What is an endoscopic brow lift?
An endoscopic brow lift, also known as an endoscopic forehead lift, is designed to lift the position of a sagging brow that may contribute to the appearance of hooded eyes. The procedure is commonly combined with eyelid surgery for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Patients who are more concerned about the sagging of the eyebrows in the outer third may be more appropriate for a temporal brow lift, also known as a temporal lift.
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Everyone ages at different rates, but the ageing process eventually leads to characteristic facial features, which may lead people to seek medical attention. The upper third of the face, including the brow area, is often the first part of the face to show signs of facial ageing. Although people may feel young in themselves, certain signs of facial ageing often give away their true age. The speed at which several factors, including genetics, lifestyle habits and excessive sun exposure, determine our age. This can result in people looking much older than they actually are. Endoscopic brow lift surgery is a minimally invasive technique to address facial ageing affecting the upper one-third of the face. Synergistic results are obtained when the procedure is combined with eyelid surgery, facelift, neck lift or facial fat transfer. Common features of facial ageing include a descended or droopy brow, deeper lines and wrinkles affecting the forehead and eyes, sagging jowls and loose neck skin.
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What are the benefits of an endoscopic forehead lift?
A drooping brow can result in excessive fullness or puffiness of the upper eyelids and the brow area, which lies immediately above the eye. In severe cases, the brow may droop low enough to cause upper eyelid hooding, which can result in significant visual disturbances. Endoscopic brow lifts can improve the structural relationship between the brows and the upper eyelids for an improved facial balance. Endoscopic brow lift surgery has become increasingly popular in recent years. It has superseded traditional methods of brow lift surgery, including the coronal brow lift, which involves a long incision across the upper part of the forehead. There are now several alternatives to brow lift procedures. However, for appropriate patients, this procedure is ideal for improving the youthfulness of the upper part of the face and reducing signs of upper facial ageing.
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Am I suitable?
Ideal candidates for endoscopic browlift surgery include those who are unhappy with the appearance of the upper part of their face. In particular, people with an excessively low brow that may appear droopy or asymmetrical can derive significant benefits from the procedure. Prospective patients should be in good physical and mental health and have realistic expectations of what the procedure can achieve. Ideally, they should have good-quality skin by avoiding excessive sun exposure and be non-smokers to reduce the risk of wound healing complications.
It is important to remember that brow asymmetry is commonly observed in the normal population, although it may deteriorate with age. Although endoscopic brow lift surgery can help to improve asymmetrical brows, there will always be a certain degree of asymmetry, even after surgery. No face is perfectly symmetrical and will appear slightly different when viewed from each side. At your consultation, your surgeon can provide further detailed advice on how you could potentially look after surgery after carrying out a detailed physical examination to assess your anatomy and skin quality.
Endoscopic brow lift procedure
Endoscopic browlifts are performed at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in central London as an outpatient procedure which means you can go home later the same day.
Surgery is carried out under a general anaesthetic for your complete comfort, and the procedure takes between one and two hours, depending on the extent of surgical correction required. Surgery may take longer if it is combined with other complementary procedures, such as blepharoplasty surgery or a mini facelift. The procedure is always customised to the needs of the individual patient. The following surgical steps will give you a broader idea of the procedure. Still, we would recommend learning about the procedure in detail by asking your surgeon at the consultation what the exact approach will involve in your surgery.
The surgeon will make small incisions located within the hair-bearing scalp to allow access for the insertion of a miniature camera, also known as an endoscope. The endoscope is used in combination with specialised instruments to gently separate the skin of the forehead from the underlying tissues down to the level of the bone. Once the skin of the forehead and eyebrows has been surgically lifted, it will be secured in its new position with specialised bone anchors to secure the lifted brow in its new position. The anchoring stitches will eventually dissolve, which is a normal part of the healing and recovery process. Your surgeon may, in some cases, secure the lifted tissue with a specialised tissue fixation system. The full range of brow fixation options will be discussed at your in-person consultation.
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Will I need eyelid surgery after having a brow lift?
Once a brow lift has been carried out, the position of the upper eyelids may be lifted sufficiently to remove the need for upper eyelid surgery. In many cases, patients will have sagging skin affecting the eyelids, and upper blepharoplasty should be carried out after the endoscopic brow lift in the same procedure. The brow lift is always performed first to ensure an optimal position of the brows is achieved.
