Brow Lift
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Lake Forest, Glenview and Grayslake, IL
A brow lift is a procedure that elevates the position of your eyebrows to restore a more refreshed and youthful look. This procedure can address visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sagging in the upper face.
At Northwestern Medicine, Dr. Karthik Shastri and Dr. Liza M. Cohen perform our brow lifts. Dr. Shastri is a board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon with a primary specialization in facial plastic surgery, and Dr. Cohen is a board-certified ophthalmic plastic, orbital, and reconstructive surgeon. They perform brow lifts with incredible precision and care, and their many reviews exemplify a surgeon who treats their patients with respect and puts patient safety first.
To learn more, please give us a call!
Contents
- 1 Before and After Photos
- 2 About Brow Lifts
- 3 Candidates
- 4 Personal Consultation
- 5 Preparation
- 6 Procedure
- 7 Recovery
- 8 Results
- 9 Corresponding Procedures
- 10 Cost of Brow Lifts in Chicago, IL
- 11 FAQ
- 11.1 What concerns can a brow lift address?
- 11.2 Are there any non-surgical alternatives to a brow lift?
- 11.3 Is there a difference between a brow lift and a facelift?
- 11.4 Will there be any significant scarring after my brow lift?
- 11.5 What type of anesthesia does a brow lift require?
- 11.6 Can I combine my brow lift with another aesthetic procedure?
- 11.7 Are there any risks associated with the brow lift?
- 11.8 Will a brow lift improve my vision?
- 12 References
Before and After Photos
About Brow Lifts
Over time, it is natural for sagging, wrinkles, and creases to develop above the eyes and on the forehead. The brow region plays an important role in expression, so sagging and creasing can make us look tired, weary, or unhappy. (1)
For most patients, these concerns cannot be fully addressed by nonsurgical approaches like topical creams, chemical peels, or microneedling. These can help improve skin quality and provide some mild improvements, but to address sagging more directly, a surgical approach provides the best results.
Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen are experienced in a wide range of brow lift techniques, so they can customize the procedure exactly to your needs. The procedure typically involves skin removal and lifting the brows to a more youthful position. Some patients benefit from combining their brow lift with a blepharoplasty if they are experiencing sagging above their eyes as well.
Candidates
You may be a candidate for a brow lift if you are experiencing loose skin above your eyes or if you have noticed eyebrow ptosis (drooping eyebrows). (2)
If you are interested in undergoing a brow lift, you should be in good general health and hold realistic expectations regarding what your procedure may achieve. You should also be nonsmoking or willing to quit using nicotine for safety reasons. During your consultation, Dr. Shastri or Dr. Cohen will assess your medical history and facial anatomy to determine your candidacy for a brow lift.
Personal Consultation
Before undergoing your brow lift, you will attend a personal consultation with Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen. During this consultation, they will help you determine whether a brow lift is right for you. They will assess your medical history, discuss your concerns with you, and learn more about your desired results. They will also examine your upper face to determine the best techniques for your procedure.
To schedule your consultation at any one of our Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest locations, please give us a call.
Preparation
To help you prepare for your procedure, Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen will provide a set of pre-operative instructions. These may vary, but typically include some of the following guidelines:
- Discontinue taking medications and supplements that have blood-thinning properties.
- Arrange transportation home from your procedure
- Prepare to take time away from your career and commitments.
- Cease all nicotine use several weeks in advance (if applicable).
Procedure
When you arrive for your procedure, a member of our team will lead you to your private treatment room. Your skin will be cleansed and sanitized, and anesthesia will be administered to keep you comfortable.
Your surgeon will make small incisions in discreet locations, typically along the hairline near the temples. These incisions will allow them to access underlying facial tissues while simultaneously minimizing post-procedure scar visibility.
They will raise the position of your eyebrows, remove excess skin, and potentially tighten or reinforce certain supportive structures.
Recovery
Our brow lift is an outpatient procedure, so you will return home the same day as your appointment to continue resting. In the initial stages of recovery, you may experience tenderness, swelling, or bruising in the treated areas, but these effects gradually subside on their own. You may also see improvements in them by using a cold compress and approved medications. Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen will show you how to use a cold compress safely—in fact, they will give you a full set of post-operative instructions to guide you through your recovery. These will include more detailed instructions for caring for your incisions, managing any side effects, and navigating activity restrictions. They will also provide you with the healing timeline you can expect. Most patients are able to return to most aspects of their daily routines, such as desk work and other light activities, after about one to two weeks. However, you will need to continue avoiding physically demanding or strenuous tasks until your surgeon provides clearance.
