Brow Lift
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Click HereIt is said that the eyes are the windows of the soul.
The truth is, the eyebrows are, as they express our emotions best. A properly shaped brow is an incredible beauty asset. It can balance the rest of your face and bring your best features into focus.
For decades plastic surgeons focused on making the brows higher, hence the term “brow lifting”. Traditional surgery resulted in “surprised” and “scared” looks that made patients look older, not younger, and certainly not natural. Dr. Reid and Dr. Gordon have a deep understanding of facial aging, aesthetics and facial harmony. They believe that it’s not only the position of the brow that is important; it’s the SHAPE of the brow. Make-up artists have known this secret forever!
The IDEAL female brow:
- is symmetrical from one side to the other
- the medial eyebrow (point A) should be at or below the level of the bony orbit or socket
- the brow should rise gently with the peak or arch (point C) at least 2/3’s of the way to the end of the brow
- the tail of the brow (point B) should be higher than the inside part of the brow (point A)
The IDEAL male brow:
- is symmetrical from one side to the other
- is straight with minimal arching
- sits at the level of the bony orbital rim
Many patients come into our office concerned with excess upper eyelid skin or hooding of the upper lids. It’s important to understand that the brow and the upper eyelid are intimately related. The brow supports the upper lid skin, much like a curtain rod supports curtains. If the brow is unstable, the upper lid skin collapses on itself and leads to a heavy appearance. The brow and upper lids age at the same rate, except for the tail of the brow, which ages first and faster, especially in women. This leads to a loss of the arch, with rounding of the brow, causing heaviness and hooding of the upper lid skin and a tired appearance.
Remember, the most common cause of droopy or heavy upper eyelids is droopy brows.
We’ve listed the more common concerns our patients have when it comes to their eyebrows and the solutions that are available, both surgical and non-surgical. Dr. Reid and Dr. Gordon understand what the ideal brow should look like, and both are highly skilled in natural looking brow lifts.
Concern:
Asymmetrical brows
Cause:
Unequal muscle action or accelerated aging on one side of the face. Asymmetry of the face is very common, as one side is typically longer and thinner, and the other side is shorter and rounder. The shorter and rounder side typically looks younger.
Injectable Solution:
Strategically placed Botox, Dysport or Xeomin can be used to lift or lower your brows and create better symmetry.
Surgical Solution:
Brow lift or brow stabilization
Prevention:
Strategically placed Botox, Dysport or Xeomin to minimize asymmetry.
Brows That Lost Their Arch
Cause:
As the brow falls, the eyebrows become straight and masculine looking or rounded, making you look tired and old.
Injectable Solution:
Strategically placed Botox or Xeomin can be used to give a subtle, temporary lift to the tail of the brow and to restore your arch.
Sculptra, Radiesse and HA fillers can be used along the brow bone to restore volume and support the brow tissues. These can also be used in the hollows of the temple to lift the tail of the brow.
Surgical Solution:
Brow lift or brow stabilization
Prevention:
Maintaining volume in the temples and support of the brow tissues with Sculptra, Radiesse and HA fillers.
Brows That are Too Low
Cause:
Aging of the upper face and temples with loss of the supporting tissues of the brow.
Injectable Solution:
Strategically placed Botox or Xeomin can be used to give a subtle, temporary lift to your brows bringing them back to a more youthful position.
Surgical Solution:
Brow lift or brow stabilization
Prevention:
Maintaining volume in the temples and support of the brow tissues with Sculptra, Radiesse and HA fillers.
Forehead Has Deep Creases
Cause:
Overactive muscles that produce facial expressions.
Injectable Solution:
Strategically placed Botox, Dysport or Xeomin to correct or soften these lines.
Laser Solution:
Laser resurfacing if the lines are deeply etched into the skin.
Prevention:
Botox, Dysport or Xeomin to prevent dynamic horizontal lines on your forehead from becoming static.
