Forehead / Brow Lift Procedure

What Is a Brow Lift?

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, minimizes the creases that develop across the forehead, and those that are visible on the bridge of the nose. It also improves what are commonly referred to as frown lines and repositions a low or sagging eyebrow.

If you experience expression lines or other signs of aging in the brow region, a brow lift may be right for you. A brow lift can:

Minimize the creases that develop across the forehead, or those that are visible between the eyes – high on the bridge of the nose
Improve frown lines – vertical creases that develop between the eyebrows
Reposition a low or sagging brow that is hooding the upper eyelid
Raise the eyebrows to a more alert and youthful position

Often times, rejuvenation procedures are performed in conjunction with a brow lift to provide an overall more youthful look to the face. These include:

Eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes
Facelift/necklift to correct aging changes in the mid- to lower face and neck regions
Skin resurfacing

A brow lift is a highly individualized procedure, and you should do it for yourself – not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. Brow lift surgery is a good option if you:

Are physically healthy
Don’t smoke
Have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance

What To Expect During Your Consultation With Dr. Bruce Van Natta

A safe and successful brow lift surgery depends very much on being completely candid during your consultation. Be sure to address any problems, concerns and questions with Dr. Van Natta. He will ask you a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be Prepared To Discuss:

Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
Previous surgeries

Dr. Van Natta May Also:

Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
Discuss the options available to you for facelift and facial rejuvenation
Examine and measure different parts of your face
Take photographs for your medical record
Discuss likely outcomes of a facelift and any risks or potential complications

Preparing For Brow Lift Surgery

Prior To Surgery, You May Be Asked To:

Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, as they can increase bleeding

Special Instructions You Receive Will Cover:

What to do on the night before and morning of surgery
The use of anesthesia during your brow lift
Post-operative care and follow-up

Your brow lift procedure will be performed at Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, an accredited office-based surgical center, utilizing seasoned, board certified anesthesiologists from St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

You’ll Need Help

Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Procedural Steps

Step 1 - Anesthesia

You will have a general anesthetic administered by a board-certified anesthsiologist.

Step 2 - The Incision

Dr. Van Natta performs brow lifts using an endoscope (surgical video device) and special instruments placed through small incisions made within the hairline. This technique allows the tissue and muscle beneath the skin to be repositioned, altered or removed – correcting the source of visible creases and furrows in the forehead.

Brow lift Brow Lift II

(Illustrations courtest of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons)

This technique may be done in conjunction with incisions hidden within the natural crease of the upper eyelids to eliminate frown lines between the brows, on or above the bridge of the nose.

The incision lines from a brow lift are well concealed within the hair or natural contours of the face unless they are placed at the hairline to shorten the forehead.

Step 3 - Closing the Incisions

Dr. Van Natta’s brow lift incisions typically are closed with surgical staples. These cause much less injury to the surrounding hair follicles than sutures would.

Step 4 - See the Results

Your results will appear gradually as swelling and bruising subside to reveal smoother forehead skin and a more youthful, rested look.

We encourage you to view our brow lift surgery before and after photos

Important Facts About Brow Lift Surgery Risks and Complications

The decision to have a brow lift is extremely personal. You'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable to your personal situation.

Dr. Van Natta and/or his staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.

Possible Brow Lift Surgery Risks May Include:

Unfavorable scarring
Bleeding (hematoma)
Infection
Poor wound healing
Anesthesia risks
Blood clots (Extremely rare)
Correctable hair loss at the incisions
Elevated hairline
Facial nerve injury with weakness or paralysis
Facial asymmetry
Skin loss
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation or intense itching
Changes in skin sensation
Eye irritation or dryness
Fluid accumulation
Pain, which may persist
Skin contour irregularities
Skin discoloration and swelling
Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
Possibility of revision surgery

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with Dr. Van Natta. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. Be sure to discuss these feelings with Dr. Van Natta during your consultation.

When You Go Home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. If any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another surgery may be necessary.

Your Recovery

Following Dr. Van Natta’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion or motion during the time of healing. Dr. Van Natta will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

When your procedure is completed, your forehead may be taped, and your head may be loosely wrapped to minimize swelling and bruising.

You Will Be Given Specific Instructions That May Include:

How to care for the surgical site
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in overall health
When to follow up with Dr. Van Natta

Long-Lasting Results

Initial brow lift healing may take 5 to 10 days. At that time, any sutures or clips will be removed. Then, you will be ready to return to work and normal activities. Cosmetics will enable you to camouflage any bruising that remains.

Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling dissipates and incision lines refine and fade. It may take several months for your complete recovery.

Life-long sun protection will be very important to help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing damage from the sun and other environmental elements. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle will also help to extend your brow lift results.

Brow Lift Costs

As an elective surgery, the cost of brow lift surgery is always a consideration. Prices for brow lift surgeries can vary widely. A surgeon’s cost may vary based on his or her experience, geographic office location and any other procedures that are being performed at the same time. Our office offers patient financing plans, so be sure to ask. Cost may include:

Surgeon’s fee
Surgical facility costs
Anesthesia fees
Prescriptions for medication
Post-surgery garments, and
Medical tests

Your Satisfaction Involves More Than a Fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for brow lift surgery, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery. And remember, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Cosmetic surgery is not a place to try to cut corners.

Most health insurance plans do not cover cosmetic surgery or its complications.

Brow Lift Glossary

Brow lift: A surgical procedure to correct a low-positioned or sagging brow; smoothes furrows across the forehead and between the brows.
Endoscope: A surgical video device sometimes used during brow lift procedures.
General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
Skin resurfacing: Procedure to improve the texture, clarity and overall appearance of your skin.
Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

Things You Should Know About Dr. Van Natta:

He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
He was specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery
He has 5 years of general surgery training and 2 ½ years of plastic surgery training.
He has been in private practice for over 20 years.
His surgical facility, Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and it is state-licensed and Medicare-certified.
He also has hospital privileges to perform this procedure at St. Vincent Hospital.

We encourage you to check out Dr. Van Natta’s brow lift surgery before and after pictures.