Cosmetic Injection or Brow Lift Surgery?

Are your eyebrows migrating downwards? Are your eyelids becoming hooded? When gravity starts to take its toll on our foreheads the effect can be ageing.

Restoring your brow to a more youthful position can be done both surgically and non-surgically using muscle relaxants. In this article, we’ll look at both options and help you understand which is best for you.

What is a Surgical Brow Lift?

A brow lift (also known as a forehead lift) is often combined with a facelift or upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) but it can be performed on its own. In simple terms, a brow lift involves the lifting and tightening of the forehead and surgical removal of any excess skin.

There are two different methods we use to carry out a brow lift at Ocean Clinic Marbella. The first is the direct excision brow lift, which sees portions of skin removed from directly above the eyebrows, with incisions hidden in the hairline of the eyebrow. This raises the eyebrows and the upper eyelids, in order to “open up” the eyes.

The second technique, a temporal lift, involves incisions made in your hairline at your temples.  As the procedure is carried out endoscopically, it’s less invasive, however, it only lifts the outside tail of the brow. This helps to correct hooded eyelids and smooth crow’s feet but won’t be effective for a very heavy brow since it doesn’t alter the middle of the brow or forehead area.

Which method we use depends on your age, skin quality, the severity of sagging and whether you’re suffering from any asymmetry. We will assess your facial anatomy and bone structure to ensure your brows are placed in a natural position - you don’t want to be left looking permanently surprised! 

Both types of brow lifts can be performed under local anaesthetic with sedation and you can return home the same day. The operation is safe and recovery is rapid, although you may have some bruising and swelling. You’ll need to return to the clinic to have your stitches removed after 7-10 days and you can expect scarring to fade away within a few months.

The result of a brow lift is long-lasting, however, your skin will continue to lose elasticity as you age, meaning it won’t last forever.

What is a Non-Surgical Brow Lift?

A non-surgical brow lift is performed using cosmetic injectable muscle relaxants. The muscle relaxant is injected into the orbicularis oculi muscle that surrounds the eye. By relaxing this muscle, the downward force is released. This allows the forehead muscles to pull upwards and elevates the eyebrows. 

Meanwhile, placing injections at the ends of the eyebrows raises the tail of the eyebrow. This can help correct upper eyelids that are starting to sag and open up the eyes so you look more awake. 

This treatment can be carried out in a matter of minutes and requires no downtime. However, the results are more subtle than those achieved through surgery and they are also impermanent. The injection result typically lasts between three to six months, depending on the individual. After this time, the muscle action returns and the brow will resume its previous position. 

Cosmetic Injection or Brow Lift - Which is Right for You?

Whether you choose a surgical or non-surgical solution will depend on your age, the severity of sagging and your budget. Brow drooping normally becomes apparent in a person’s late thirties, although a low brow can be hereditary so it can also be seen in younger patients.

If you are only displaying early signs of skin laxity, injectables can be an effective treatment and can delay the need for surgery. In combination with the effect the injectable has on relieving forehead lines, crow’s feet and lines between the eyebrows, it can considerably freshen up a face. 

You might wish to experiment with the cosmetic injection and, if you like the results, opt for an endoscopic temporal lift in order to make the changes permanent. Injections need repeating several times a year and, while it’s considerably cheaper than a surgical brow lift, these costs clock up quickly. This can make surgery better value for money in the long run.

For older patients, with deep furrows in the forehead, pronounced eye hooding or a low-set brow, more extensive surgery is recommended since the results of cosmetic injection or an endoscopic temporal lift will be minimal. On the other hand, the result of an excision brow lift can be dramatic - you’ll no longer look tired or angry and it can take years off your face. 

For a full assessment of your forehead, brow and upper eyelids, make an appointment for a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons.