Brow Lift

The skin and muscle is lifted at the level of the frontal bone and fixed at a higher level. This is usually done endoscopically, which is a minimally invasive technique with incisions behind the hairline. The muscles that cause horizontal wrinkles and furrows are weakened by detaching them above the eyebrow level, thus reducing their power and effect. The procedure may be carried out on its own or in conjunction with a facelift under Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (T.I.V.A.) as a day case with minimal discomfort. 

Typically patients, suitable for a brow lift, are between the ages of 40 and 60 years old with good skin elasticity, although this procedure can help patients of any age with a low or heavy brow. Your surgeon will assess your suitability and alternative procedures at your initial consultation.

You will be advised to stop smoking and taking certain medications prior to surgery to improve healing and reduce bruising.

The days of the long incision across the scalp behind the hairline are over, as minimally invasive endoscopic surgery through stab incisions behind the hairline, not only give better results, but better access and vision for the surgeon. Lifting of the brow is carried out at a much deeper level then the facelift with all the soft tissues and skin being lifted off the bone and fixed at a higher level. The fixing may be with a dissolvable clip, which you will feel under the skin of the scalp for some months or by stitching to the bone itself. There will inevitably be bruising and swelling around the eyes after surgery, but very little discomfort.  

The surgery itself is carried out as a day case under Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (T.I.V.A.), which is a very light and predictable anaesthetic. You wake up feeling alert and ready to go home. The main risk of surgery is the swelling and bruising around the eyes after surgery, which will take a week or two to settle. In addition, you may feel a lump under the scalp, where the forehead is fixed. Inevitably, small nerves to the scalp are cut and numbness often persists. Long-term pain from a cut nerve (neuroma) is rare. Removing muscle from between the eyebrows to reduce deep furrows can leave a depression, but is much less common with an experienced surgeon.

There will be a tendency for the forehead to gradually continue its descent and repeat browlifts are not uncommon.
It may seem that all these consequences of a browlift and the relative size of the procedure make it less attractive. This is particularly so, because the alternatives of a combination of Botox, fillers and fat grafting have become so effective. The need for a browlift surgery is very much reduced.

Prices for a brow lift at Cadogan Clinic start at £4950.