Are you seeing a change in the way your face looks as the result of aging? Are you noticing that your brow seems to sag, giving you an unusually serious appearance? If you are experiencing any of these changes, you may be the perfect candidate for a brow lift. This treatment can restore a more youthful look and renew your self-confidence, and we are able to do this with either surgical or non-surgical techniques. You can choose either of these options when you contact the friendly medical professionals at Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD.
What Causes Sagging Brows?
When we age, our bodies often start to produce lower amounts of collagen and elastin. These are both proteins found in our connective tissues. Collagen gives our tissues shape and strength, whereas elastin provides elasticity and stretchiness.
When we have lower levels of collagen and elastin, our skin often loses some of this elasticity and strength, causing it to become increasingly lax. The brows move down as a result, and their new position can make people look unusually tired, sad, or even upset. This can happen quickly or gradually, but many people often find themselves wishing they could “rewind” these changes.
What Is a Brow Lift?
Many people notice aging around the eyes before anywhere else, as the eyes are one of the first places to show signs of aging. As a result, they start seeking for solutions to lift the skin around the brows and reverse the effects that lead to tired or puffy-looking eyes.
The Basic Approach
The brow (or forehead) lift is often the best way to get a long-lasting and noticeable change. During this treatment, the doctor will make an incision at some point near a patient’s hairline or forehead, removing a small amount of skin in the process. This causes the remaining skin to become stretched after the incision is closed and healed.
The brows are lifted, and the forehead and frown lines are smoothed out. Because this is such a frequently performed treatment, it is very rare for patients to experience any complications.
A Versatile Treatment
There are multiple available approaches to a forehead lift. Each approach uses an incision or set of incisions in a different location. Endoscopic, coronal, or hairline lifts can all help personalize your results, making this a versatile and customizable treatment.
Combining a Brow and Eyelid Lift
Combining these treatments is popular, especially in cases where the eyelids also need surgery. An eyelid lift (or “blepharoplasty”) is a frequent companion to a forehead lift.
The Non-Surgical Option
At Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD, we also offer a non-surgical treatment option for patients who would like another approach. We perform this using a technique called Thermage FLX. Thermage is performed in our office, and although its effects are more subtle, they can continue to improve for months following treatment. There is no downtime necessary and complications are very rare. For patients who would prefer a more gradual and lower-impact treatment, Thermage is an excellent choice.
Is a Brow Lift Permanent?
Many people are curious to know if this treatment is a permanent one. Although a brow or forehead lift will provide long-lasting results, it primarily is designed to correct changes that have already occurred on a patient’s face and forehead. Thus, it is rarely considered a “permanent” treatment, as it cannot stop the continuing changes brought about by aging skin.
Although the skin will often continue to lose some elasticity with age, the effects of a brow or forehead lift are usually seen for several years. They may last even longer with a healthy skin routine. Techniques that promote collagen growth can help improve the skin’s laxity, and avoiding sun damage can also encourage healthy skin that may age at a slower rate.
Top Benefits of a Brow Lift
Smoothing Forehead Wrinkles
Many people gain lines across the forehead as they age. This is entirely natural, but in some cases, these creases and folds can be especially deep. If you find that the lines on your forehead are something you wish to change, a lift can stretch the skin and reduce the prevalence of these folds.
Smoothing the Brow and Frown Lines
As we age, our brows can sometimes drop, and frown lines in between the eyebrows can become more pronounced. In combination, this can often lead to an “angry” appearance, even when the face is at rest. Many people feel that this makes them seem less friendly, and a forehead lift can correct this.
Treating Sagging Upper Eyelids
If the brow sags too much, it can also affect the appearance of the eyes. Sagging upper eyelids will be helped by a forehead lift, as this will take some of the stress off of them. In addition, an eyelid lift can be performed to open up the eyes and take away a “tired” appearance.
Treating Crow’s Feet
A brow lift doesn’t just help with the very front of the brow and face. It can also smooth wrinkles on the side of the eyes, such as crow’s feet. Crow’s feet are one of the earliest and most noticeable signs of aging. When the skin is lifted just a small amount, we can significantly reduce the visibility of crow’s feet.
