Eyebrow Lift

Age: 58 Endoscopic Brow Lift

This is a 58 year old women who desired improvement around her eyes. On examination she had the typical issues related to her age. She had excess skin of the upper lids and creases on the skin of the lower lids. She has eyebrow ptosis (her eyebrows are a bit lower than is ideal). She is seen in the side by side photos after an endoscopic brow lift and a conservative upper and lower blepharoplasty. There is a nice improvement overall with results that certainly qualify as appearing natural and elegant.

An endoscopic brow lift refers to a technique to elevate the eyebrows and soften the wrinkling of the forehead and the creases between the eyes. This is done with the use of a special “scope” that is inserted through small incisions in the hair of the upper forehead. The muscles that create the creases between the eyes have been removed in part. These are the same muscles that are commonly treated with Botox. Instead of weakening the muscles with treatments every three or four months I actually remove about 60 percent of the muscles so Botox treatments are usually no longer needed in that particular area.

Endoscopic elevation of the eyebrows and rejuvenation of the forehead is often preferred to the “open technique” which is an incision made in the scalp from ear to ear. This is often associated with numbness behind the incision that can be bothersome, as well as hair loss at the incision line. These two techniques are both productive and rewarding but must be used in the ideal patients because there are trade-offs to each one. Probably 90 percent of the forehead rejuvenation procedures are performed endoscopically in my practice. It is important to note that the development of the endoscopic technique has arisen in large part because the open method can be so powerful that the eyebrows are too elevated and look unnatural. No one wants or deserves this result. It is very difficult if not impossible to over elevate the eyebrows with the endoscopic technique so don’t be concerned about this (except in one of my cases where I had to “reverse” the lift because it was too much!).

Age: 59 Endoscopic Brow Lift

This case illustrates the effects of reducing the frowning muscles between the eyes during an endoscopic brow lift. These frown muscles are typically treated with Botox injections to reduce the angry/stressful appearance in that area. This female patient is frowning in both photos; however, at right you will notice that her muscles have been reduced. It’s like permanent Botox.

Age: 54 Endoscopic Brow Lift

This male patient was interested in looking more youthful because of a competitive business market. We determined that an endoscopic brow lift and blepharoplasty (eye lift) would provide him with the most natural, youthful results. We had to modify the plan because he had thinning hair and a high forehead. We performed an endoscopic (minimal incision, TV camera assisted) approach without lengthening his forehead. Note the dramatic yet natural appearance.

Age: 48 Endoscopic Brow Lift

This female patient had a strong muscle pull around her eyes and forehead. It made her skin deeply creased and somewhat angry in appearance. We performed an endoscopic brow lift and a blepharoplasty (upper and lower eye lift). Note the softening of her appearance, a smoothing of her deep wrinkles, and her brighter and more youthful appearing eyes.

Age: 23 Endoscopic Brow Lift

This female patient complained of lateral eyebrow fullness. We performed an endoscopic brow lift and reduction of the procerus and corrugator muscles (frowning muscles between the eyes). After, notice the overall “bright” appearance of the eyes with this lifting procedure. In addition, we removed the mole on her forehead.

The bottom two photos show the patient trying to frown. Note her inability to create the creases between the eyes after the muscle reduction. This is the area where patients use Botox injections to smooth the creases. The endoscopic brow lift solved this problem, and it is permanent. Botox would have been temporary.