The drooping or lowering of the forehead is often one of the first signs of facial aging. The horizontal lines that appear along the forehead and the vertical lines that become visible between the eyebrows have a tendency to make people look angry, sad or tired, even when they are not. Due to such things as the normal aging process, daily stresses encountered and the facial reaction to the sun, the forehead can quickly change in its original appearance as we age.
A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, is a procedure that raises the forehead to rejuvenate the eyebrows and rid one a furrowed or angry appearance. The surgery is successful at correcting skin wrinkling and loss of tone in the forehead that causes the sagging of the eyebrows and hooding of the upper eyelids. A brow lift softens the deep lines across the forehead, the horizontal lines at the top of the nose and the vertical lines between the brows, making you look more refreshed and relaxed.

The Best Candidate

The best candidate for a brow lift is one who exhibits one or any combination of the above mentioned signs of forehead aging. A brow lift is generally performed on men or women who are unhappy with the appearance of their forehead and eyebrow skin. The average age of brow lift patients is forty to sixty years old, however, the surgery can be performed on those people younger or older who have developed forehead lines, creases and furrows.
The patient should be in good health and physical condition, stable psychological state, and have realistic expectations of the surgery. As with any cosmetic procedure, the surgery will help to improve the overall appearance of the problem area, but it may not live up to your preconceived ideal. The surgery cannot stop the natural aging process, but it can help to make you more self-confident and happy with the appearance of your eyes. Be sure to discuss your expectations with Dr. Heddle, as well as your support network.
Interested patients who are bald, who have a receding hairline or who have had previous facial surgery may still be good candidates for a brow lift. As a result of these conditions, Dr. Heddle will alter the incision location or perform a more conservative surgery.

The Office Visit

During your initial consultation, Dr. Heddle will ask for your detailed medical history, including information that could cause complications during the surgery, such as, uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood-clotting problems, or the tendency to develop large scars. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or are taking any drugs, medications, vitamins or herbal supplements. Also during this initial visit, Dr. Heddle will ask questions about your emotional and psychological outlook on the surgery. While the surgery is ultimately a deeply personal decision, help and advice is available for you, so feel free to ask questions and express your concerns.
In order to gain a better understanding of how a brow lift may change your facial appearance, look into a mirror and place the palms of your hands just above your eyebrows on your forehead and gently pull up. This will give you an approximation of how you would look after the brow lift procedure.
During the consultation, Dr. Heddle will evaluate your face, including your skin and the underlying bone in the forehead area. There are different surgical techniques available for this type of procedure. The surgical technique that Dr. Heddle recommends for you will be based on your own personal concerns and facial appearance, such as, the position of your eyebrows, the amount of excess upper eyelid skin and the height of your hairline.

Preparing for the Surgery

Dr. Heddle will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for the surgery, including what you should/should not eat and drink, smoking and avoiding certain vitamins and medications prior to the procedure. It is very important to follow these guidelines in order to make the surgery go smoothly.
If your hair is very short, you may wish to let it grow longer before the surgery, so that it can hide the scars while they heal.
Plan to have someone with you on the day of the procedure who can drive you home afterwards and stay with you for the first 48 hours if needed.
An additional precaution is to set up a mini-recovery area in your home before the surgery. This recovery area may include: plenty of ice or cold compresses, clean towels, two to three medium-filled pillows for elevation, a thermometer, ointments or creams recommended by Dr. Heddle, magazines and books.

How the Surgery is Performed

The brow lift takes about one to two hours to complete.

	Before the operation begins, your hair will be gathered into sections with small rubber bands or clips. Any small hairs that do not fit into the rubber bands may be trimmed. Dr. Heddle will then mark the incision placement area with a magic marker. The incision will be made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden in the hair so as to camouflage the scars as they are healing.
	Through the incision, Dr. Heddle will carefully lift the skin on the forehead so that the underlying problem tissue can be removed and the muscles can be modified or released. The eyebrows will be lifted and any excess skin will be removed for a fresher, more youthful appearance. The incision is then closed with fine sutures or clips, which will be well-hidden by the hairline. The face and hair will be washed to prevent infection and irritation and the rubber bands will be removed from your hair.
	The resulting forehead appearance will leave you looking more youthful and better rested.

After the Surgery

Patients who have undergone the classic forehead lift may experience some numbness around the incision area and above for a variable distance, which usually turns into itchiness as the healing process begins. There may also be some hair loss around the incisions, which is usually temporary and relatively easy to conceal given the area of the incision. It is normal for bruising and swelling to appear on the forehead and to extend into the eyes and the cheeks. The swelling is usually at its worst within the first three days, and then will start to subside during the first week after the surgery. If you suffer regularly from headaches, this procedure may intensify those headaches temporarily. Any discomfort or pain experienced can be controlled by regularly applied cold compresses and pain medication prescribed by Dr. Heddle.

Getting Back to Normal

While you will begin to feel better within the first three days after surgery, it is important to rest comfortably for about the first week to ensure proper healing. Patients will be able to wash their hair within three days of the surgery. Most patients are able to return to work within seven to ten days after the surgery. More strenuous activities may be resumed in two weeks, and full recovery from the bruising is roughly two to three weeks, however, the majority of the bruising can be camouflaged with makeup. It is important to limit sun exposure for several months after the surgery.
The results of the surgery will last from five to ten years in the majority of patients. Although a brow lift cannot stop the natural process of aging, it can help to stop the appearance of aging for many years, leaving you with a refreshed, younger looker face to show the world.