Before you speak a word, your forehead is saying something about you-but are people getting the right message? Is a droopy forehead making you look tired or sad? Are lines or wrinkles on your forehead making you look older?

Have you started to notice:

• Drooping eyebrows?
• “Hooded” or sagging skin at the outer part of the eyes?
• A wrinkled forehead?
• Horizontal frown lines at the top of the nose?
• Drooping at the tip of the nose?

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, can give you a well-rested, youthful, alert look and improve the skin tone of your upper face.

What is a brow lift?

“A brow lift or forehead lift is plastic surgery that minimizes forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding over the eyes, a furrowed forehead and frown lines. This procedure is done by altering muscles and tightening the skin of the forehead.”

Is a brow lift usually done by itself?

“No. Many times, I perform a brow lift in conjunction with eyelid surgery and/or a facelift. It's important to understand that while a facelift is very effective in rejuvenating the lower 2/3 of the face, a brow lift improves the upper 1/3.”

Why should a person thinking about eyelid surgery consider a brow lift?

“Sometimes when people have hooding over their eyes, they just want their upper eyelids done. In truth, what they need is a brow lift. Why? Because the brow has descended and that's what gives them the hooding-particularly over the sides of the upper eyelids. In these cases, I always tell patients that what I think they really need is a brow lift.”

Where is the incision made for a brow lift?

“There are two types of incisions that can be used for a brow lift. Most people today choose the less-invasive endoscopic technique that involves a small incision on either side of the temporal area.

“The traditional, long incision—also known as a coronal incision—extends from one ear across the top of the head to the other. The long incision produces the best results, but very few people want it.”

How is an endoscopic brow lift performed?

“I begin by making 3-5 short incisions—less than one inch long—behind the hairline. I place the endoscope in one incision so I can see beneath the skin without having to make a large incision. Then I lift the skin and adjust the muscles through the other incisions. If the eyebrows are lifted, I will stitch them into place.”

How is a traditional brow lift performed?

“If I make a coronal incision, I undermine the forehead skin, operate on various muscles so they don't make frowning positions anymore, then lay it all back up again, remove the excess skin and close the incision.”

Where is a brow lift performed?

“I perform brow lifts on an outpatient basis at Mount Sinai Hospital, or at a local surgery center.”

How long does a brow lift take?

“A brow lift takes about 45 minutes to an hour.”

What kind of anesthesia is used for a brow lift?

“A brow lift can be done under general anesthesia, where you will be asleep for the entire procedure. Or you may choose to have the procedure done under sedation.”

Does a brow lift have any possible side-effects?

“After an endoscopic brow lift, you may experience temporary swelling, numbness, headaches or bruising. Patients who have a traditional brow lift may have itching or hair loss.”

How long does recovery from a brow lift take?

“Patients who have the endoscopic procedure are typically good to go within 3-4 days. If you have a traditional incision, you can expect to go back to work in 7-10 days.”

What results can you expect from a brow lift?

“A brow lift will give your face a more animated, yet natural appearance. After a brow lift, you will look younger, more alert, rested and refreshed—without that ‘operated on’ look.”