoscopic techniques, which involve much smaller incisions and a faster recovery.
Endoscopic or Conventional Brow Lift
Dr. Branman may utilize either the conventional surgical method, in which the incision is hidden just behind the hairline, or he may use an endoscopic technique. Both techniques yield similar results. With the conventional technique, the incision follows a headphone-like pattern that begins at about ear level, travels across the top of the forehead, and then down the other side of the head. The incision is made behind the hairline so that the scar won’t be visible.
In patients with a receding hairline, the incision may be placed just at the hairline, to avoid adding even more height to the forehead. In patients who are bald or losing hair, a mid-scalp incision that follows the natural pattern of the skull bones is sometimes recommended. Special planning is sometimes necessary for concealing the scar in male patients, whose hairstyles often don’t provide adequate incision coverage.
What is Recovery Like After a Brow Lift?
After surgery, patients may experience some numbness and temporary discomfort around the incision site, which can be controlled with prescription medication. As a preventive measure, those who are prone to headaches may receive additional local anesthesia during the surgery.
Dr. Branman may advise you to keep your head elevated for two or three days after surgery to minimize swelling. If bandages were used, they will be removed a day or two after surgery. Most stitches or clips will be removed within two weeks, sometimes in two stages. Although you should be up and about in a day or two, plan on taking it easy for at least the first week after surgery. You should be able to shower and shampoo your hair within two days, or as soon as the bandage is removed.
Patients report numbness and itchiness on the scalp, which can take a few months to subside. Hair around the incision site may thin out for some time, but normal growth will typically resume within a few weeks.
Most patients are back to work or school in a week to 10 days. Vigorous physical activity should be limited for several weeks, including jogging, bending, heavy housework, sex, or any activity that increases your blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to heat or sun should be limited for several months.
Most of the visible signs of surgery should fade completely within about three weeks. Minor swelling and bruising can be concealed with special camouflage makeup. You may feel a bit tired and let down at first, but your energy level will increase as you begin to look and feel better.
Your Brow Lift Results
Most patients are pleased with the results of a brow lift, no matter which surgical method was used. Often, patients don’t realize how much their sagging forehead contributed to the signs of aging until they see how much younger and more rested they appear after the lift. Although a brow lift does not stop the clock, it can minimize the appearance of aging for years.
Brow Lift Risks to Consider
Complications of brow lift surgery are rare and usually minor but should be considered nonetheless. You can minimize the likelihood of complications by following preoperative and postoperative instructions from Dr. Branman. Some of the possible complications are as follows:
- Nerves that control eyebrow movement may be injured on one or both sides, resulting in a hindered ability to move the brow (surgery may be required).
- Broad scar formation can result in hair loss (surgery may be required).
- Temporary or permanent loss of sensation along or just beyond the incision line.
- Infection and bleeding
Board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys R. Branman has over 30 years of excellence in cosmetic surgery. Dr. Branman’s bedside manner, attention to detail, extensive training, and significant experience in facial aesthetics has helped him deliver the best results to hundreds of Little Rock brow lift patients. If you have questions or would like to learn more about your options for achieving a more youthful, refreshed appearance, Dr. Branman and the entire Cosmetic Surgery Center team are here to help. Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Branman at our Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery office.
