Forehead and Brow Lifts

The forehead and eyebrows are expressive areas of your face. Unfortunately, this expressiveness can result in the formation of permanent lines over the course of many years, and these lines can make your face look permanently tired or worried. You can correct deep lines on the forehead and around the brows by having a brow lift.

Residents of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico have the opportunity to correct worn-looking eyebrows under the surgical expertise of Dr. Mark A. Jabor or Dr. Dale Reynolds of Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso, conveniently located in El Paso. If your eyebrows and forehead are a source of insecurity for you, contact us today at 915-543-5600 for our West Office or 915-855-7800 for our East Office, or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation. 

What Is a Brow Lift?

A brow lift procedure, also known as a forehead lift, is used to treat deep furrows on the forehead, frown lines over the eyes, drooping eyebrows or a hood-like sag over the eyes. These are all conditions that can make you look or feel older than you are. Dr. Jabor and Dr. Reynolds treat these symptoms with a brow lift or a forehead lift at their local offices in El Paso, TX. A forehead lift can rejuvenate the face, giving patients a youthful, animated and alert appearance.

What Does a Brow Lift Do?

A brow lift works on the upper third of your face to create a more youthful appearance. Here are a few things the brow lift can accomplish:

• Raise sagging or low-set eyebrows into a more open, refreshed position
• Smooth the deep horizontal lines that run across your forehead
• Soften the vertical frown lines that form between your brows
• Reduce the heavy, hooded look that can weigh down your upper eyelids
• Restore a more approachable expression

Most people don’t realize how much of a difference this area can make to the overall expression and appearance of the face. This one surgery can help you look refreshed again.  

What Is the Difference Between a Brow Lift and Blepharoplasty?

Brow lift and blepharoplasty are surgical procedures that address cosmetic concerns located near the eyes. Many considering the procedures get them confused because they both correct drooping eyelids. However, blepharoplasty focuses exclusively on the eyelids, while a brow lift does not. Eyelid corrections associated with a brow lift are an indirect result of lifting the brows, which helps tighten the upper eyelid skin. There is no trimming of excess skin or significant correction of the eyelids during a brow lift.

In comparison, blepharoplasty involves correcting the upper and lower eyelids’ sagging skin by removing excess skin, tightening muscles, and repositioning fat pads located near the eyes. 

The two treatments are exceptional and come with their own unique benefits. If you are more concerned about your eyelids’ cosmetic appearance due to sagging, then blepharoplasty is an excellent choice of a surgical procedure. Both procedures may be performed together to achieve comprehensive results by rejuvenating your eyes and forehead.

Who Is the Ideal Brow Lift Candidate?

You are an excellent candidate for a brow lift if you have signs of aging around your forehead, upper eyelids and between your brows. Good candidates include:

• Adults in good general health
• Nonsmokers, or those willing to quit before surgery
• People bothered by how their brow area has aged
• Those with realistic expectations
• Individuals who are not pregnant or nursing
• Anyone whose concerns did not improve with nonsurgical options
• Individuals ready to follow their care instructions

During an initial consultation with either Dr. Jabor or Dr. Reynolds, your cosmetic concerns will be reviewed, and a brow lift may be recommended. A combination of other treatments, including a facelift or blepharoplasty, may also be considered. Your health history and currently prescribed medications will also be reviewed to ensure candidacy.

Types of Brow Lift

The technique your surgeon will use during your procedure will be determined by how your face has aged and the type of lifting that your brows need. Some common brow lift types include:

Direct Brow Lift

This method involves removing a section of skin from directly above the eyebrows. Because the incision is right at the brow, your surgeon will have more control over the final position of each eyebrow. This may be a good option for those with heavier brows or situations where a more targeted lift will be beneficial. 

Temporal Brow Lift

During the temporal brow lift, also called a lateral brow lift, the changes are focused on the outer portion of the eyebrows. The incisions are placed at the hairline, and your surgeon tunnels down beneath the skin, placing sutures along the way to lift the brow. This technique is less invasive and works well when the surgeon wants to lift the tail of the brow. 

Endoscopic Brow Lift

An endoscopic brow lift is done with small incisions and a tiny camera that lifts and secures the forehead tissues. The smaller incisions mean less scarring and a quicker recovery, and the surgery delivers natural-looking results. 

How to Prepare for Your Brow Lift

Preparation is an important part of the process to set the stage for a smooth surgery and easier recovery, and we will walk through every step at your consultation. Once your brow lift is scheduled, you will receive personalized instructions. 

You will likely be asked to stop any medications you are currently taking that may increase bleeding during and after surgery. This can include over-the-counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, along with certain prescription medications, as approved by the prescribing doctor. If you smoke, your surgeon will ask you to quit several weeks before your procedure, since smoking slows healing. It also helps to arrange time away from work at this time, and to prepare a comfortable recovery space at home. 

Because you will not be able to drive right after surgery, plan for a friend or family member to take you home and stick around the first night to help you out. Make sure to get plenty of rest, eat well and stay hydrated in the weeks leading up to your surgery. 

How Is a Brow Lift Performed? 

