A forehead lift or browlift is a procedure that can smooth out wrinkles, correct drooping brows and heavy eyelids to give a more youthful, refreshed appearance. It can be performed alone, or in conjunction with a facelift, eyelid surgery, or laser skin resurfacing.

It is a procedure more commonly performed on persons between 35 and 60 years of age. In a forehead lift, the muscles that cause the wrinkles in the forehead and the frown line at the base of the nose are removed. The eyebrows are then lifted into a more youthful position.

To better understand what a forehead lift might accomplish, look into a mirror and place your hands on the skin in the middle of your forehead. Draw the skin up to raise the brow and forehead area.

The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure may be performed through an incision hidden behind the hairline, or it may be done with the use of an endoscope. The advantage of the endoscopic method is that it is performed with only a few small incisions in the scalp rather than one long one. This decreases the chances of numbness in the forehead and can be used in men with baldness. It is also useful in younger patients where the removal of excess skin is not necessary.

The disadvantage to the endoscopic method is that not as many wrinkles may be removed and it may not be possible to elevate the brow as much as with an open technique.

If you are considering a brow lift, as your plastic surgeon which method would be best for you. The recovery period for a brow lift is usually 7-10 days. There will be some swelling and bruising and may include red cheeks and eyelids. Your plastic surgeon will probably ask you to keep your head elevate and apply cold compresses during the first 24 hours to reduce swelling. Makeup may usually be used again in 3 days and sutures are removed in 7-10 days.