Forehead Lift

Confidence in Yourself and Your Surgeon

Experience matters. Forehead lifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping patients to look more refreshed, youthful, and well rested. This is done by removing or adjusting the muscles above the eyes to smooth lines on the forehead, while raising the eyebrows for an overall younger appearance.

A forehead lift effectively counteracts the signs of aging or a tired appearance, whether it's caused by time and gravity, muscle activity or an inherited condition. This procedure may be combined with other facial surgeries such as an eyelid lift or facelift to further improve the look of the eyes and overall face.

The best results are attained when this procedure is performed on healthy individuals seeking to improve the appearance of furrows and deep lines on the forehead and sagging brows. It is important for patients to maintain realistic expectations about the outcome of this procedure in order to be fully satisfied with the results. Dr. Alexander has many years of experience in performing forehead lifts, and possesses the skill and reputation to achieve successful results.

Forehead Lift Procedure

Dr. Alexander's forehead lift procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. There are two different techniques commonly used for this procedure, depending on the patient's individual goals and facial structure.

A conventional forehead lift involves an incision that is hidden within the hairline (for patients with thinning or receding hair, who are bald or who have had previous surgery in the area, the incision will likely be moved somewhere less conspicuous); while an endoscopic forehead lift involves a tiny camera and instruments that are inserted through a few small incisions. Dr. Alexander will use his extensive experience and discuss which option is better for you during your pre-surgical consultation.

• Traditional forehead lift: First, the patient's hair is tied with rubber bands near the incision site. Then Dr. Alexander makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision behind the hairline, located between the ears and across the top of the forehead. The incision may be placed further back or made along the skull bone joints to minimize visibility in patients with thinning hair or who are bald. Then the forehead skin is lifted, tissue is removed, muscles are adjusted and the eyebrows may be lifted. Excess skin is trimmed and the incision is closed with stitches or clips. The site is washed and the rubber bands are removed. A soft surgical dressing is then applied.


• Endoscopic forehead lift: After the hair is tied as with the traditional procedure, Dr. Alexander makes several short incisions (less than an inch long) behind the hairline. The endoscope is placed in one so that Dr. Alexander can see beneath the skin without having to make a large incision, while he lifts the skin and adjusts muscles through the other incisions. If the eyebrows are lifted they will be stitched or screwed (temporarily) into place. The site is washed and the rubber bands are removed.

Recovery from a Forehead Lift

Allow yourself time to relax and heal. After the forehead lift procedure, patients may experience some numbness and discomfort at the site of the incision. Throughout the healing process, numbness may turn into itching, which typically will improve with time. Bandages will be removed by Dr. Alexander and his nursing staff after a day or two, while stitches and surgical clips are taken out after two weeks. It is recommended that patients elevate their head for the first week after surgery in order to reduce swelling.

Patients are usually able to return to light work and other regular activities within one to two weeks, but should avoid exercise and strenuous activities for at least four to six weeks. The results of this procedure are visible right away, and will continue to improve as swelling and bruising subside. These results will last for several years, and even as the signs of aging begin to show, patients often continue to look younger than if they had never been treated.

» Contact us today to learn more about Dr. Alexander's technique and the benefits of the forehead lift procedure.

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