Gravity is nice, since it keeps us from flying off into space. But for the skin, it’s a brute, always pulling downward, leading to sagging skin. Throw in stress, our Calgary winters, and just the general march of time and the skin all over our bodies sags and droops.
Your forehead doesn’t get a pass. Gravity and general aging leave your brow with sagging skin, deep lines, and drooping brows. And they can misrepresent you, like a gossip website. People can see your drooping brows and think you’re either mad, sad, or really tired. And you could have enough energy to feel like you’re going to try out for the Flames!
A brow lift from Dr. Perron can put an end to these false impressions, giving your upper face a more youthful appearance.
Since brow lifts target the upper third of the face, the procedure can be combined with other surgeries such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and a mid-facelift to rejuvenate more of the face. You’ll discuss these available options with Dr. Perron during your consultation.
Who should have a brow lift?
Sagging brows can be simply a fact of age, or due to your genes (thanks, Mom and Dad!). Most brow lift patients are between the ages of 40 and 60 and feature lined or inelastic skin on their foreheads.
Unsure if a brow lift with Dr. Perron is right for you? There’s an easy way to tell, and it’s interactive! Stand in front of the mirror and place the palms of your hands to the sides of your eyes above the eyebrows. Now pull the skin back from the eyes. This raising of the forehead is what the brow lift will do.
Two incision techniques to fit your situation
Dr. Perron performs brow lifts with two techniques: the traditional brow lift or the endoscopic brow lift. The two of you will discuss both options and together you will decide which is right for you.
- Traditional brow lift — While the end result from these two methods is roughly the same, the incisions are markedly different. Traditionally, a brow lift has required a coronal incision that stretches from just above the ear across the top of the forehead and down to the other ear. The incision is made within hairline, but may be placed further back to minimize visibility in patients with thinning hair. Next, the forehead skin is lifted, tissue removed, muscles adjusted, and the eyebrows may be lifted. Dr. Perron trims any excess skin and then closes the incision with stitches or clips.
- Endoscopic brow lift — As endoscope technology has continued to move forward, endoscopic brow lifts have become the favored method. In this method, Dr. Perron makes from three to five short incisions, each less than one inch, behind the hairline. An endoscope is then inserted into one of the incisions. The endoscope enables Dr. Perron to see beneath the skin without making the long incision of the traditional method. Through the other incisions the skin is lifted and excess skin is trimmed. Underlying muscle is adjusted as needed. The overlying skin is then redraped to its tighter contour.
Within the two incision options, Dr. Perron adapts the procedure to your needs. A “temporal brow lift” is meant to correct drooping of the outer half of the brow. A “central brow lift” is meant to correct inner brow drooping. A “full brow lift” is meant to correct a deeply furrowed forehead.
During recovery there will be numbness and discomfort at the incision sites. Numbness will give way to itching as the forehead heals. This usually passes within six months.
Tired of being asked if you’re tired, or mad? Call Dr. Perron at 403-228-7076 and ask about a brow lift.
