Brow Lift

Designed to elevate the brow and smooth fine lines, a brow lift, also referred to as a forehead lift, in San Francisco with Dr. Albert Chow can refresh your facial features and rejuvenate your overall appearance. Board certified in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Chow uses precise brow lifting techniques to expertly restore a more youthful appearance to your face.

To determine if you are a good candidate for a brow lift, request a consultation with Dr. Chow using his online form or call  (415) 441-1888 to schedule an appointment.

Brow Lift Improvements

A brow lift is an effective procedure that can take years off your appearance. It minimizes forehead creases, horizontal frown lines, or wrinkles around the top of your nose. A brow lift is generally recommended for people between the ages of 40 and 60 who have sagging brows or crowding of the upper eyelid. Properly shaped eyebrows can accentuate your eyes and restore a happy, rested look.

Dr. Chow often combines brow lift surgery with other facial cosmetic surgery procedures such as a facelift, eyelid lift, or Asian eyelid surgery for a more complete facial rejuvenation.

The Brow Lift Procedure

Depending on your needs, Dr. Chow will use one of the following brow lift techniques to expertly smooth forehead lines and elevate the brow line:

• Endoscopic Brow Lift — During this minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Chow makes several incisions along the border of the forehead, hidden in the hairline. He inserts small surgical instruments through these incisions, including an endoscope (a camera with a light attached) which is connected to a video monitor in the operating room. Dr. Chow removes dense muscle tissue from the brow area, and gently lifts the forehead skin to smooth wrinkles and elevate the brow line. Safe and effective, this procedure is generally used on younger patients who need less extensive work.
• Traditional (Coronal) Brow Lift — This technique is appropriate for more pronounced lines and sagging of the forehead. During surgery, Dr. Chow creates a full incision, from ear to ear, behind the hairline. He tightens the forehead muscles, and removes excess skin and tissue. He then lifts the forehead skin to enhance the brow line and eliminate horizontal wrinkles. The result is smoother skin and a refreshed new look.
• Temporal Brow Lift — This is a modified version of the coronal brow lift during which Dr. Chow places the incisions within the hair of the temple area, tightens and elevates forehead muscles, and removes excess skin and tissue. This technique works well to elevate the lateral aspects of the brow (the outer eyebrow area), giving patients a more “open” appearance.

Recovery After Brow Lift Surgery

After brow lift surgery, patients generally have minimal discomfort that is easily alleviated with pain medication. Because the endoscopic brow lift technique requires smaller incisions and less skin removal than the traditional technique, the recovery time for this procedure is shorter. Swelling and bruising after the procedure is normal, but should subside in a few days. Most people are back to their normal routine in about a week. You should limit any strenuous activity for a few weeks after surgery, and avoid excessive exposure to the sun in the upcoming months. Attentive to your post-surgery care, Dr. Chow provides comprehensive guidance through all steps of your recovery.

Brow Lift Risks

Complications are uncommon during or after a brow lift procedure. The primary risk is infection, which can be avoided with proper post-surgery care. A traditional brow lift may leave numbness or itching on the top of your scalp, but this usually disappears as the nerves heal.