A brow lift is usually performed under local anesthesia, supplemented by a mild sedative to keep patients awake but relaxed. Your doctor will make an incision across the top of the head, just above the hairline. Excess skin and portions of the muscle are then removed through the incision, which is closed with clips or sutures. A brow lift may be performed alone or in tandem with other procedures, such as facelift surgery or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). 

What to Expect During Your Brow Lift

Your brow lift is an outpatient procedure in the El Paso office. Our practice utilizes techniques like the temporal brow lift technique, which is less invasive than other techniques. After lifting the skin of your forehead, your brow lift provider will remove excess skin and muscle and reposition them if necessary. Your forehead skin is pulled taut, relieving your forehead, brow and upper eyelids of creases and sagging skin. When your provider believes your skin is in a flattering position, the incision made along your hairline is sutured shut. Your brow lift will take approximately two hours to complete. 

What to Expect After Your Brow Lift

After your brow lift, your provider will give you thorough post-operative instructions to ensure a healthy recovery. You may experience bruising, swelling and mild discomfort in the treated area. These are normal side effects that should go away after several days. Downtime for a brow lift is approximately one to two weeks, after which you will be able to return to work and other daily activities. After a brow lift, you should avoid strenuous exercise, which increases your blood pressure, along with prolonged exposure to heat or the sun.

Brow lift results are long-lasting. Depending on your health habits and if you maintain a daily skincare regimen, your results can last as long as 10 years. As mentioned, the forehead is an expressive part of your body. Because of this, it’s natural for wrinkles and creases to reappear, albeit not as severe as they would have been if you never had a brow lift. Your brow lift results will revive your image, making you appear more alert and youthful.

What Is a Nonsurgical Brow Lift?

Not everyone is ready for surgery, and this is okay. A nonsurgical brow lift can be performed using injectable methods that lift and smooth the brow area, but do not require incisions or downtime.

The most common approach uses neuromodulators such as Botox® or Dysport®. These products relax the muscles that pull the eyebrows down while letting the muscles that pull them up become stronger. Brows come to rest in a slightly higher and more open position. Results appear gradually over a few days and last three to four months.  

Common Procedures Performed Alongside a Brow Lift

A brow lift focuses on the upper third of the face, so some patients choose to pair it with other procedures that address other areas. Common procedures include:

Facelift

A full facelift addresses sagging skin and lost definition across the mid and lower face. Combined with a brow lift, it can rejuvenate your entire face while only requiring a single recovery period.

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift is a less invasive option that targets early signs of aging around the jawline and cheeks. It pairs nicely with a brow lift for patients who want to refresh the lower face without a full facelift.

Neck Lift

Loose skin and vertical banding under the chin can age the lower face just as much as the forehead ages the upper face. A neck lift restores a firmer, smoother jawline.

Blepharoplasty

A blepharoplasty removes excess skin and repositions fat to reduce a tired, heavy look on the upper or lower eyelids. 

Nonsurgical Skin Resurfacing

Surgery repositions and tightens, but it does not change the quality of your skin. Laser or chemical resurfacing smooths texture and evens tone, giving your complexion a healthy, radiant finish.

About Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso

For years, Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso has helped patients throughout the region feel good in their own skin. Our practice is proud to serve residents of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico from our West and East offices in El Paso. 

Dr. Mark A. Jabor and Dr. Dale Reynolds are board-certified plastic surgeons who bring years of training and a caring approach to every consultation. They take the time to listen and create a treatment plan that honors your goals and your body. We are committed to your comfort from your first visit to your final follow-up.

FAQs About Brow Lift

Will a brow lift change my eye shape?

A brow lift will not change the fundamental shape of your eyes, but it can make them appear more open and awake. The procedure reduces the hooded look that can crowd the upper eyelids by lifting heavy or low brows. 

Is a brow lift painful?

There will be mild discomfort during the recovery process, but not during the surgery itself. Anesthesia makes the procedure completely pain-free. Any tenderness after the surgery can be managed with either prescribed or over-the-counter medications, and swelling can be controlled by sleeping in an elevated position and icing the area when needed.   

What are the risks to consider with a brow lift? 

Surgical risks include bleeding or temporary changes in sensation, along with more rare complications like infection. The best way to reduce these risks is to choose an experienced, board-certified surgeon and then follow all of their instructions carefully before and after surgery. 

Will I have scars after a brow lift?

Scars are a part of brow lift surgery. However, your surgeon places incisions along or within the hairline where the scars will be well hidden. They will eventually become fine lines that fade into the natural tone of your skin. 

Brow Lift at Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso

A brow lift is an excellent surgical procedure that can help correct cosmetic flaws resulting from an expressive forehead and age. Deep folds that run along your forehead, sagging skin that defines your upper eyelids and deep wrinkles between your eyebrows can all be corrected with a brow lift. The procedure can be combined with other procedures, including a facelift or blepharoplasty, to achieve a complete overhaul of your image. Look younger in your eyes and forehead after a brow lift at Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Centers of El Paso. 

If you are a resident of Texas, New Mexico or Mexico and are interested in learning more about a brow lift, please contact our El Paso offices at 915-543-5600 for our West Office or 915-855-7800 for our East Office, or visit our contact page. You can schedule a consultation with either of our brow lift experts, Dr. Jabor or Dr. Reynolds.