Treating Sagging Jowls
Skin laxity can affect the entire face, and when a forehead lift is performed, it can provide a lift for the jowls as well. If you have sagging jowls as a result of excess or lax skin, they can be appreciably improved with this technique.
What Is a Typical Surgical Treatment Like?
Consultation
The first step is a one-on-one consultation with our staff. We will discuss your aesthetic goals, expectations, and why you want a forehead lift. We will also discuss your medical history and make sure that there are no roadblocks to pursuing treatment. After the consultation, we will know whether or not to proceed, and whether a surgical or non-surgical option is best.
Pre-Treatment
Patients are often advised to avoid aspirin and other certain painkillers. A detailed list will be given to you prior to the procedure, but it is important to avoid anything that can thin the blood before a surgical approach. Patients may also be asked to stop smoking for a period before the procedure as well as arrange for a friend or family member to drive them home.
The Treatment Process
There are several ways to do a forehead lift, and the exact type of lift will depend on the patient’s specific goals. Before the lift begins, the patient will be made comfortable and given some sort of local or general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia has gone into effect, the doctor will make the necessary adjustments to the forehead and brow line. This usually takes about 1-2 hours.
Post-Treatment
After the lift has been completed, you can usually return home the same day. However, because the anesthesia will still be in effect, it will be necessary to have someone else drive you home. The recovery period is typically between one and two weeks while you adjust and heal. All patients are encouraged to listen to the doctor’s instructions when it comes to the recovery period, as this can have a big impact on your recovery time and the effectiveness of the procedure.
What Is a Typical Non-Surgical Treatment Like?
Consultation
Just as with the surgical option, we will have a personal consultation before we begin. During this time, you can also ask any questions or voice any concerns you might have about treatment. As with the surgical option, you will be made aware of any requirements in the days and weeks leading up to the procedure.
Pre-Treatment
Luckily, there is very little that you will need to do before Thermage. It is sometimes suggested that patients avoid too much sun exposure and wear sunscreen to avoid any tans, as this can affect treatment. In addition, you may receive a list of topical products to avoid (such as skin creams that may change the skin’s composition). Generally, there is little that you will need to worry about since Thermage is non-surgical and has fewer requirements.
The Treatment Process
A Thermage treatment typically takes a few minutes to an hour, depending on the treatment area. Patients may also receive a local anesthesia. The Thermage device is placed over the area of skin that needs to be tightened, emitting radiofrequency energy into the lower levels of the dermis. The feeling alternates between hot and cold. By using radiofrequency energy, the Thermage device triggers the tightening of the skin by encouraging collagen growth.
Post-Treatment
Collagen growth typically takes about six months to reach ideal levels. Unlike surgery, Thermage treatment does take a longer amount of time to achieve the desired results. However, the results can last three to four years, and there is no downtime required, making it a good alternative for anyone who isn’t in a rush or who doesn’t want surgery. It is safe for all skin types and can also be used to maintain results from a previous forehead lift.
Are You a Candidate?
A forehead lift can benefit many patients, especially those who have noticed a heightened amount of skin laxity at an unusually early age. There are many reasons a patient may see the brows droop, but when they do, they are often noticeable because the rest of the face has not aged as much. Whether you get a surgical or a non-surgical lift, you can add years to your face, and the results can keep you from looking older than your years.
Surgical or Non-Surgical: Which Treatment Is Right For You?
A surgical option is especially helpful if other treatments haven’t been effective or if you want results as quickly as possible. Thermage is helpful if you are willing to wait or if you can’t take time off for a recovery period. In addition, Thermage can help support and tighten skin in order to boost the results of previous lifts.
Ultimately, talking to your doctor is the best way to decide what sort of forehead lift you need. After your initial consultation, our medical staff will be able to determine what the ideal approach is, and to give you the best possible results.
Call for Your Personal Consultation
Are you ready to restore a more youthful look to your face? So many patients who undergo this treatment find that they regain a healthy appearance and feel happier about it, and through this, their self-confidence is restored. If you’d like to know more about surgical or non-surgical forehead lifts, contact Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD today. We serve Annapolis, Severna Park, and Columbia, and we look forward to meeting you!
