Brow Lift and Forehead Lift

Many people age prominently in the upper face first, including the forehead and the eyes. Forehead wrinkles are one of the first signs of aging, seen even in men and women in their 20s. While neuromodulator treatment of the forehead wrinkles can help to smooth out the line and wrinkles in the forehead, eventually the root of the problem needs to be addressed, which is a droopy brow.

Aging changes in the face and forehead

As we get older, the different layers of the face change in different ways. First the bone resorbs, causing the brow bone to recede, which causes the overlying brow tissue to lose support and descend with gravity. Gravity and laxity pulls the brow downwards, causing “brow ptosis” and can even elongate the forehead. Hair loss and a receding hair line can also make the forehead look larger at the same time the brow starts to sag. Eventually, the droopy brow starts to push down onto the eyelids, highlighting droopy eyelids and even interfering with vision. At this point, the body compensates for the droopy brow, and the forehead muscles naturally lift the brow. This, in turn, causes even deeper wrinkles in the forehead. Sometimes people who weaken their forehead muscle, or frontalis, with botulinum toxin can accentuate a droopy brow because they essentially weaken the compensatory lifting action.

BROW LIFT Surgery Before & Afters

What options can treat a drooping brow?

With anything in medicine, we have both surgical and nonsurgical options. Dr. Murdock can address all of your options with you during a consultation because the treatment actually depends on each individual’s anatomy.

Non-surgical options

Neuromodulators: Botox ©, Dysport ©, and Jeuveau © are common injectable forms of cosmetic botulinum toxin that may help with droopy brows. While neuromodulators cannot actually “lift” the brow, counteracting the action of the muscles that pull the brow down can allow the brow to elevate in a more natural position. Targeting the muscles of the corrugators, procerus, and orbicularis oculi with neuromodulators can weaken the downward pulling of the brow and give the effect of a brow “lift”.

Dermal fillers and biostimulators: As we lose fat in the brow and bone supporting the brow (superior orbital rim), replacing volume can help to provide further support for the brow in the form of filler injections and biostimulators. However, due to the vascular nature of this area, this is could be a potentially dangerous area for any kind of cosmetic injections. This is why it is very important to seek a professional with expert knowledge of the anatomy and treatment techniques for restoring the brow and forehead appearance.

Laser and Micro-coring Devices: Dr. Murdock has one of the most powerful laser devices available that can provide both laser resurfacing and micro-coring to the face. Laser resurfacing can target the deep dermis to stimulate collagen regeneration and tighten skin to get that smooth, lifted forehead. Micro-coring actually removes tiny, little pieces of the skin with a device, in this case laser, so that the tissue laxity is addressed.

This can cause deeper tissue tightening and a non-surgical brow lift along with collagen stimulation and healthier, smoother skin. You won’t find another treatment like the UltraClear® laser with Jennifer Murdock, MD!

Surgical Options

Brow Lift : Dr. Murdock takes several different approaches to surgically lifting the brow, with each option depending on each patient’s unique needs. We will delve into the different techniques for brow lifting that involve direct incisions in the forehead or around the brows, an endoscopic approach with hidden scars and use of a camera and special instruments, and internal brow pexy that is commonly coupled with a blepharoplasty. All of these provide a vertical lift to restore the brows to a natural position.

Upper Face Lift : A brow and forehead lift combined with a quad blepharoplasty of the upper and lower eyelids can be considered an upper facelift. Many people show early signs of aging around the eyes with droopy eyelids, heavy brows, and forehead wrinkles. Combining surgery to address the eyelids and the brows at the same time can really improve a patient’s cosmetic appearance, making them look younger, more restored and refreshed.

