Did you know that brow lifts have been a part of plastic surgeons’ skillset for over a century? Some techniques are older than others, but people have been getting this procedure done for over 100 years.
It wasn’t until the 1990s when endoscopic brow lift procedures became a thing. This popular option caught the attention of many, but what is an endoscopic brow lift exactly? Read on to find out.
See more in our Before & After gallery!
Brow lift surgery can correct the loss of soft tissue in the upper part of the face. It entails the removal of excess sagging skin around the forehead that causes brow drooping. Essentially, this procedure lifts the eyebrows, hence the name.
Removing the wrinkling of the forehead occurs through the repositioning of the underlying tissue and muscle. After, you’ll have a more youthful appearance in the upper third part of the face.
Endoscopy is a surgical incision with a flexible tube, camera, and surgical instruments. An endoscope gets used in different cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries nowadays. An endoscopic brow lift has become more popular because it is not as invasive as traditionally getting a brow lift. This procedure also takes less time to heal.
Many prefer endoscopic brow lifts because they are a less invasive option. This is one of the main endoscopic brow lift benefits. Benefits of an Endoscopic Brow Lift are:
The loss of forehead skin elasticity can happen because of sun damage, genetics, and general gravity. The upper eyelid begins to droop, and people become unhappy with their appearance.
There are other reasons people may opt for this surgery, as eyebrow drooping can actually feel uncomfortable.
This plastic surgery option can also help improve the symmetry of eyebrows. It may change the entire eyebrow shape by decreasing the muscle function that causes brow wrinkling.
Endoscopic brow lift surgery is not for everyone. You should avoid this procedure if you have any of the following problems:
You should also avoid this procedure if you have unrealistic cosmetic expectations. Your appearance will seem more youthful, but the look is more natural.
Ideal candidates for endoscopic brow lifts are usually patients aged 35 to 65 who show evidence of facial aging in the upper third of their face. This usually presents coincident with signs of facial aging in the middle and lower thirds of their face.
Patients interested in upper or lower blepharoplasty often benefit from an endoscopic brow lift, and, in some cases, performing an endoscopic brow lift can remove the need to perform an upper blepharoplasty altogether. Instead, an endoscopic brow lift can create more natural results with better-camouflaged incisions.
In other cases, the endoscopic brow lift is performed in conjunction with upper or lower blepharoplasty or facelift and significantly enhances the overall aesthetic result.
Before a surgeon can perform an endoscopic brow lift procedure, they must have a thorough understanding of the patient’s anatomy. The following must be evaluated before proceeding with the surgery.
Waiting to have the procedures you want can end up costing you more in the long run as your face continues to age. If you are avoiding the mirror or changing your hairstyle to cover up an aging brow, don’t wait any longer for it to get worse. Wave Plastic Surgery is proud to serve Los Angeles. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with our experienced cosmetic surgeons.
After finding the best plastic surgeon for your brow lift procedure, you need to understand the process. Before getting an endoscopic brow lift procedure, you will complete routine blood and radiological investigations.
Some surgeons will require you to shampoo your hair with antibacterial shampoo either the night or morning before surgery. You won’t have to shave or cut your hair.
The surgeon will make five access incisions in the scalp, behind the hairline. Each of these is about one and a quarter inches in length. Through these access incisions, small instruments are inserted to allow the surgeon to separate the different planes and preserve vital structures (nerves and blood vessels). A small camera magnifies the operative field and projects it onto a large screen in the operating room.
During the surgery, the muscles of the central brow are weakened. These are the muscles that are responsible for frowning. This results in a kind of surgical Botox effect.
After the soft tissues of the forehead have been released, the precise angle and amount of movement for each brow are determined and compared with the preoperative measurements taken during the patient’s consultation. It is important to understand that the movement required is usually not merely vertical but lateral as well. This adjustment allows the plastic surgeon to restore an aesthetic sweep to the brows with improved shape and symmetry.
