Limited Incision Facelift

Lateral Subcutaneous Brow Lift – Prima Center for Plastic Surgery

The lateral subcutaneous brow lift has been consistently successful in elevating the lateral brow. An advantage of this procedure is a low risk of sensory nerve damage and usually the temporal hairline is improved by excising a small triangle of balding scalp. The procedure is done through a scalp incision. The dissection is in the subcutaneous plane which avoids nerve damage. This method is of particular value for patients with a high forehead or in younger patients when other approaches might leave unacceptable scars. It is often performed in conjuction with blepharoplasty or facelift procedures.

How is the procedure performed?

The lateral subcutaneous brow lift consists of a 2-3 inch incision that begins in the front hairline and extends in a posterior direction. The skin is elevated in the plane above the frontalis muscle of the forehead almost down to the eyebrow. The skin is then pulled back and the triangle of balding scalp is removed thus tightening the lateral brow. In many patients, the hairline is improved by excising a triangular area of sparsely haired or bald scalp.

The subcutaneous lateral brow approach is not applicable to all patients, but it is well suited to those with moderate ptosis (sagging) of the lateral brow. By using a small incision placed in the inner aspect of the eyebrow we are also able to improve the vertical creases of this area.

It is rare to see bruising in patients after the procedure.

The procedure can usually be accomplished using local anesthesia with or without oral sedation. On about the third postoperative day ½ of the sutures are removed. The rest will be removed between the 5 and 6^th day. Most patients will be instruct the patient to wear the elastic dressing around the head for at least 1 week.

It is important to understand that the initial appearance of the brow does not represent the final result. If slight overcorrection has been accomplished, the brow will, within the first 1 to 3 weeks, assume a straight or slightly raised position.

Post Operative Results: Demonstrating improvement in the lateral brow and decreased transverse creases of the forehead.