Brow Lift

A lifetime of facial expressions and gravity can cause your eyebrows to sag and deep creases and frown lines to form across your forehead and between your eyebrows. Even when your face is at rest, you may start to look perpetually grouchy, somber and fatigued whether you feel that way or not. A brow lift, or forehead lift, raises the skin on your forehead, upper eyelids and eyebrows to restore your brow to a more youthful position and lessen the appearance of wrinkles.*

Dr. David Dellinger holds board certifications in both plastic/reconstructive and general surgery, and has extensive experience in performing facial plastic surgery procedures over his two decades in practice. At Elysian Plastic Surgery, Dr. Dellinger works with men and women in the Austin area and throughout Texas who are interested in looking naturally refreshed with the help of a brow lift.

Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512-229-1978 to learn more your options for forehead lift surgery.

• A board-certified plastic surgeon with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Dellinger is committed to continuing his training and education to stay up to date on the latest innovations in facial plastic surgery.
• At Elysian Plastic Surgery, you come first. We believe in providing you with professional, personalized care from your first contact with us through to your final visit and recovery.
• We also offer non-surgical facial rejuvenation options, so you can be sure you’ll find the right treatment for you.

The best candidates for a brow lift are healthy men and women who have realistic expectations and are bothered by droopy skin and wrinkles in the forehead. A brow lift may be right for you if any part of your brow is sagging, you have vertical wrinkles between your eyes or you dislike how the changes in your forehead may make you look angry or sad.

A brow lift can improve the position of your eyebrows but you won’t see a drastic improvement in your eyelids or crow’s feet. For this reason, Dr. Dellinger may recommend combining your brow lift with upper eyelid surgery to remove excess skin in your eyelids and BOTOX® to temporarily smooth away crow’s feet.*

Although a brow lift can be performed with conscious sedation, most people are under general anesthesia during the procedure. A brow lift can be performed using different techniques, though two common ways are the open brow and endoscopic lift:

• An open brow lift is a more traditional method that involves making a long incision along the hairline.
• The endoscopic brow lift uses a few small incisions at the hairline to allow access for an endoscope (a tiny tube with a camera) and other small instruments. Relying on the camera, Dr. Dellinger can then lift the forehead skin and adjust or remove muscular tissue to elevate the brow.

For either type of forehead lift, your scars should be concealed in your hairline.*

You may have some swelling, bruising or temporary numbness after your brow lift but you should be able to go home the same day or the day after. You should plan to rest and recuperate for 10 to 14 days, though you may feel well enough to go back to work after a week. Keep your head elevated, go for gentle walks to encourage healing, avoid demanding physical activities and don’t apply ice or heat to your forehead. You may be able to resume all of your regular activities after about a month.*

You should notice a change in your forehead just after your brow lift, although seeing your final results takes more time. Your new look should be long-lasting and may continue to improve over the next 6 months as the swelling subsides and your incisions fade.*

How much does brow lift surgery cost?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a brow lift surgery in the United States is $3,623. While this is an estimate, it does not account for other aspects of the procedure, including the anesthesia and facility fees. The cost of surgery will vary depending on other variables such as the invasiveness of the surgery, your surgeon’s experience, whether you are combining procedures and your geographical location. Bigger cities tend to have a higher fee as the cost of living is higher.

If you are concerned about being able to afford surgery, ask about our financing options.

How is a browlift performed?

There are generally two different techniques for performing a browlift – Endoscopic Browlift and Open Browlift. An Endoscopic Browlift involves placing 3-4 small incisions just inside the hairline and a camera and small instruments are placed under the skin and all the repairs are done through this minimal incision technique. The majority of patients have a Browlift done by the Endoscopic technique.

An Open Browlift is a technique where a larger incision in made in the scalp and the scalp elevated to access the underlying structures. While less frequently performed an Open Browlift is still indicated in some specific circumstances.

Can I have other procedures performed at the same time?

Yes. In fact many times Brow lift surgery is performed at the same time as other procedures. Commonly performed procedures at the same time as a Brow Lift include:

• Eyelid surgery of the upper and lower eyelids
• Nose surgery (rhinoplasty)
• Facelift
• Neck lift

During your consultation with Dr. Dellinger you can discuss other procedures if you are a candidate for them and if they can safely be performed at the same time.

How painful is a brow lift?

Brow lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you should not feel any pain during the procedure. You will also be given medication to help with any discomfort immediately following your procedure. Otherwise, over-the-counter medication is typically enough to manage any pain.

While the pain should be minimal, it is common for patients to experience some tightness along the forehead while you heal.

Will there be a scar?

Yes, there will be some scarring. However, since the incisions are placed behind and along the hairline, your brow lift scars should be well hidden. Typically, your hair grows out and the incision site scars fade over time. Dr. Dellinger makes every effort to place your incisions in discreet areas so that scarring won’t be easily noticed.

How long do brow lift results last?

Depending on the type of brow lift technique you choose, the benefits of a brow lift could last anywhere from a several years to a lifetime. How you age as well as lifestyle choices such as smoking may affect your results over time.

What age should you get a brow lift?

While a typical age range for brow lift surgery is between 40 and 65, there is no ideal age when considering whether a brow lift is right for you. No matter your age, if you are experiencing eyebrows that droop, deep creasing along the forehead and lines between your eyebrows, it may be the right time for you to consider a brow lift.

What are the risks associated with a brow lift?

As with most surgical procedures, there are some risks associated with a brow lift. However, Brow lifts are relatively safe procedures. Some uncommon but potential risks include infection, anesthesia-related complications, blood clots, numbness, hyperpigmentation and excessive scarring.

How can I prepare for my brow lift surgery?

You will be given detailed instructions on how to prepare before and after your brow lift when you schedule your surgery. These guidelines are designed to optimize your recovery and healing and should be strictly followed. Some things you can do now to get you started, include:

• Stop smoking at least 6 weeks before and after the procedure.
• Stop taking or greatly reduce the intake of blood-thinning medications such as aspirin.
• Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients to aid in healing.
• Arrange for someone to take you to and from your surgery as you won’t be able to drive yourself.
• Enlist a trusted friend or family member to assist you around the house for a few days after surgery.

To schedule your brow lift consultation, please call our Austin plastic surgery practice at 512-229-1978 or request a consultation online.

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.