It seems like everyone wants to get facial cosmetic procedures nowadays. However, there is a large variety of cosmetic surgeries and it can be hard to figure out how much a facial rejuvenation procedure costs. Likewise, it is important to know what to expect from a good head and neck surgeon practicing in facial plastic surgery.
Facial rejuvenation procedures can improve your appearance dramatically. Common procedures include dermal fillers, botox injections, laser treatments, and facelifts. A brow lift is a surgical procedure performed to reposition the brows that are heavy, either in their medial portion (close to the center of the face) or their lateral portion (close to the temple). The goal of a brow lift is to get rid of an angry or tired appearance, remove visible signs of aging, and produce a more aesthetic brow position.
What is a brow lift?
Brow lifts are one of several types of facial rejuvenation procedures performed by head and neck surgeon practicing in facial plastic surgerys. Generally speaking, a brow lift mainly repositions the eyebrows that are sagging too low, either due to genetics or aging.
In men, the brow should be at the level of the orbital rim (the bridge of bone above the eye socket). In women, it should be around one centimeter above the orbital rim.
The two main considerations in brow lifting are determining the portion of the brow that is sagging, and the position of the hairline.
When the brows are slightly sagging, we opt for a nonsurgical brow lift with neuromodulators.
When only the temporal brow is sagging or low, we opt for a temporal brow lift.
When the medial and temporal brow are sagging, we select an endoscopic full forehead or brow lift.
When the hairline is high, we perform a trichophytic brow lift.
In many cases, a doctor will recommend performing both a brow lift and a second procedure known as a blepharoplasty. During this procedure, excess skin at the level of the upper lids is removed, and sometimes fat as well. When performed together, these two operations can dramatically change the shape of someone’s face.
Eye-opening facts about blepharoplasty
What causes the upper face to look angry or aged?
The upper face is among the areas of the body where we see the greatest amount of change over time. As we age, our skin loses its ability to stretch and contract, becoming less elastic. This causes the skin to become thinner and lose some of its volume, resulting in sagging facial features such as the eyebrows.
Sometimes, brows are low due to genetic factors. This is common in patients with South American, Mediterranean or South Indian descent.
What are the different types of brow lifts?
Brow lifts are among the most common cosmetic procedures performed today. They are performed to correct the shape of the eyebrows, which can become droopy and saggy with age. There are many different types of brow-lifting techniques, depending on where you want to lift the eyebrow and how much skin you want to remove.
Some of the most common types of brow-lifting include:
- Nonsurgical brow lift with neuromodulators such as botox
- Ultrasonic endoscopic brow lift
- Ultrasonic trichophytic brow lift
- Temporal lifting or Fox-eye lift
Nonsurgical brow lift with neuromodulators such as botox
A cosmetic practitioner can use botox injections to relax the muscles that lower the eyebrows. This lifts the brows gently and is a great way to avoid surgery in patients with minimal brow sagging.
Ultrasonic endoscopic brow lift
During this operation, a few incisions are made behind the hairline, and the eyebrows are released from the orbital rim by freeing a structure named the arcus marginalis. The surgeon uses endoscopes and a camera to perform these maneuvers delicately while avoiding injury to the important nerves and vessels. The brows are then secured in a higher position using small bony tunnels in a higher position. The tunnels are performed using piezoelectric instrumentation or ultrasonic surgery. We term this procedure Ultrasonic endoscpic brow lift.
Ultrasonic Trichophytic brow lift
The trichophytic lift involves making a small incision slightly behind the hairline, and elevates the forehead skin while later releasing the arcus marginalis, which tethers the brows to the orbital bone. The brows are then secured in a higher position using delicate bony tunnels drilled using piezoelectric instrumentaly or ultrasonic surgery. A small strip of forehead skin is removed and this procedure is optimal in patients with a high hairline or a very large forehead.
Temporal lifting
This method is less invasive as it is done under local anesthesia only. A small incision is performed behind the hairline and the tail of the brow is lifted. The tail of the brow is secured in a higher position to the deep temple tissues and the incision is closed with small sutures and staples that are removed a few days later.
Who is a good candidate for brow lift surgery?
In most cases, a brow lift surgery is for people who have low eyebrows. Some patients have genetically low brows and the procedure is performed in their twenties. Some patients have lower brows with an angry or tired appearance due to facial aging, and these patients tend to be above the age of 40.
It is recommended that candidates are in good physical shape, abstain from smoking, and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve.
What is the average cost of a brow lift?
Brow lifting costs vary from $15,000 to $4,000, with most procedures averaging around $8,500. This includes the surgeon’s fee, facility fees, anesthesia, preoperative evaluation, and follow-up care. However, there are additional costs associated with having this cosmetic procedure performed, including consultation costs, or additional botox treatments if desired by the patient.
Your surgical advisor will discuss the specific costs with you during your consultation appointment. Please note that the above cost does not include the cost of things such as medications which are purchased at a pharmacy.
What affects the cost of a brow lift?
The cost of a brow lift depends on many different factors. These include the type of procedure, whether it’s performed alone or along with another facial surgery, the surgeon performing the operation, or the facility where the surgery takes place.
Some of the leading factors that affect the cost of a brow lift include:
Non-surgical vs. surgical
On average, non-surgical treatments are cheaper than surgical procedures, as they are done in the office and do not require the staffing of an operating room..
Local or general anesthesia
Surgery under general anesthesia costs more than surgery under local anesthesia as it involves the services of a board-certified anesthesiologist, and longer operative times.
Technology
Procedures done using endoscopes, video cameras, and ultrasonic instrumentation cost more than procedures performed using older traditional techniques with scalpels only.
Provider
The services of a skilled, board-certified head and neck surgeon tend to cost more, as the surgeon is specifically trained in facial surgery. Most patients tell us that it is better to pay a little bit extra to make sure that you are under the care of an expert. The extra costs could translate into a better cosmetic surgery experience and a better-looking brow lift.
Facelift recovery: What should you expect?
What is the recovery process from a brow lift like?
While the recovery time varies depending on the brow lift technique used, the majority of patients return to their usual activities a week or two after the surgery. During this time, surgeons recommend sleeping with your head elevated to reduce swelling and bruising.
You may experience some discomfort during the initial healing phase. However, with regular application of cold compresses on the upper portion of the face, you should see significant improvement over the next few weeks.
Book a consultation with a head and neck surgeon practicing in facial plastic surgery
If you are considering any kind of facial plastic surgery, you need to be sure that the treatment you get is of the highest possible quality. It is essential to visit a skilled, board-certified cosmetic surgeon to attain the best results.
Here at Clinique Face MD, our resident surgeon, Dr. Sami Moubayed, is a double board-certified doctor who graduated in the top 10% of his specialty. Under his care, you can be sure you are in good hands. He is supported by a highly experienced support staff who also have decades of cosmetic experience.
Our clinic offers both medispa treatments and surgical procedures, such as:
