Forehead lift

Indications

Forehead lifting is aimed at correcting age-related changes in the upper third of the face. With age, the skin becomes less elastic, deep wrinkles form on the forehead, the eyebrows move down, which causes the upper eyelid to droop, and the person looks gloomy and tired all the time. To remedy the situation, a forehead lift can be combined with other types of surgical plastic surgery: eyelid surgery, temporal zone surgery, forehead and temples lipofilling, etc. The result of the complex operation will be a complete rejuvenation of the face: a smooth forehead, an open young look, elastic taut skin around the eyes.

Plastic surgery is performed according to the following indications:

• lowering of eyebrows;

• subjective feeling of heaviness or excess skin in the upper third of the face;

• deep wrinkles on the forehead, bridge of the nose, and between the eyebrows;

• drooping eyelids or pseudoblepharoptosis;

• low forehead.

Contraindications

From a health point of view, only serious diseases serve as contraindications for surgical forehead lifting: blood clotting disorders, decompensated chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension), pathologies of internal organs or oncological diseases. The following may also interfere with endoscopic surgery:

• lagophthalmos (inability to fully close the eyelids);

• pronounced eyebrow asymmetry (more than 3-4mm difference);

• previously performed blepharoplasty (increases the risk of lagophthalmos);

• very high hairline (it can rise even higher, giving the impression of receding hairline);

• excessively convex forehead (may interfere with the operation of endoscopic instruments).

How the operation works

After a face-to-face consultation, the doctor shows how the result of a facelift will look using 3D modeling. The patient's photos are uploaded to a special program, after which you can see how the face will change. The next stage is a preoperative examination, all prescribed tests can be taken at the EMC clinic.

The surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia and lasts an average of 1.5–2 hours. During the operation, the doctor makes several incisions up to 2 cm above the hairline. A miniature video device, an endoscope, is inserted into one puncture. Other surgical instruments are used, through which the doctor removes the tissues in a closed manner, moves them to a higher position and secures them. The operation can also be performed without an endoscope, the choice is based on the preferences and techniques recommended by the surgeon. After completing the surgical procedures, the doctor applies stitches. The patient is given a special tightening bandage.[1]

Recovery after surgery

In the early postoperative period, the patient may suffer from headaches, so analgesics are prescribed. The rehabilitation time after endoscopic forehead lifting is relatively short. The patient is discharged from the hospital the next day. Within 1-2 weeks, the unpleasant effects of the operation (pain, swelling, etc.) completely disappear. The stitches are removed on day 7-10. It will be possible to fully evaluate the results of plastic surgery 2-3 months after the operation.

Source:

1. Raggio BS, Winters R. Endoscopic Brow Lift. [Updated 2023 Jul 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.