Each side of the brow can be elevated independently and precisely. Once the ideal position of each brow has been carefully determined, they are held in place with a tiny endotine.
To keep the brow in its new position, Dr. Lee uses a special device called an Endotine to fix the forehead tissue to the bone. The endotines function like high tech “carpet tacks.” The mini-endotines allow us to elevate each side of the brow independently and precisely. Once the ideal position of each brow has been carefully determined, the tines of each endotine are engaged, locking it in place.
The endotines are bioabsorbable, lasting approximately eight to ten months. This is long enough for the patient’s own tissue to replace the mini endotines, and assume their function of holding the repositioned soft tissues of the forehead in place.
One of the advantages of the endoscopic brow lift is that it does not require general anesthesia but can actually be performed with local anesthesia, commonly known as “twilight anesthesia.” This technique allows a carefully monitored patient to be in a deep sleep during the procedure with no memory of the surgery afterward. It also allows the patient to quickly wake up in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit after the surgery while minimizing postoperative symptoms of nausea and grogginess.
The sutures are removed one week after surgery. Within a couple of weeks, the five small surgical scars in the scalp are completely camouflaged by the patient’s hair.
Patients often feel a tightness of the skin and soft tissues of their forehead that can persist for a few weeks after the surgery. They sometimes also note some numbness of the forehead skin and scalp immediately after surgery. This can persist for several months but usually completely resolves six months after surgery.
Patients need to exercise some patience in the first few weeks after an endoscopic brow lift in order to allow the tissues of the brow and forehead to relax into their final position.
Once the procedure is over, you may experience pain. However, this can be managed with the use of painkillers. If needed, you can ask for an antibiotic.
When you need to rest, you are advised to elevate your head for at least two weeks. Generally, you will be discharged the same day or after 24 hours.
Patients that underwent surgery may be advised to use certain shampoo. You won’t be able to wash your hair until 48 hours after the procedure. A surgeon may prescribe ointments to put directly on the wounds.
A surgeon will schedule an appointment to remove the suture. The time of removal will vary depending on the type of suture. You may experience bruising and swelling around your eyes or forehead. The wounds should heal in around two weeks, and the scars should be barely visible over time.
For a few weeks after the surgery, the brows will seem elevated excessively. Over time, this will settle. In about four to six months, you will see the final brow results.
After 10 to 14 days, you can return to work and continue all normal activities. You can even begin to exercise at this time. It is important to note that every individual is different after surgery. It may only take you a week and a half to look better, while another person may experience bruising and swelling for up to three weeks or more.
The results of an endoscopic brow lift can last between five and seven years.
It is extremely rare to have complications from this procedure. The risks of having this surgery done include swelling, bruising, scarring, and eye injuries.
The more serious but also rare issues that could occur include hematoma, loss of hair (alopecia), and change in the shape of the eyebrow. Temporary side effects include numbness around the surgical area and paralysis of the forehead muscle.
To avoid any of these risks from happening, it is essential to choose a trusted surgeon and follow their aftercare instructions. Resting, elevation, and icing the area can help speed up the recovery process.
An endoscopic brow lift can help patients look younger, more refreshed, and less tired. This procedure eases the weight of the tissue above their eyes. It gets rid of forehead wrinkles, elevates the eyebrows, and improves eyebrow symmetry.
Take a look at our Before and After Gallery to see the results for yourself.
Dr. Peter is CEO and Chief Surgeon of WAVE Plastic Surgery Center with over 20 years of plastic surgery experience, overlooking 30K+ successful plastic surgery cases. He has mentored master surgeons around the world in state-of-the-art techniques, and has been inducted into the RealSelf 100 & 500 Hall of Fame.
His many accolades and shining results are evidence of Peter’s expertise.
Throughout 20+ years in aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Ben Lee has always been passionate about using his skills to impart a lasting, positive impact on the lives of his patients.
“Time and time again, I have witnessed dramatic improvements in a patient’s confidence and well-being after a relatively minor cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. As a surgeon, that brings me great joy.” — Dr. Ben Lee
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