Brow Lift Mobile, AL
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Every year, more than 40,000 men and women have a brow lift, also known as a forehead lift. With a brow lift, Mobile patients can address wrinkles and loose skin on the forehead and brow.
As we all get older, our brows and upper eyelids tend to fall and cause us to look tired or aged. Genetics is often another cause of this issue.
Frequently, people will come in and ask if there is a way to remove the excess skin from their upper eyelids. This may be because other people tell them they look tired or older, or it may even be causing visual impairment.
In the past, most people would proceed with a blepharoplasty or an upper eyelid lift, when in fact the problem is just a little bit higher than that and involves the descent of the brow tissue.
Some people may need both of these procedures. In order to make sure we are correcting the right issue, we have to look at both the forehead and the upper eyelids.
What Is a Brow Lift?
A brow lift is a procedure that essentially does just that; it raises the brows. This operation can greatly improve a patient’s appearance. One of its goals is to remove some of the muscles, which cause frowning and lines between the eyebrows in the middle of the forehead. These are called the corrugator muscles, and when somebody frowns or is even at rest, they may be visible and make people have an angry or stern appearance.
Dr. Proffitt may recommend a brow lift when a patient exhibits:
- Frown lines
- Drooping or low set brow
- Crow’s feet
- Horizontal lines and furrows
- Loose upper eyelid skin that cannot be completely corrected with a blepharoplasty
A brow lift may be combined with a blepharoplasty.
Before & Afters
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Is a Forehead Lift Right for You?
Brow lift surgery is indicated for those people who have low-set brows. Sometimes this can be congenital (you are born with it), it runs in families, or is a result of aging. The forehead has fallen down such that brows start encroaching on the upper eyelid, literally pushing it down.
If when you look in the mirror, the first thing you do is raise your eyebrows to make your eyes look better, then you may indeed need a brow lift. Along with addressing sagging eyebrows, the procedure is also ideal for patients who have frustrating forehead wrinkles.
The best candidates for this procedure have realistic expectations and are non-smokers. Good brow lift candidates are also in overall good health, which greatly lowers the chance of complications.
Brow Lift Consultation
A consultation is necessary to determine if a brow lift is right for you. Your consultation with Dr. Proffitt will include watching a DVD from the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgery) on brow lifts, and a thorough examination that also incorporates a detailed history. You will also be able to view before and after photos.
Brow Lift Techniques
There are several brow lift techniques that have evolved over the years, and some have specific indications of when and where they can be used. All techniques raise the brows, smooth wrinkles, and frequently elevate the upper eyelid skin as well.
Dr. Proffitt’s preferred technique is the endoscopic brow lift. This less-invasive option involves making 3 to 5 incisions behind the hairline, then inserting an instrument with a camera. The camera’s view is displayed on a TV monitor. The dissection can be performed with extreme precision as a result.
The skin and underlying tissue are loosened from the forehead and brow region, and then all that tissue is lifted and anchored in one of several ways. Dr. Proffitt prefers to anchor the tissue to the bone of the skull so that it has something solid to keep it in place. There are techniques where you can use a screw that goes into the outer layer of the skull, and these screws can either be permanent or dissolvable screws.
Before the advent of endoscopy, a coronal brow lift was very popular and is occasionally still used today. This involves an incision across the top of the scalp from ear to ear. This allows an open technique where all the forehead tissue and the brows can be released and then pulled back. Some of the scalps are excised, and then it is sewn in place.
This has the effect of causing some numbness in the scalp area, as well as a long scar, which if someone has thin hair may be noticeable. It also raises the hairline. Even with an endoscopic brow lift, sometimes the hairline may be raised. For those people who have a high forehead, this may not be desirable.
In those instances, a hairline incision can be made so that the hairline after the procedure is left in its original place or sometimes even slightly lower. This is at the expense of having a scar that may be a little more visible. As a general rule, depending on how the patient wears their hair, the scar is an alternative.
A much older brow lift technique includes a direct incision just above the brow to elevate the brow, but again, this leaves a scar right in the forehead, even though it is close to the brow area, it sometimes can be visible. One of the newer techniques is to do a brow lift through the blepharoplasty incision. This technique is still in the developmental stages.
Related Reviews
I would highly recommend Dr Randy Proffitt to…
I would highly recommend Dr Randy Proffitt to anyone who is seeking to have this done. They are an awesome professional staff. The Consultation is very in-debt . He lets you know how things will go from start to finish. No hidden info or fees, surgery date and time on point. I felt very comfortable with him and his staff & the staff @ Providence Hospital that assisted also. I really can’t say enough about him & his staff. All of my follow up visit were very informative & less than 30 mins. I will give them 10 (????) thumbs up. Look him up, call him, you won’t go wrong.
How Is the Surgery Performed?
Dr. Proffitt performs brow lifts at an outpatient surgery center under either local anesthesia with heavy sedation or under general anesthesia. Anesthesia is administered under the direct supervision of a board-certified anesthesiologist.
In general, it takes 1 to 1-1/2 hours to perform the procedure from start to finish. At no time does this surgery require shaving of the scalp, which is a common misconception.
After the chosen incisions are created, the tissues of the area are adjusted as needed to achieve the patient’s desired results. Finally, incisions are closed with the help of staples or sutures.
What Is the Recovery Like?
You should expect bruising and swelling in the forehead and the eyes, which usually subsides after 1-3 weeks. Patients generally have gauze wrapped around their head for the first 24 hours or so, after which they can shampoo their hair and wear it normally.
Asymmetry and weakness of forehead musculature may occur but is usually temporary. Numbness of the forehead and scalp also may be a temporary sequela.
Either staples or sutures are placed in the incisions behind the hairline and are removed in 1 week. Most normal activities can be resumed at this time. Any strenuous activities should wait for 3 weeks.
What Will My Results Be?
A more youthful appearance with a smooth forehead and brow. You may also have less sagging or loose skin on the upper eyelid.
Will Insurance Pay for the Cost of a Brow Lift?
A brow lift is considered a cosmetic procedure and is therefore not covered by insurance. The price of a forehead lift is generally determined using a number of factors, including the techniques to be utilized and the cost of anesthesia.
Brow Lift Cost
The overall cost of a brow lift is affected by anesthesia fees, hospital fees, post-surgery garments, and medications. Price is also impacted by medical tests, surgeon’s fees, and the exact techniques employed.
Scheduling Your Brow Lift in Mobile
When you’re ready to discuss brow lifts in Mobile with a board-certified plastic surgeon, contact the plastic surgery practice of Dr. Randy Proffitt. Call 251-344-0322 to inquire about an appointment. You can also use our online email form to reach our friendly and helpful staff.
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