Brow Lift

Overhanging skin in the upper eyelids can be addressed in two ways: upper eyelid surgery to remove excess skin, or an eyebrow lift. While in the past surgeons often chose to automatically perform upper eyelid surgery to correct sagging upper eyelids, more often today an eyebrow lift (or browlift) is used to create the same result. Sometimes patients focus their attention on excess skin in the upper eyelids and do not realize that it is their sagging eyebrows that are the cause of the problem. Dr. Marcus would be happy to explain the benefits of both eyelid and browlift surgery as they relate to your particular needs.

A browlift can be performed alone, but is often performed at the same time as a facelift. Younger adults who have a naturally low brow or who already have deep frown lines due to stress or muscle overactivity may also benefit from a browlift.

Actual Marin County Brow Lift Patient

Brow Lift for a Marin County woman by David E. Marcus, M.D.
View more brow lift before & after photos.

The surgical technique that Dr. Marcus will use for a browlift will depend on things such as the position of your eyebrows, the amount of excess upper eyelid skin and the height of your hairline. Browlifts are almost always performed through an endoscope – a long, thin tube with a light on the end attached to a video camera. The endoscope is inserted through several tiny incisions in the scalp and allows Dr. Marcus to see and work on the inside structure of the forehead. The endoscopic technique has the advantage of requiring minimal incisions, but it may not be beneficial for all patients. Sometimes an incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden in the hair. Sometimes the incision may be placed at the front of the hairline or the middle of the scalp. The incision is designed to be inconspicuous when it is healed. Through the incision, Dr. Marcus can modify or remove parts of the muscles that cause frown lines, remove excess skin and lift your eyebrows to a more youthful level.

If your main concern is frown lines between your eyebrows, a limited endoscopic procedure can be performed to correct this problem. If you are having upper eyelid surgery performed, it may also be possible to treat frown lines by way of the incisions that are made in the upper eyelid.

Complications from an eyebrow lift are infrequent, but sometimes the normal numbness and itching that follow the surgery may be prolonged. Sometimes patients experience minor hair loss where the scalp incisions were made, but this is usually temporary and easy to conceal.

Swelling and bruising should be gone within two weeks. You may use camouflage makeup almost immediately. Do expect temporary numbness and possibly some itching of the scalp as the nerves heal. You will have an accurate idea of how you will look within two weeks after surgery.