Throughout your recovery, you will attend follow-up appointments with Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen to make sure you feel supported and that your results are developing as expected.
Results
The results of your brow lift will gradually become more noticeable as you continue to heal. Once residual swelling subsides, you will be able to enjoy a more rejuvenated, alert, and expressive appearance. Our surgical team’s precise techniques encourage long-term support, so you can expect to enjoy your results for as many as 5-10 years or more.
Results will age gracefully, so you do not have to worry about needing any revision procedures to fix your results over time.
Dr. Shastri, Dr. Cohen, and their team can provide you with customized skincare recommendations so that you can prolong optimal results and improve the quality of your skin.
Corresponding Procedures
There are several procedures that your surgeon can perform in conjunction with your brow lift.
Blepharoplasty
When sagging is present above the eyes, in addition to in the forehead and brow, a blepharoplasty can offer more comprehensive results. This procedure removes and repositions sagging tissue above and/or below the eyes, creating a much more alert and refreshed appearance.
Facelift
A facelift is a facial-rejuvenation procedure that revitalizes your appearance and addresses visible signs of aging in the lower face. This procedure removes excess tissue and provides an internal lift to restore a more contoured and sculpted look. When performed alongside a browlift, patients can achieve improvements in both the upper and lower face. A combined facelift and brow lift is sometimes even referred to as a ‘full facelift.’
Cost of Brow Lifts in Chicago, IL
The cost of your brow lift may vary depending on the approach used, the extent of the corrections, whether you undergo any additional procedures, and more. Once Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen discuss the details of your procedure with you, they will provide a comprehensive cost estimate.
To learn more about the cost of your brow lift, please schedule a consultation by giving us a call.
FAQ
What concerns can a brow lift address?
A brow lift can effectively address signs of aging in the upper face, including sagging brows, deep wrinkles, and more. In some cases, it can provide a subtle lift above the eyes, but an upper eyelid lift is often best for eye-area concerns.
Are there any non-surgical alternatives to a brow lift?
There are no non-surgical approaches that can achieve results as impressive as a brow lift. Injectables and topical treatments can offer temporary or more surface-level rejuvenation, but they cannot actually address sagging skin. A brow lift physically lifts the brows and actually removes excess skin, so the results with this approach are unparalleled.
Is there a difference between a brow lift and a facelift?
These procedures target different regions of the face. Brow lifts address the upper portion of the face, including the eyebrows and forehead. Facelifts focus on the lower face, addressing concerns like jowls, nasolabial folds, and turkey neck. These procedures can be combined for more comprehensive, ‘full-facelift’ results.
Will there be any significant scarring after my brow lift?
Both of our surgeons take great care in placing each incision in discreet locations to minimize visible scarring. Scars typically continue to fade over time, making them even less noticeable.
What type of anesthesia does a brow lift require?
Your surgeon may perform a brow lift using either general or local anesthesia, depending on the extent of your corrections. This will be discussed during your personal consultation.
Can I combine my brow lift with another aesthetic procedure?
Yes, you may elect to combine your brow lift with another procedure for further facial rejuvenation, or to address several concerns within one procedure. To learn more about the other procedures you may qualify for, please reach out to our office to schedule a consultation.
Are there any risks associated with the brow lift?
Every procedure or treatment has certain risks, which is why it is so important to work with a board-certified surgeon, ideally one with a specialization in facial procedures or ophthalmic plastic, orbital, and reconstructive surgery, like Dr. Shastri and Dr. Cohen. During your consultation, the two of them will discuss the potential risks to ensure you have a full understanding of each one.
Will a brow lift improve my vision?
In some cases, a brow lift can improve a patient’s field of vision, but this is only relevant if the brow skin hangs over the eyelids. In most cases, blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) clears visual obstructions best.
References
- De Jong R, Hohman MH. Brow Ptosis. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560762/
- Jawad BA, Raggio BS. Direct Brow Lift. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559261/