Forehead and Brow Lift Surgery
Information on Forehead & Brow Lift Surgery
The forehead & brow lift is a common surgical procedure for facial rejuvenation and feminization. The eyebrow’s shape and position in relation to the upper eyelid fold are prominent indicators of a person’s gender and age.
Purpose of Forehead & Brow Lift Surgery
The forehead & brow lift is a simple cosmetic surgical procedure carried out to lift the area directly above the eye, opening up the eye area and making the face look younger. This procedure corrects sagging skin in the forehead, eyebrows, and upper eyelids.
Indications for Forehead & Brow Lift
Facial Feminization
A male brow tends to be low and sit just above the brow ridge bone while the female one tends to be higher and more arched. The highest point is normally between the lateral limbus and the lateral canthus. The artistic shape and position of the brows are very important for the best possible facial feminization outcome.
The forehead & brow lift and forehead & brow ridge bone contouring are commonly combined in facial feminization as they are powerful in drastically changing a masculine face to become feminine without doubt.
Facial Rejuvenation
Sagging skin and heavy brows can give a tired or unhappy look. The forehead & brow lift can rejuvenate the area above your eyes to restore your youthful appearance. This procedure can also eliminate static wrinkles on the forehead (multiple transverse lines on the forehead which always exist even without facial expression).
Correction of Asymmetric Eyebrow or Unilateral Brow Ptosis
Eyebrow asymmetry is common in the general population. The minimal asymmetry noticeable is 2 mm, and the forehead & brow lift can help adjust the lifting tension on each side of the brow to achieve better symmetry.
Surgical Techniques
There are two common techniques for forehead & brow lift surgery: the open forehead/brow lift and the endoscopic brow lift surgery. Dr. Chettawut has expertise in both procedures.
Open Forehead/Brow Lift Surgery
Dr. Chettawut prefers to use the open technique via coronal incision for those who have a normal hairline or high hairline because this technique does not affect the patient’s hairline height after lifting the forehead skin.
Endoscopic Brow Lift Surgery
The endoscopic brow lift is recommended for those with a low hairline as the procedure pulls the forehead skin up, including the anterior hairline, through three small incisions inside the scalp above the hairline.
Comparison of Open Technique and Endoscopic Technique in Brow Lift Surgery
1. Hairline Level Effect
The open technique brow lift can lift the brow without altering the height of the front hairline.
2. Effectiveness of Brow Lifting
The open technique brow lift is more powerful as the procedure can completely release the forehead skin and muscle from the underlying bone, especially at the lowermost site at the superior and lateral orbital rim.
3. Adjustment of Brow Shape
The open technique brow lift allows lifting in a lateral oblique direction as a youthful brow tends to have more lateral brow elevation. A lateral slant makes the apex of the brow more lateral than the lateral limbus of the eyes. If the apex is too medial and over-elevated, it creates a surprised appearance.
4. Incision
The endoscopic brow lift hides the incisions within the hairline, while the open technique brow lift uses a coronal incision placed along the anterior hairline.
5. Frown Line Correction
The open technique brow lift can directly address the corrugator and procerus muscles by meticulously modifying these muscles (removing some portions of the muscles) without impairing their normal function. The result is a smooth forehead with diminished lines and wrinkles.