Browlift Surgery
One of the more popular plastic surgeries in the past several years is the browlift. It can take years off the face by lifting, shaping and repositioning brows. This cosmetic procedure should not be confused with upper eyelid surgery or upper blepharoplasty.
This is a quick procedure taking only about an hour with general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Men and women typically seek this surgery when their brows flatten, droop and crowd eyes, making the eyelids look heavy and tired. It corrects the toll of aging that occurs in this area, restoring a more youthful brow.
How Browlift Surgery Differs from Upper Eyelid Surgery
Browlift is not the same as upper eyelid surgery, also called upper blepharoplasty. But these two procedures can be performed together and therefore are frequently confused by patients. Each addresses unique problems of aging around the eyes and upper portion of the face. With the brows and upper eyelids being so closely aligned, it can be difficult to know which surgery you need. In many cases, the two work well together to achieve the optimum results.
Key differences between browlift surgery and upper blepharoplasty include:
Browlift
Browlift surgery restores youthful positioning and shape to eyebrows after they have deflated and descended with age. It improves the delicate arch of the brow and youthful fullness when this region has flattened. The procedure also lifts the eyebrows to reveal the upper eyelids.
Women know that this is their problem when they cannot appy upper eyelid makeup due to obstruction from the heavy brow. If you are a good candidate for this surgery, you can expect your brow to look more attractive above a refreshed and more open upper eyelid.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
Also called upper blepharoplasty, this surgery addresses sagging skin and excess fat of your upper eyelids. After this procedure, you can expect your eyelids to appear more youthful and rested. It works best if your brows are still arched, elevated and youthful.
Combination Browlift with Upper Blepharoplasty
Combined browlift surgery and upper blepharoplasty addresses both drooping eyebrows and aging upper eyelids. It lifts and shapes the brows while also lifting and removing excess tissue on your upper eyelids. The combined approach provides more dramatic results when one procedure or the other will not sufficiently improve the appearance of these areas.
Although these are small areas on which to perform surgery, your plastic surgeon can effectively minimize and conceal your surgical scars. Incisions are typically hidden in the scalp hair for browlift and within the upper eyelid creases for upper blepharoplasty. This means your scars are fully camouflaged when your eyes are open. The thin skin of the upper eyelids happens to form the best scars anywhere on the body and are usually imperceptible over time.
Do I Need a Browlift?
As with all cosmetic plastic surgeries, browlift is an elective procedure. But if you feel displeased by your current forehead and upper eyelid area appearance, this surgery alone or combined with upper blepharoplasty may provide the results you want. Reasons for browlift surgery include:
Heavy looking brows Drooping brows Flat brows Asymmetrical brows Sagging on the outer part of the upper eyelids, creating eyelid hooding Browlift Surgery with Dr. Zenn
There are several types of browlift surgery, and Dr. Zenn has performed them all. Reflecting on his extensive experience and refined surgical abilities, Dr. Zenn prefers the minimally invasive technique of endoscopic browlift as the best results he has seen with the least number of scars.
Endoscopic Browlift
With this approach, scars are hidden in the scalp. This means you will not see them beyond your early recovery period. But you may experience bruising under your eyes from some tricking down of blood during the surgery and after. Any visible bruising may be present for one to two weeks. Overall, you can expect instant improvement in the youthful appearance of your brow region and forehead to the hairline. To get an idea of your prospective plastic surgeon’s skill and results, review their before-and-after photos usually found in their online browlift image gallery.
Results from browlift surgery is permanent. Of course your face will continue to age and this aging will affect your brow over time. Your skin ages over time because of sun overexposure, gravity and smoking. By maintaining a healthy diet and reducing your sun exposure, you can certainly enjoy your browlift results for a long time.
Is Browlift Surgery Right for Me?
Most browlift patients are between the ages of 45 and 75. But people of all ages may be candidates for this surgery for conditions like hereditary drooping or heavy brows.
Of course, the best way to know if a browlift will provide the results you seek is to visit with a board-certified plastic surgeon in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Michael Zenn of Zenn Plastic Surgery provides these one-on-one consultations. He will examine your eyebrows, eyelids, hairline and forehead to determine the right procedure for your desired outcome. The recommendation may include a browlift, upper blepharoplasty, a combined approach, or possibly another facial surgery.
To schedule your initial browlift surgery consultation with Dr. Zenn call Zenn Plastic Surgery at (919) 480-3885.
