When you think of the ways you can get a younger-looking appearance, a facelift might spring to mind. But a facelift only focuses on the lower part of the face, and many people show signs of aging in the forehead, eyebrow and eye area. That’s where a brow lift can come in handy. When performed as a surgical procedure, a brow lift, also sometimes called a forehead lift, is often performed with a facelift, to create a balanced look. The surgery tends to have two goals: to smooth out wrinkles across the forehead and to lift up droopy brows.
While you can get a younger looking brow and forehead with surgery, in some cases, a non-surgical treatment option is sufficient. Botox injections can help smooth the lines and wrinkles across the forehead and elevate the brow. The Botox brow lift can be performed on its own, or combined with eyelid surgery to give you an overall brighter and more refreshed look.
What Happens During a Botox Brow Lift
In most cases, the process of injecting Botox for a brow lift is very quick. The surgeon usually injects the substance into the muscles that are responsible for pulling the eyebrows down, creating a droopy or hooded look. Since Botox works by keeping the nerves from sending signals to the treated muscles, the muscles that help lift the brows are able to function without any opposition from the muscles that pull the brow down. The surgeon may also inject Botox into the muscles responsible for creating frown lines, or the two vertical lines between the brows, and for creating forehead creases.
Usually, treatment takes about 15 minutes. Discomfort during the treatment is minimal, since the needles are so small. It does take a few days, or up to a week, for the results of the injections to become visible. Once your results appear, they usually last for three to four months.
Is It For You?
Some patients are better suited for the Botox brow lift than others. If your brow droops or sags due to muscle movements, you’re likely to see better results from Botox than if your brow problems were related to a loss of fat. In some cases, a patient may decide to have a traditional brow lift performed, as well as Botox injections. The surgical brow lift helps bring up the brow while the Botox injections focus on reducing the frown lines or forehead lines.
Major Benefits
Botox to lift the brows has a few benefits over surgery. One big advantage is that the treatment doesn’t require any downtime. While you should keep your head upright for several hours after the injection, you will be able to get right back to work or whatever your regularly scheduled activities are.
The treatment is also generally comfortable for most patients. If you do feel discomfort, your surgeon can reduce it with a topical anesthetic.
As with a surgical brow lift, you have the option of combining a Botox brow lift with another procedure. You may want to get fillers in other areas of your face to correct lines and wrinkles. It’s also possible to receive Botox before or after another surgery. For example, you can choose to have a facelift to correct drooping and sagging in the area of your chin and neck, and have Botox to boost your brow area.
A Few Drawbacks
There are a few disadvantages to a Botox brow lift. One major one is how long the results last. At most, the results from your treatment will last several months. That means you may have to get up to three or four Botox brow lifts a year to maintain a youthful look. While the treatment is initially cheaper and less time consuming than surgery, if you need to keep going back for touch ups, the cost, both in terms of money and time, can quickly add up.
No matter whether you decide to have a surgical brow lift to refresh your forehead area or choose to receive Botox injections to create a more youthful look, it’s essential that you choose a surgeon who has ample experience performing both procedures, so that he or she can make the right recommendation for you.
At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Fairfax, Virginia, Dr. George Bitar, a board certified plastic surgeons who specialize in facial procedures. If you want to do something about your forehead and eyebrow area, contact their practice to learn more about your options. Call (703) 206-0506 to schedule an appointment today.
George Bitar, MD, FACS is an award-winning, board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, the Founder and Medical Director of Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Virginia. He specializes in the latest surgical and minimally invasive techniques to scar management and reduction. Dr. Bitar is involved in groundbreaking research and education in plastic surgery and has authored numerous articles, abstracts, and chapters.
