An endoscopic brow lift, also called a forehead lift, surgically corrects drooping eyebrows and softens worried or angry expressions that result from frown lines.
During the procedure, commonly performed on men and women between the ages of 35 and 70, the surgeon elevates the skin and underlying tissues of the upper face, and may remove part of the muscle that causes frown lines between the brows.
The result is a more youthful, relaxed, and refreshed appearance.
Am I a Brow Lift Candidate?
If you have sagging eyebrows that create a tired or sad appearance, deep horizontal creases across your forehead, or frown lines or furrows between your eyebrows, you may be a good endoscopic brow lift candidate.To get a glimpse of the potential results, you can try a simple test on your own. Place your fingertips at the outer edges of your eyebrows and gently raise the skin upwards.
This will give you a good indication of what the procedure might do for your appearance. Of course, the best way to determine if an endoscopic brow lift is right for you is by a thorough consultation with your plastic surgeon.
Indications for Endoscopic Brow lift
Brow ptosis (drooping)
Pseudoptsis of the eyelids
Vertical and transverse rhytids (wrinkling) of the forehead
Several small incisions are made behind the hairline.
The endoscope (small camera) guides the surgeon to
remove the muscles that produce the frown lines
reposition the eyebrows at a higher level.
Benefits
the hairline is not altered
less likelihood of permanent numbness in the incisional area
Precise fixation Small anchor - not noticeable for patient
Small incision required
Small scar
Less possible hair loss
Drill stop prevents drilling hole too deep
Excellent pull-out strength No second procedure to remove screw/post
Goals of surgery
Reduction of forehead wrinkles
Elevation of eyebrows
Reduction of excess skin which can cause hooding of the upper eyelids
Complications
Excessive bone bleeding in some patients Bone tunnel collapse Internal screws/plate can be felt by the patient External screw Left protruding above the skin for several weeks Potential for infection and alopecia Requires second procedure to remove screws
Photograph, Courtesy of Dr. Allen M. Putterman
Photograph, Courtesy of Dr. Allen M. Putterman
How is an Endoscopic Brow Lift Performed?
The endoscopic brow lift technique uses a small, pencil-like camera device connected to a television monitor. The endoscope is inserted into several small, one-half-inch to one-inch incisions placed just behind the hairline, providing the surgeon with a clear view of the muscles and tissues beneath the skin. The surgeon then inserts another instrument through one of the small incisions to lift the skin and remove or alter muscle, if necessary. During an endoscopic procedure, the eyebrows and forehead can be lifted and secured at the optimal height through the use of a new, sutureless mechanism called the ENDOTINE™ Forehead fixation device.
A brow lift procedure can also be performed using a traditional “open” method, where an incision is made slightly behind or at the natural hairline, beginning above the ears and continuing toward the top of the head. The surgeon works through the incision to secure tissue and modify or remove excess skin and parts of the muscle that cause wrinkling and frown lines. The incision is closed with stitches.
Because of the smaller incisions, endoscopic brow lift patients usually experience less of the itching sensation and temporary scalp numbness felt by patients who have had the open technique. In addition, endoscopic brow lift patients may feel ready to return to normal activities sooner.
In some cases, a combination of endoscopic and open techniques may be used. In either case, the procedure typically takes between one-to-two hours, and is usually performed in the surgeon’s office-based facility or an outpatient surgery center under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
The ENDOTINE Forehead Solution for Effective Brow Elevation
The ENDOTINE Forehead device offers a novel and elegant solution designed specifically for elevating the forehead tissue in brow lift surgery. Its unique structure provides multiple points of contact with the elevated forehead tissue in order to create a more even and gentle distribution of holding strength. Other options such as screws and sutures typically provide only one point of contact which may tear through the soft tissues, adversely affecting brow lift reliability.
The endoscopic forehead lift DVD is available for order at www.endofl.com for $49.
Other advantages of the ENDOTINE Forehead include:
No metal screws protruding through the scalp that can cause wound irritation and hair loss
No sutures that can pinch the hair follicles, also leading to hair loss
No need to remove, since the ENDOTINE Forehead device absorbs over time
An experienced surgeon can effectively place the ENDOTINE Forehead in less than one minute in a simple procedure. Once the eyebrows are raised to their desired height during endoscopic brow lift surgery,the ENDOTINE Forehead is inserted under the scalp tissue,securely holding the tissue in place. The incision is then closed, and the ENDOTINE Forehead is left in place, where it eventually absorbs.
After surgery, the ENDOTINE Forehead can be adjusted if necessary, allowing the surgeon to continue to shape and contour the forehead. This provides you—and the surgeon—greater aesthetic control of your brow height and shape.Be sure to ask your surgeon about use of the ENDOTINE Forehead device for your endoscopic brow lift procedure.
