Forehead Lift (Brow Lift)

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Englewood and Denver, CO

Forehead Lift Englewood, CO

A forehead lift, also known as a brow lift, is a surgical procedure used to rejuvenate aging changes in the upper face.  One of the basic aging mechanisms in the face is referred to as descent and results from the downward movement of skin and the underlying soft tissues as they weaken over time and are less able to resist gravity.  The basic principle of forehead lifting is to return the tissues back to their natural youthful position.  The surgeons at Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery are expertly trained, highly credentialed, and experienced.  They pride themselves in going the distance to make patients happy, so if you are interested in a forehead lift or any other facial rejuvenation surgery, please reach out to the office for a consultation.

Benefits

A forehead lift can provide Denver, CO-area individuals with a new, rejuvenated look that lasts. If you are considering a brow lift, the experienced surgeons and team members at Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery will listen to your aesthetic goals, evaluate your concerns, and develop a treatment plan during a private consultation. Advantages of forehead lift surgery include:

  • Personalized care and a customized treatment plan for your aesthetic objectives
  • Minimizing a tired look, especially in the eyes and eyebrows
  • Reducing the look of crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and facial creases
  • Smoothing of facial skin
  • Emphasizing facial harmony
  • Restoring the arches of the eyebrows
  • Long-lasting results that appear natural
  • Dramatic effects are recognizable soon after your surgery

Ideal Candidate

Individuals that have developed heaviness and furrowing across the forehead and/or have eyebrows that have descended downwards, imparting an aging, tired look.  During youth, the brow has a gentle upward sweep as it moves from the center of the forehead towards the temple and the skin of the forehead is smooth without any horizontal creases.  Aging changes that develop in the forehead include redundant skin and creasing as well as drooping and flattening of the eyebrow.  These changes impart a tired or angry appearance.  A heavy brow can also weigh down on the eyelids and worsen hooding of the eyelid skin at the outer part of the eye.  A forehead lift returns the brow to its natural youthful shape and position.  A forehead brow lift is frequently combined with upper eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to rejuvenate the overall appearance of the eyes.  This is especially true in individuals where the eyebrow has dropped to a level where it is pushing down onto the eyelids aggravating excess skin folds or causing hooding. 

Procedure

Different surgical approaches to forehead lifting are available:

  • Open Forehead Lift.  
  • Endoscopic Forehead Lift. 
  • Endoscope-assisted Forehead Lift. 

During the preoperative consultation, a careful assessment is performed, and all of the factors and variables that determine the best possible approach are discussed with each patient.  At the time of surgery, the appropriate approach is used to free the skin and soft tissues of the forehead away from the bone down to the brow.  The skin and soft tissues are then advanced back up to a more youthful position and stabilized to the deep layers of the forehead.  Over the next few weeks, the body’s healing process will stabilize the correction.  The specific type of forehead lift used depends on the desired goals and unique situation in each patient.  The surgery can be performed under either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and typically requires about 2 hours.

Expectations

Forehead Lift Englewood, CO

Following surgery, patients usually experience mild to moderate pain that can be controlled with non-narcotic medications in most patients.  Some patients may require a few days of narcotic medication.  Swelling and bruising occur through the forehead and around the eyes.  Several postoperative measures are taken to minimize this, including applying cooling pads and pressure bandages and taking steroid medications and supplements to help reduce swelling and bruising.  There will be some degree of numbness through the forehead and scalp that gradually resolves after a few weeks.  Patients are expected to follow a set of detailed care instructions following surgery.  Sutures are removed 7 to 10 days after surgery.  Most can return to work within 7 to 10 days.   

Contact

Are you considering a rejuvenated look that brings youthfulness back to your face? A forehead lift at Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery can provide remarkable results, enhancing your facial harmony, minimizing tired eyes, and smoothing facial skin. Expertly performed by our highly credentialed surgeons in Denver, CO, a forehead lift is a personalized procedure tailored to meet your aesthetic goals. With a wide array of techniques and lasting effects that look natural, our team takes pride in offering top-notch care. Don’t wait to embrace the vibrant appearance you deserve; reach out to the office of Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery for a private consultation today!

FAQ

Will a forehead lift result in an overly lifted unnatural brow position or “surprised” look?

Unfortunately, there have been some well-known celebrities that have experienced unfavorable outcomes, and the forehead or brow lift has garnered a bad reputation in the media. The truth is, when properly planned and executed, a forehead lift can impart a very natural and sophisticated look to the eyebrow.

What is an open forehead lift?

Open forehead lifts use an incision that follows the hairline across the forehead. It can be placed either at the level of the hairline (pretrichial) or 1 to 2 inches behind the hairline (coronal). This gives wide open access to the tissues of the forehead, which are dissected and released from the underlying bone down to the brow. The skin and soft tissues are then advanced upwards into the youthful shape and position they once occupied. The overlapping excess skin or scalp is removed, and the incisions are then closed. When performed through an incision placed behind the hairline in the scalp the procedure is known as a coronal forehead lift and will result in the best possible scar because it will be camouflaged by the hair, however, it will also move the hairline higher. Therefore, a coronal brow lift is best suited for patients that start with a low hairline and good hair density. In patients with a pre-existing receding hairline, the incision is usually placed at the hairline to avoid moving the hairline further back. This is known as a pretrichial forehead lift and when properly performed can result in a well camouflaged scar.

What is an endoscopic forehead lift?

Endoscopic forehead lifting refers to a method of lifting that uses 3 to 5 small incisions to introduce a narrow rod-like camera that allows the surgeon to free up the forehead skin and scalp all the way from the brows to the back of the head. The brow and forehead skin are then appropriately pulled up, and the excess soft tissues are redistributed backwards to the back of the head. Excess skin is not cut away during an endoscopic brow lift, and the hairline moves further up and back. The incisions used in this approach are short and avoid the longer incisions that some patients find objectionable with the open approaches. The endoscopic forehead lift is often used in patients with thinning hair or those who feel they cannot accept longer incisions.

What is an endoscopic-assisted forehead lift?

The endoscope-assisted forehead lift is a “hybrid” of the open and endoscopic approaches that uses the benefits of the endoscope to shorten the length of the incisions needed to perform the surgery through a traditional open approach. The incision typically runs along the hairline just above the brow and then cuts into the scalp hair over the temple region. This technique combines the precision and durability of the open approach with the shortened scars possible with the endoscopic approach. It is currently our most common type of forehead lift.

What is the best type of forehead lift for each patient?

Several factors need to be considered when selecting the most appropriate type of forehead lift:

* The unique forehead aging characteristics in each patient.
* The patient’s goals for the surgery.
* The shape of the brow.
* The severity of aging and the degree of correction desired.
* The patient’s preferred hairstyle.
* The level pre-existing hairline and the density of the hair along the front of the scalp.

What are the possible complications of a forehead lift?

Forehead lifts can result in some minor complications, but fortunately, they are uncommon and relatively easily corrected if they occur. Occasionally the brows may not be at exactly the same height, but often there is some asymmetry present prior to surgery, and the goal is to improve the asymmetry because making them perfectly symmetric is extremely challenging. Other adverse effects include mild scar widening, hair loss at the incision sites, and numbness in the forehead and scalp. Weakness of the brow is extremely uncommon.

How much does a forehead lift cost?

The cost will vary depending on the type of forehead lift performed and the level of difficulty in each patient. The surgeon’s fees range from $5,000-8,000, not including anesthesia fees, facility costs, and supplies.