Browlift and forehead lift are often synonymous. It is natural as you age for your skin to become saggy and wrinkles to develop as a result, with the forehead being a common culprit. Browlift is an operation that aims to help reposition soft tissue to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or sagging of your forehead and eyebrows. It is a very popular procedure for rejuvenating the eyebrow and forehead to help reduce the signs of ageing.
Why Should I Consider a Browlift or Forehead Lift?
A brow lift can improve the appearance of the forehead, the brow and the area around the eyes by raising the soft tissue and skin of the forehead and brow. You might choose to have a brow lift if you have a low, sagging brow or asymmetry.
The benefits of a brow or forehead lift can include:
- Reversed tired, angry appearance
- Smooths away facial features
- Opens up the eyes
- Dramatic, long-lasting results
The Browlift and Forehead Lift Procedure Explained
Eyebrows or forehead lifts can encompass a range of procedures. Initially, an incision will be made across the hairline, with the skin and soft tissue lifted and excess skin, fat and tissue removed before re-stitching your forehead or hairline junction.
The two most common eyebrow/forehead lift methods are:
- Classic lift
- Endoscopic lift
The classic lift involves one continuous incision beginning at the level of your ears and going up around your hairline. Depending on your hairline, the surgeon will work to avoid a visible scar.
The surgeon will make several smaller incisions in your scalp for the endoscopic lift. They will insert a scope with a tiny camera on the end of a thin tube into one of the cuts and use another device inserted in another cut to make the necessary changes. The surgeon uses small anchors to secure the tissue in the endoscopic lift. Because the cuts are smaller, this procedure is less invasive than the classic lift. As a result, you will likely have minimal scarring and a shorter recovery time undergoing an endoscopic lift.
What Are the Risks?
The risks of browlift and forehead lift surgeries, as with any surgery, should always be discussed in length with the surgeon performing the procedure. Risks may include:
- Bleeding, bruising
- Infection
- Scarring
- Swelling of forehead
- Change in sensation and risk of permanent nerve damage for sensation or ability to move that area of the face
- Altered hairline
- Failure of procedure and wrinkles and lines remain
- An excess of soft tissue and skin is removed, resulting in over-tightening of your forehead, leaving an unnatural finish to the forehead or eyebrow and the potential of a ‘tight’ feeling
How Much Does It Cost?
- UK private cost: although it varies from clinic to clinic, the price for a browlift can cost around £4,000
- NHS: this treatment is not usually available on the NHS. However, it may occasionally be provided on the NHS for psychological or other health reasons.