Recovery after endoscopic brow lift surgery
The recovery after an endoscopic forehead lift is considered fairly quick and smooth, provided you follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions in full. Once the procedure is complete, you will have sterile dressings applied to your head. These are commonly removed one week after surgery. It is normal to notice swelling and bruising around the incision site, which will begin to disappear after two weeks. Most patients can return to work after a few days, although you should try to take it easy in the recovery period and not do too much too soon. Strenuous exercise, including going to the gym, should be avoided for at least two weeks. We would recommend sleeping with your head elevated on a couple of pillows to speed up the resolution of surgical swelling. This will help your recovery and prevent complications from occurring.
How much does an endoscopic brow lift cost?
The cost of an endoscopic brow lift will be determined by the extent of surgical correction required to achieve lifting of the eyebrows and whether the procedure will be combined with other treatments, including eyelid surgery or a facelift. Brow lift prices include your surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fee and facility fee. All postoperative aftercare visits are included in the total cost of your procedure. Once you have had a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon, your dedicated patient coordinator will give you a full quotation detailing what is included in the cost of surgery. Centre for Surgery is an approved partner of Chrysalis Finance, the leading medical finance provider in the UK. We are for the full range of finance options, including 0% finance for eligible applicants to help spread the cost of repayments.
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Medical References
Why choose Centre for Surgery for endoscopic brow lift surgery?
Centre for Surgery in London is one of the few cosmetic surgery clinics in the UK to specialise in endoscopic brow lift surgery, which is considered one of the most advanced techniques for lifting a sagging or drooping brow. Our consultant plastic surgeons have many years of experience in performing precision facial rejuvenation surgery, including eyelid surgery, facelift surgery and facial fat transfer. Call us today on 020 7993 4849 to schedule a personal consultation with an expert consultant plastic surgeon at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in Marylebone.
FAQs
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What are the benefits of an endoscopic brow lift?An endoscopic brow lift is a less invasive procedure that uses small incisions and an endoscope, a small camera attached to a thin tube, to lift and reposition the tissues of the forehead and eyebrows. Some of the benefits of an endoscopic brow lift include:
Minimal scarring: The small incisions made during an endoscopic brow lift are usually less than an inch long and are hidden within the hairline. This means that scarring is minimal and is generally not visible.
Faster recovery: Since the incisions are small, the recovery time is usually shorter than a traditional brow lift. Patients can generally return to their daily activities within a week or two after the procedure.
Reduced risk of complications: An endoscopic brow lift is a minimally invasive procedure that involves less trauma to the tissues than a traditional brow lift, which can reduce the risk of complications such as bleeding, infection, and nerve damage.
Natural-looking results: Using an endoscope allows the surgeon to visualise and lift the tissues of the forehead and eyebrows in a precise and controlled manner, resulting in natural-looking, youthful results.
Versatility: An endoscopic brow lift can be customised to suit each patient's specific needs. The surgeon can adjust the extent and direction of the lift to achieve the desired level of correction and contouring. -
Does an endoscopic brow lift hurt?An endoscopic brow lift is a surgical procedure involving incisions and tissue manipulation, so some discomfort or pain can be expected during recovery. However, your surgeon will take steps to minimise your discomfort and ensure you are as comfortable as possible during and after the procedure.
During the surgery, you will be under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, which will keep you comfortable and pain-free. After the procedure, you may experience mild to moderate discomfort, swelling, and bruising in the forehead and eyebrow area. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications to help manage discomfort during the initial recovery period.
Most patients report that the discomfort associated with an endoscopic brow lift is manageable and improves within a few days to a week after the surgery. It is essential to follow your surgeon's postoperative instructions closely, including taking any prescribed medications as directed, to help manage your pain and ensure a smooth recovery. -
When will I see the end result of an endoscopic brow lift?After an endoscopic brow lift, you should start seeing some improvement in the appearance of your forehead and eyebrows immediately after the surgery. However, the final results may take several weeks to months to fully appear as the tissues heal and settle into their new position.
During the first week after the surgery, you can expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which may temporarily obscure the final results. As the swelling and bruising subside, you should start to see more noticeable improvements in the contour and position of your forehead and eyebrows.
By about three to four weeks after the surgery, you should see significant improvement in the appearance of your forehead and eyebrows. By six to eight weeks, most of the swelling and bruising should have resolved, and you should have a better idea of the outcome.
It is important to note that the speed and degree of recovery can vary from person to person, and the final results of an endoscopic brow lift can take several months to appear fully. Your surgeon will provide you with specific guidelines and expectations for your case during your preoperative consultation and will monitor your progress during the recovery period to ensure that you achieve the best possible results.