Forehead Lift in Little Rock
A forehead lift (or brow lift) can renew the upper portions of the face and provide a more youthful facial appearance. The procedure corrects descended brows and improves the horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired.
Who can benefit from a forehead lift?
At our Arkansas surgery practice, we typically perform 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.
Common indications for a forehead lift are as follows:
- Low, heavy brow
- Furrows above the nose
- Crow’s feet
- Horizontal forehead lines
The forehead 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. Sometimes, patients who believe they need upper-eyelid surgery find that a forehead lift can better meet their needs.
Forehead Lift Consultation
During your consultation with Dr. Branman, you will discuss your goals for the surgery and be asked to share your medical history. He 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.
To help you decide if a forehead lift is right for you, 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. Any questions or concerns you have about the procedure or the results can be answered at this time.
Forehead Lift Surgery
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 forehead 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 forehead 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.
Forehead Lift Incisions
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. For most patients, a coronal incision will be used, which 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.
After the Forehead 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 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.
Forehead Lift Results
Most patients are pleased with the results of a forehead 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 forehead lift does not stop the clock, it can minimize the appearance of aging for years. As time passes, you may want to repeat the procedure.
Forehead Lift Risks
Complications of forehead 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
Forehead lift surgery, and all facial plastic surgery procedures, are performed by Little Rock cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman at Arkansas Surgical Hospital or in our in-office surgical suite.