Brow Lift Procedures

A brow lift, or complete forehead lift, is a surgical cosmetic procedure that can improve the appearance, texture, and position of the brows, forehead, and tissues around the eyes. Also called a forehead lift or vertical lift, this surgical procedure offers a means for patients to reduce signs of aging and create a more youthful expression. Some of the main concerns addressed by a brow lift with Dr. Murdock can include:

Reverse stretched out or loose forehead skin.
Smooth out wrinkles, creases, and fine lines in the forehead and between the brows.
Restore an alert and attentive expression.
Reduce any heavy look to the brows and upper face.
Provide a more awake and youthful appearance

Approaches to a Brow Lift

Dr. Murdock’s approach to a brow lift, forehead lift, or full upper face lift depends on each individual’s goals, anatomy, age, and overall cosmetic maintenance.

Direct Brow Lift : This surgical procedure involves an incision that is visible on the face. Now, as a cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Murdock will use her specialize her techniques to hide the scars as best as possible, and choose the correct surgical option for each patient. The incision can be just near the brow hair (supraciliary or subciliary), hidden within the brow hairs. A conservative temporal brow lift involves a direct incision on the outer tail of the brow to help lift temporal hooding and recontour the brow so that it has a more natural shape. Sometime covered by insurance, a direct brow lift with a mid-forehead incision can be an option for older males with deep creases in the forehead that can hide the otherwise prominent scars.

Pretrichial Brow Lift : An incision just along the hairline can be performed to lift the brow centrally and shorten the forehead for people who have a very long forehead or receding hairline. This can restore the hairline in a more anterior position, improving the look of age-related hair loss.

Temporal Brow Lift : This can performed with a direct incision over the outer corner of the brow or within the hair as a scalp incision. Lifting the temporal aspect of the brows or the outer corners can reshape the brows to look more linear and natural than the peaking appearance that occurs with age.

Brow Pexy : A conservative brow lift with reattachment to the bone of the orbital rim is usually performed in combination with eyelid surgery. Going through a single eyelid crease incision and minimizing any visible scars makes this a great add-on procedure to an eyelid lift or blepharoplasty. Dr. Murdock continues her surgery just below the tail of the brow to lift and suspend the outer brow, restoring the brow’s natural shape and height.

Endoscopic forehead lift/ brow lift : A cosmetic procedure that involves linear incisions within the hair is a great option for patients who wish to have completely hidden scars. With 4 small incisions in the scalp behind the hairline, Dr. Murdock uses a camera called an endoscope and specialized equipment to lift the brows and forehead, reshape the brows, and weaken the brow depressor muscles in the glabellar area to reduce wrinkles in the forehead. This is a specialized cosmetic option for a complete vertical lift and cosmetic enhancement.

All of these procedures can also be combined with cosmetic injectables, laser resurfacing, and other surgeries of the face, including an eyelid lift and blepharoplasty. Dr. Murdock will evaluate your droopy brows, discuss the aging changes that are particular to your anatomy, and then review all of the non-surgical options and cosmetic surgery procedures that can improve your aesthetic appearance, reviewing the risks and benefits for each option.

Why Choose Jennifer Murdock, MD?

The most elite and prestigious men and women in Miami and South Florida choose Dr. Murdock for her specialized techniques and eye for a natural-looking aesthetic appearance. She is one of the few surgeons in the country accepted as a member of the ASOPRS Oculofacial Society, trained and educated with astute knowledge of plastic surgery around the eyes and face. Dr. Murdock provides high-end cosmetic outcomes that give each patient and an enhanced and youthful appearance while maintaining a natural look. Her expertise lies in oculofacial plastic surgery procedures, having honed her craft over years of providing patients with results they enjoy for a lifetime.

Book Your Consultation Visit Today

To book a consultation in Miami to address heavy brows, an angry appearance, forehead wrinkles, and overall aging changes, call Jennifer Murdock, MD at 305-351-5577 or fill out an online request. Discover the difference a board-certified surgeon in Miami and Hallandale Beach has to offer when addressing the delicate areas of the face and around the eyes. Dr. Murdock and her team look forward to working with you to restore your natural, happy, youthful self again!