Forehead Lift
As early as in our 20's and 30's, the effects of age, gravity and sun begin to affect the upper portion of our face. Forehead wrinkles begin to form and our eyebrows sag. This portrays a tired and/or angry look to the face. Rejuvenation of the aging forehead aims to improve this look by elevating the eyebrows to re-define the eyes, improve hooding of the upper eyelids, smoothen out deep furrows between the eyes (frown lines), and improve forehead wrinkles. Forehead rejuvenation is an important aspect in the overall strategy of restoring a more youthful appearance.
Dr. Steiger utilizes several techniques towards achieving natural appearing forehead rejuvenation. Newer techniques utilize advanced medical technology of specialized cameras (endoscopes) and instruments in order to carry out the procedure through small incisions within the hairline. More traditional techniques involve the use of well-hidden incisions in order to achieve the goals of forehead rejuvenation. Each technique has its advantages. After, a thorough analysis of your specific aging pattern, Dr. Steiger will recommend the best procedure for you.
Goals To restore the natural position of a sagging forehead and eyebrows and to eliminate the horizontal and vertical furrows (frown lines) of the forehead.
The Procedure There are two methods in which forehead lifts are performed: endoscopic and open. In an endoscopic forehead lift, a specially designed camera (endoscope) is inserted through 4 small incisions made within the hairline. The camera allows the surgeon to visualize all of the important anatomy and safely perform the procedure. In the open approach, an incision is made along or behind the hairline in order to perform the procedure. The forehead is then repositioned and the muscles responsible for the vertical furrows (frown lines) are safely removed.
Anesthesia Deep sedation/twilight sleep is preferred, however some patients opt for a general anesthetic.
Length of Time A brow-lift takes between 1-2 hours to perform, depending upon the type of lift. It is performed in our fully accredited outpatient surgical facility or at the hospital. Other procedures are often combined with a brow-lift to provide a balanced rejuvenation of the face. This might be recommended after further discussion with your physician.
After the Procedure Most patients go home comfortably after the procedure. If you prefer, professional in-home nursing care or overnight hospital suites are available upon request. Our friendly staff can assist you in coordinating these services upon request.
Recovery Recovery time ranges between 1-2 weeks. Depending on your type of work, you may return as early as 1 week. Full, strenuous physical activity should be avoided for 2 weeks after the procedure. Bruising can occur after surgery, which may be camouflaged with makeup. This generally resolves after 2 weeks. Most patients do not experience significant pain after surgery, but describe a feeling of tightness. We will prescribe analgesics to help alleviate this.
Yes. Dr. Steiger is extensively trained on the latest, most advanced endoscopic techniques, which is a great benefit to his patients. He performs many endoscopic procedures including endoscopic brow-lifts and endoscopic mid-face lifts.
Assuming that you are in good health with realistic expectations you may be an excellent candidate for this procedure. Dr. Steiger always aims to achieve a natural look, avoiding the "surprised" look. During your consultation, Dr. Steiger will thoroughly evaluate your aging-pattern and recommend the procedure that will best fit your needs.
There are many factors to consider when determining the type of lift that will suit you best. This includes the shape of your eyebrow, its position, the amount of forehead wrinkles/furrows, gender, the positions of your hairline, and the density of your hair. Dr. Steiger takes all these factors into consideration to achieve the desired aesthetic result.
Brow-lift incisions are strategically placed in order to hide and/or camouflage them. The incisions are most frequently hidden within the hairline and are not visible. In patients with no hair or receding hairlines, incisions are hidden within existing creases or in regions where there is no hair loss and are not at risk for future hair loss.
Yes. When performing a forehead lift, the muscles (corrugator muscles) responsible for the frown lines can be removed or weakened at the same time. The permanency of this depends upon the approach used. An endoscopic approach weakens the muscles by cutting them, but will not remove them completely. The muscles are completely removed in an open approach, which will achieve a more permanent reduction.
Yes. This is called lateral hooding, which is one of the most common signs of an aging forehead. A temple lift (lateral brow-lift) is performed to correct this and achieve a more natural, youthful appearance.