A brow lift, which is also called a forehead lift, is cosmetic surgery that can lift and tighten the forehead area for a younger look. A forehead lift can smooth the skin above the eyebrows and also make the eyes appear bigger, and more prominent, because the eyebrows are lifted higher.

Information on Brow Lift Procedures

There are different types of forehead lift surgery techniques:

• Subcutaneous brow lift - With a subcutaneous brow lift technique, the incisions are made in front of the hairline. If you have a receding hairline, they will be made at the top of the forehead. Excess skin or loose skin will be removed. The remaining skin will be lifted and sutured in place.
• Endoscopic brow lift - A brow lift can be done endoscopically. In this type of procedure, several small incisions are made. After the incisions are made, a tube or endoscope is inserted in one of the incisions. The surgeon can watch the underlying skin through a tiny camera inserted through the endoscope.
• Temporal or lateral forehead lift - In a temporal or lateral forehead lift, two incisions are made, one at each temple. The cost for these procedures varies. You would need to discuss with your surgeon which procedure might be better for you.

A brow lift can help to reduce

• worry lines or frown lines on the forehead, the ones that get deeper when you scowl
• droopy or sagging eyebrows, that can give you a sad look all the time
• furrow lines that make you look angry or tired even if you're not
• squint lines
• the so-called 11's, which are the parallel lines that look like the numeral eleven which form between the eyes
• loose, crepey skin in the forehead

Generally forehead lift surgery is done on people over the age of 40, although it can be done on younger men or women as well. If there is excessive skin on the eyelid, you would talk with your doctor about eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty. If there are lines or wrinkles, you may instead consider dermal fillers or fat injections or grafting. Botox injections can also be used to reduce lines in the forehead.

Brow lift and forehead lift cost

The cost for a brow lift depends on the area where you live and your surgeon. Typically the cost ranges from $4000 to $5000. The cost may be reduced if you are having several procedures done by the same cosmetic surgeon. This is considered to be very serious surgery. So spend a lot of time considering if this is really the right thing for you. Your surgeon may also suggest a different type of procedure for forehead lines such as laser resurfacing, a chemical peel or dermabrasion. You need to discuss the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the costs of all these procedures.

It is very important that you choose a good cosmetic surgeon for a brow lift or any cosmetic surgery. Don't choose one based on price or cost alone. Look for a plastic surgeon who specializes in brow lifts and other facial surgeries such as nose jobs or chin surgery. Ask questions before getting cosmetic surgery. Look at before and after photos of people with similar features. Remember that there are potential complications including anesthesia issues, infection and other risks. After surgery, there will be pain and swelling. Make sure you follow your post-operative instructions. Men or women considering a brow lift should also be realistic in their expectations about cosmetic surgery.