Brow Lift

Selecting the right cosmetic surgeon is a choice that you live with for years, if not your entire life. A successful procedure will make you feel more like yourself and give you greater confidence for years to come. On the other hand, selecting the wrong surgeon increases your chances of having poor results, which can lead to additional costs, time, and heartache.

When choosing your surgeon, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

• What credentials should my surgeon have? Making sure that your doctor has received the right training focused on your issue. General plastic surgeons work on the entire body, and facial plastic surgeons perform work on the entire face. Dr. Liu is an Oculoplastic Surgeon, and completed an ASOPRS fellowship, and is therefore one of the most highly qualified oculoplastic surgeons in North America. When you are having surgery done near your eyes, you want to make sure that you have a surgeon that was trained in the eyes, and general and facial plastic surgeons typically have inadequate training in this area.
• Ask detailed questions. Make sure that your surgeon answers all of your questions clearly and is willing to spend the time with you to address all of your concerns. A physician that cannot give a clear answer as to how many of a particular procedure they have performed or how their training qualifies them to perform a procedure should be chosen with care.
• What do other patients say? While a referral from a friend or colleague can be helpful in narrowing down a physician search, it is important to try and get a well-rounded view of the physician. Look online at their reviews on websites such as RealSelf.com, Healthgrades.com, and on Google and Yelp. Getting the full picture of other patients’ experiences with a physician can be helpful in putting your interaction with the doctor into the correct context.

Depending on the type of brow lift, local anesthesia may be used and the procedure performed in Dr. Liu’s procedure room or IV (intravenous) sedation may be used at an off-site surgery center. In certain more involved cases, general anesthesia may be used.

It is difficult to provide pricing before a patient has had a consultation with Dr. Liu. The cost of a procedure can vary depending on what a patient needs and what the surgery will entail. More importantly, many patients come to Dr. Liu believing that they need a certain procedure, only to find out during the consultation that a different procedure will provide a better outcome. 

For a non-surgical brow lift, botulinum toxin injections can be used to mildly raise the eyebrows and to address eyebrow asymmetry. These injections can also be used to reduce wrinkles between the eyebrows and above the eyebrows on the forehead. The results from botulinum toxin injections are temporary and repeat treatment is needed every 3 months on average.

To selectively treat the outer part of the brow, a lateral brow lift can be performed. An incision is made either right in front of or behind the hairline on the sides of the forehead. The underlying tissues are then released and repositioned to the desired height. Any extra skin is removed and sutures are placed by the hairline where the scar will be more hidden.

To lift the entire length of the eyebrow, a direct brow lift or an endoscopic brow lift can be performed. The direct brow lift works well in people with forehead lines that can hide the scar once the skin above the eyebrow is shortened. With the endoscopic brow lift, several small incisions are made behind the hairline and a fiber optic camera is used to visualize the tissues during the surgery. Once the tissues are released and repositioned, suture material is used to fixate the forehead and eyebrows into the new position.

The specific techniques that Dr. Liu uses will be selected based on your needs. Because Dr. Liu has such specialized training, she has access to a number of techniques and will tailor these techniques to get the best outcome for you.

A brow lift typically takes about 1 – 2 hours from start to finish.

The brow lift incision will depend on the technique that Dr. Liu uses (see “How does Dr. Liu perform her brow lift” above). The incisions are placed so that the scars will be well concealed, frequently within or at the hairline, or within a deep forehead crease.

A brow lift is generally a very safe procedure. When considering any surgery, it is important to inform your surgeon of any abnormalities of your general medical health. It is important to remember that while all surgery carries some risks, even when performed by the most highly trained surgeon and at the best facilities. Below are some of the more common risks associated with a brow lift:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Scarring
• Infection
• Excessive tearing
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Dryness or burning of the eyes (both of which can usually be treated with artificial tear drops)
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the area of surgery that is usually temporary
• Difficulty keeping the eyes closed while sleeping, which is usually temporary
• On occasion, individuals have also reported experiencing blurred or double vision, but in most cases, these complications subside in a few days

The likelihood of serious complications arising from the procedure is typically influenced by both the surgeon’s skill as well as the patient’s individual response to the brow lift. Certain severe risks or complications can be avoided by cooperating fully and completely following your surgeon’s instructions. With patience, a willingness to cooperate, and a qualified surgeon, the risks associated with a brow lift can be dramatically reduced.

Surgery should be scheduled for a time when you can relax for at least 1-2 weeks. It is important to avoid any strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or bending down during this time to avoid complications and to promote the best healing. 

A headwrap or bandages may need to be worn for the first few days after surgery. It is also important to avoid taking any blood thinning medications for at least two weeks prior to surgery. If you are on a blood thinning medication due to a specific medical condition, you will need to discuss this with oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Wenjing Liu and your primary care physician prior to stopping any medication. Dr. Liu’s staff will review a list of common medications, supplements and vitamins that can cause your blood to be thinner.

Please note that Dr. Liu expects to see patients back in the office a few days after a procedure to ensure that the healing process is going as expected and that you are on track for a good result. Do not plan any travel immediately after your procedure.