What is a brow lift?
An endoscopic brow lift is a surgery that seeks to elevate the eyebrows of patients with drooping eyebrows. It’s also known as a ” frontal lift ,” as it stretches the forehead, reducing wrinkles while simultaneously elevating the eyebrows.
Compared to traditional “open” forehead lift techniques, the endoscopic technique has the advantage of being performed through small incisions in the scalp, making it much less invasive than other older techniques.
Who is a candidate for an endoscopic brow lift?
Many patients who consult us for upper blepharoplasty have some degree of brow drooping. Most of these patients will have a satisfactory result with blepharoplasty alone, as they have mild brow drooping. However, those with moderate or severe brow drooping require a brow lift , as blepharoplasty alone will not sufficiently clear the eyelid.
The most common candidates are women over 40 years of age who desire rejuvenation of the upper third of their face and who are in good general health.
What is an endoscopic brow lift?
Brow lift surgery involves raising the forehead and eyebrows to the desired position . To do this, we must weaken the ligaments and muscles that hold the eyebrows in place.
Access is made through five small, 1.5 cm incisions in the scalp, making them invisible. Through these, the suspensory ligaments of the eyebrows and the depressor muscles of the brows are accessed subcutaneously using a small camera (endoscope) and an instrument. Once weakened, the forehead and eyebrows are now free and can be prefixed to the desired height. This can be done in different ways depending on the case, but we primarily use self-absorbable fixation devices or Tissucol (biological glue).
Upper blepharoplasty is often performed in conjunction with a brow lift , but in these cases, blepharoplasty is always more conservative. If necessary, lower blepharoplasty can also be performed in the same procedure.
FAQS Lifting de cejas
-
Sometimes, depending on the patient’s characteristics, we opt for another type of technique to lift the eyebrows. For example, in cases where only the tail of the eyebrow is lowered, we can perform a lift on just that part of the eyebrow, making only two incisions in the scalp.
For older patients or those with facial paralysis, we often opt for an external brow lift (direct browplasty). This technique is performed through an incision just above the eyebrow hair follicles, so when performed properly, it is usually imperceptible within a few weeks. -
Before your brow lift, you’ll have an initial visit with Dr. Nieto, during which you’ll discuss your anatomy, possible options, and desired goals. This visit lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. Before the visit, we’ll ask you to fill out a brief questionnaire about your health, eye problems, and previous surgeries. It’s important for us to know about any pre-existing medical conditions, as well as any drug allergies and the patient’s current medications.
During the same visit, we will perform a complete eye exam to ensure your ocular health. Dr. Nieto is an expert ophthalmologist trained at the best hospitals in the country and abroad, so your eye health is in good hands. It is especially important to detect dry eye problems (low tear production), as in these cases we tend to perform more conservative surgeries to avoid exacerbating the problem. Previous laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, or retinal surgery are not an impediment to undergoing this surgery, but it is important that these problems be controlled and stabilized prior to surgery.
Before the procedure, you must undergo a general blood test with coagulation and an electrocardiogram, which you must bring on the day of the procedure to give to the anesthesiologist.
-
During the post-operative period after a brow lift, discomfort and tightness often occur, especially at the temples. These symptoms improve with anti-inflammatory medications and usually subside within the first week. Otherwise, recovery is rapid. When the surgery is performed alone, bruising usually doesn’t appear, but some swelling does occur in the area. Recovery is not complete after a week, but most patients have no problem resuming their social activities at this point.
During the first few days, it’s important to avoid vigorous physical exertion to avoid possible bleeding and shorten recovery. We recommend frequent application of ice during the first two to three days, oral anti-inflammatory medications, and an antibiotic ointment on the incisions.
The first checkup will take place the day after the procedure, when Dr. Nieto will remove the bandage from your forehead. Should you have any problems or questions in the following days, you will always be in direct contact with him. The staples used to close the incisions are removed 10 days later. Full recovery is usually within a month of the procedure; occasionally, full recovery may take a little longer.
The results of a brow lift are long-lasting, but it’s important to understand that this surgery does not stop the aging process. -
You must arrive at the clinic accompanied approximately 30 minutes before your surgery, bringing the necessary documentation as instructed, as well as any preoperative tests. Once in the operating room, the nursing team will ensure you are comfortable and relaxed. The anesthesiologist will then introduce himself, check your vital signs, and give the go-ahead for the procedure to begin.
We perform this surgery under local anesthesia and sedation. The drugs used for sedation today are eliminated very quickly from the body, so recovery is rapid and without a hangover.
The surgery is always performed on an outpatient basis, without hospitalization.
The surgery usually lasts about 90 minutes, but if performed in conjunction with upper and/or lower blepharoplasty, it can last up to 2-3 hours. In any case, thanks to sedation and anesthesia, it is a painless procedure.
After surgery, you will remain under observation for about an hour while we apply cold and anti-inflammatory drugs to slow the initial inflammation.
-
An endoscopic brow lift is a surgery with long-lasting effects that is rarely repeated. Over the years, the initial tension from the surgery diminishes, but even then, the patient still looks good. If the beneficial effects of the surgery diminish over time, complementary treatments such as botulinum toxin can be used.