We are fortunate to have so many tools in our toolbox. The various toxins and fillers we have allow our surgeons to sculpt the face, often without the need for surgery. However, if brow droop or brow ptosis is severe, the best approach is a brow lift or brow stabilization.
Shape Versus Height
Whether performing a primary or secondary brow lift, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reid understand that the shape of the brow is more important than the height of the brow. Besides making patients look frightened, over-elevated brows actually age the face by making the upper lids hollow.
Since Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reid are known for their natural results, they feel that brow stabilization may be a better term than brow lift for brow enhancement surgery. Your brow lift or stabilization can be performed via a variety of approaches, depending on the degree of ptosis, or droopiness, of your brow. In women, the goal is to lift only the tail of the brow to obtain a better shape and arch and to stabilize the rest of the brow. In men, the goal is stabilization with minimal lifting to avoid feminization of the brow/eye complex.
Brow Lift or Brow Stabilization can:
- reposition your eyebrows if they are too low or too high
- create better symmetry if your brows are asymmetrical
- balance your face by making the eyes appear more open and your upper eyelids less hooded
Brow Lift Q&A
What can I do to maintain my result?
- Have your brows professionally shaped. Well-shaped brows frame the face and are an absolute must. We can recommend you to a professional who can shape your brows and show you how to maintain your new look.
- Sunscreen
- Use of our recommended skin care products
What do I need to do to prepare for my brow lift?
To optimize your recovery, you will need to:
- have blood work done
- have an EKG if you are over 50
- get medical clearance if you have health issues, like diabetes or heart disease
- stop smoking
- avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
What are the risks of a brow lift?
Risks include bleeding, infection, mild headaches, poor healing, asymmetry, risks of anesthesia, nerve injury, temporary difficulty closing your eyes, and temporary minor hair loss at the incision sites.
What can I expect after surgery?
Most patients report mild discomfort after surgery. Minor bruising and swelling will subside in 7-10 days after surgery. Stitches will dissolve on their own in 7-10 days. It can take up to 6 weeks for all swelling to subside and your results will continue to improve over the next few months.
Is a brow lift an outpatient procedure?
Yes, you will be able to go home the same day. Often, a brow lift is combined with other eye and facial rejuvenation procedures.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Brow lift or brow stabilization is performed at INSPIRE, our fully accredited, AAAASF, surgery center. A board-certified anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia.
What is an “open” approach brow lift?
Very rarely, an “open” or coronal approach is required. A coronal incision is made across the crown of the head at or within the hairline, depending on the height of the hairline. Muscle corrections are made, the skin is re-draped and excess skin is trimmed.
What are the differences between a Restora Austin brow lift vs. a traditional brow lift?
There are 3 key differences. The Restora Austin brow lift:
- focuses on the shape of the brow, not just the height
- results in brows that balance the face by restoring and stabilizing the natural arch and tail of the brow. This makes the eyes appear more open and the upper lids less hooded but never “surprised” or “scared”
- does not unnaturally widen the distance between the eyebrows because overzealous dissection in the midline is not done
How is the Restora Austin brow lift or brow stabilization performed?
The brow lift is done through small incisions, less than half of an inch, hidden in the hair. The forehead muscles and brow are repositioned and secured into a more youthful position using sutures. The sutures are permanent, so your result will be maintained for many years. You will not be able to feel the sutures, as they are placed below the forehead muscles.
How can I tell if the problem is with my brow, my upper lids or both?
Normally, the eyebrow position in a woman is above the level of the brow bone. In a man, the brow is at the level of the brow bone. This can vary from person to person, so it is helpful if you can bring photos of yourself taken five, ten and fifteen or twenty years ago, so we evaluate the natural position of your brow. If your brow is too low, hooding of the upper eyelid skin occurs. In mild to moderate cases, a brow lift alone will correct the brow and the upper eyelid issues. If there is an abundance of excess upper eyelid skin, the brow lift will need to be combined with an upper eyelid lift or blepharoplasty.
Are you ready to look more youthful, alert and energetic? Call Restora Austin today at 512.371.8817.
