Baltimore, Maryland Forehead / Brow Lift
Dr. Adam Summers

Your eyebrows frame the most important feature on your face -- your eyes. After all, your eyes are the window to your soul, and people connect with you through them! All eyes are beautiful, but sagging skin or abnormalities can detract from their beauty.  A forehead lift at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center can make a dramatic difference in the entire look of your face. It can be one of the easiest ways to correct the facial problems that prevent you from putting your best face forward! 

• If you have excess or sagging tissue around the brow and upper eyelid that makes you look tired or sad, a forehead lift can make your eyes appear larger and more open.
• If you have frown wrinkles between your eyes, a forehead lift can eliminate them.
• If you have an eyebrow deformity, a forehead lift can correct it.
• If you wish your brows had more of an arch or a different shape this can be accomplished with a forehead lift.
• If you wish your brows were better positioned on your face, a forehead lift can create a more symmetrical and natural look. By lifting your brows upward, you will appear fresher and more energetic. 

At the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Summers will lift your forehead and eyebrows upward and reposition them based on your desired results. The browlift procedure lifts any sagging skin and reduces wrinkles.  Scars generally heal very well and are hidden by your hair. You may even shampoo the day after the operation.  Frequently, forehead lift procedures are performed along with eyelid correction surgery (blepharoplasty), which actually removes excess skin and fatty folds in the upper eyelid. 

There are five different approaches to lifting the forehead at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center:

1. Coronal Browlift
2. Trichal (Hairline) Browlift
3. Direct Browlift
4. Endoscopic Browlift
5. Threadlift Browlift

For each of the following browlift procedures (except the Direct Browlift and the Threadlift Browlift) a drain is used to remove excess fluid.  The drain is removed the day after the browlift.  After the browlift, the forehead will be wrapped with a head dressing.


Coronal Browlift:

This is the "traditional" browlift procedure where a large incision is made across the top of the head from ear to ear.  The entire front of the scalp and forehead are lifted.  This procedure is reserved for individuals who have a "low set" brow and hairline.  The procedure is done under a general anesthetic and takes about 90 minutes.

Trichal (Hairline) Browlift:

The most frequently performed type of brow lift performed by Dr. Summers at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center is with an incision right at the frontal hairline.  This procedure elevates the eyebrows and eliminates forehead wrinkles without disturbing the hairline.  This is a preferred method for individuals with a long forehead.  The procedure is done under sedation or a general anesthetic and takes about 90 minutes.

Direct Browlift:

In men with low-set eyebrows and pre-existing forehead wrinkles, a direct browlift can elevate the eyebrows.  The incisions are made in the forehead and (when possible) designed to hide in the existing brow wrinkles.  Excess skin is removed and the brow is directly elevated.  Neither the hairline nor the forhead wrinkles are affected by this procedure.  Typically, women are not candidates for this procedure.  The procedure is done under a local anesthesia only and typically is completed in under an hour.

Endoscopic Browlift:

This is a "minimal incision" type of browlift procedure.  With an Endoscopic Browlift, three small incisions are made in the hairline and small telescopes and instruments are inserted under the skin.  The entire procedure is viewed on a monitor and the muscles are released.  The wrinkles are eliminated and the brow is elevated.  The procedure is usually performed under sedation or a general anesthetic.  An endoscopic browlift takes between 1-2 hours.

Threadlift Browlift:

Contour Threads (Aptos Threads) are used to raise the eyebrow.  For each brow, a single one-inch incision is made in the scalp above the hairline.  Through the incision, Contour Threads (Aptos Threads) are inserted to lift the brow.  The procedure is completed in less than one hour under local anesthesia.  Note: one week prior to the Threadlift Browlift, Botox will be administed to weaken the brow muscles - this is a requirement for the Threadlift Browlift.

A forehead lift is an outpatient procedure, so you can go home the same day.  You will wear a headband for the first week after surgery.  For 2-3 days following the operation, you will have some swelling, and your forehead will feel tight. Your eyelids may be bruised, but this can usually be covered with concealer. Patients generally experience less bruising with an endoscopic forehead lift than with eyelid correction surgery. You may experience a mild headache for the first couple of days after the surgery, for which you will receive a prescription. If you have a drain, it will be removed the day after surgery. 

After one week your stitches will be removed and you can return to work. Your brows will be lifted slightly higher than you wish them to be in their final position. This is because they will drop somewhat as the tissues relax during the first few weeks after surgery. It is possible to permanently reduce the activity of the muscles in the brow (similar to having Botox injected, but with permanent results), so discuss if this is a desired outcome of the surgery.