eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Brow Lift

Brow Lift, Coronoplasty: Treatment

Author: Matthew J Trovato, MD, Fellow, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Frank S Ciminello, MD, Director of Craniofacial Surgery, University Hospital, New Jersey Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 10, 2009

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Available medical therapy includes botulinum toxin (BOTOX®) injections to the corrugator muscles, lateral periorbital orbicularis muscle, and frontalis muscle. Chemical denervation with BOTOX® effects a temporary improvement, with changes in the forehead and elimination of vertical glabellar frown creases with corrugator muscle paralysis, improvement of transverse forehead rhytides with chemical denervation of the frontalis muscle, and elevation of the lateral eyebrow with selective injection of BOTOX® into the lateral orbicularis muscle.

This specific chemical denervation with BOTOX® injection can interrupt the imbalance of forehead muscle action, therefore eliminating rhytides that occur from contraction of these muscles. If dermal changes or deeper rhytides exist, full correction with chemical denervation is not likely. Additionally, the result lasts only 4-5 months, and subsequent treatment is necessary to maintain improvement. However, with appropriately maintained BOTOX® therapy, muscle atrophy ensues, and less frequent injections are required. (See BOTOX® Injections for more information on BOTOX® therapy.) Although BOTOX® therapy is considered a medical or chemical therapy, note that comprehensive understanding of the relevant superficial and deep anatomy of the region is imperative for optimal results of BOTOX® injections.

Surgical Therapy

This article describes the surgical treatment (brow lift/forehead lift) of aging of the upper two thirds of the face. This includes brow ptosis, corrugator hyperactivity, frontalis hyperactivity, and the associated rhytides created by this hyperactivity.

Brow lift options include an open (traditional) brow lift with incisions just above the eyebrows, in the mid forehead region, or in the hairline or coronal area. Furthermore, the approaches can be subperiosteal, subgaleal, or subcutaneous. Generally, the most common brow lift technique is a subgaleal approach through a hairline or coronal incision.

Although some surgeons remain committed to a more limited incision in the mid forehead through an existing rhytid or just above the eyebrows, these procedures are not considered the most aesthetically pleasing or effective methods of improving brow ptosis. Additionally, they do not afford the patient the benefits of complete corrugator and frontalis modification.

Though endoscopic techniques for brow lifts once gained popularity, they have fallen back out of favor most recently. While these methods are effective in reducing corrugator activity, frontalis activity is difficult to alter reliably using these techniques. Brow elevation can be achieved to a predictable degree, but fixation also remains a concern with the endoscopic lift. Multiple techniques have been proposed for endoscopic brow fixation, with several alternatives demonstrating relative success.

Suture suspension, screw fixation (absorbable or removable screws), and K-wire fixation are several examples. Endoscopic techniques limit the incisions, proving desirable to many patients as a minimally invasive procedure. The endoscopic lift does not allow for modification of the hairline in patients with a high forehead.

Preoperative Details

• The first step in rejuvenation of the upper third of the face or brow region includes a thorough consultation with the patient. Give the patient a mirror so that the brow position, corrugator-glabellar area, and forehead-frontalis region can be examined. Attention to the level of the hairline also is important. Improvement can be simulated by elevation of the brow to obtain a reaction from the patient regarding desirability. Proper elevation of the eyebrow requires feedback from the patient regarding the desired look.
• The point of reference for determining the new brow position is the supraorbital rim. A marking pen can be used to identify the orbital rim. Elevate the brow to the appropriate level and mark the skin overlying the orbital rim again. This measurement of brow elevation then can be used to determine the amount of skin to be excised at various points, depending on the incision selected.
• Guidelines include the following: approximately 1 mm of brow elevation requires removal of approximately 1.5 mm of tissue if the incision is at the coronal site; at the hairline incision, the ratio of brow elevation to tissue removed is approximately 1:1.
• Assess modification of the corrugator and frontalis muscle; corrugator modification is planned in most patients with significant upper face aging. This eliminates the heaviness in the corrugator region in female patients and eliminates the glabellar frown lines that are created from contraction of these muscles.
• Assess frontalis hyperactivity clinically. Determine this by the amount of rhytides that are static and dynamic in the forehead. Plan thinning of the frontalis muscle based on its relative hyperactivity. Maintaining frontalis muscle activity is important, thus carefully control thinning.
• Plan the incision. In patients with a high forehead, a hairline incision almost always is preferable to elevating the hairline. Unfortunately, once a coronal or posterior hairline incision is made, subsequent procedures to lower the hairline are not possible. Therefore, proper planning is critical.
• A coronal incision is well hidden in patients with a low hairline. In patients with male pattern baldness, a more posterior incision along the vertex can be made, with expectations that the resulting incision will be hardly detectable. When the incision is precisely approximated, the scalp in this region heals nicely in almost all patients.

Intraoperative Details

• Treat patients under local anesthesia with intravenous (IV) sedation or under general anesthesia according to the preferences of the surgeon, patient, and anesthesia specialist.
• Typically, administer preoperative antibiotics and prepare the head in the usual fashion.
• Never shave hair, as this is unnecessary and often undesirable to the patient. Hair can be managed by simply towel drying and combing the hair or by placing the hair in an elastic band.
• Depending on the desired location, mark the incision along the anterior hairline and extend it back into the hair and along the temporal scalp, or mark it along the coronal position and then along the temporal scalp.
• Typically, inject local anesthetic with 1:400,000 epinephrine along the galea in the skin prior to the incision and wait the appropriate 4-5 minutes for the epinephrine to take effect before proceeding.
• Most procedures are performed in a subgaleal plane. Bevel the incision along the hair follicles throughout the length of the incision until the subgaleal plane is identified. Elevate the flap in the subgaleal plane with sharp or blunt dissection. The subgaleal plane includes the loose areolar tissue of the scalp and is dissected easily down to the orbital rims, where the attachments become more dense.
• Use hemoclips or judicious cautery along the galeal or incisional area to protect the hair bulbs and prevent injury that may create alopecia. Alternatively, Camirand's technique for avoiding scar alopecia in scalp incisions is most effective.⁵
• Perform the dissection along the lateral orbital rim and temporal region bluntly with a sponge or a digital dissection, taking care not to use sharp instruments or retractors that may injure the frontal branch of the facial nerve in this region. Continue the dissection down to the orbital rim, where release of the lateral orbital rim is essential to allow for brow mobilization.
• Identify the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves more medially, with the corrugator muscles covering most of the supratrochlear nerves.
• Perform the corrugator muscle modification under direct vision with the open brow lift. Release the corrugator muscle from its insertion into the medial-glabellar periosteum and follow it into the soft tissue of the flap more laterally. Contour it along the soft tissue to avoid leaving a lateral bulge that will be seen as a contour abnormality. Constantly replace the flap and check for symmetry.
• After contouring the corrugator muscles and preserving as much of the trochlear nerves as possible, further identify and protect the supraorbital nerve while carrying the release toward the lateral brow. The release often is carried into the orbital region to allow for full release.
• In some patients, the procerus muscle is modified by transverse incision to allow for a more pleasing radix, depending on the existing appearance of the nasal root. This release of the procerus muscle can allow for further elevation of the medial brow if necessary. This is a powerful movement and may be unnecessary in some patients. Assess the aesthetics of the nasal root and the existing position of the medial eyebrow prior to procerus muscle transection. Simply bevel the edges of the cut muscle; no segment of procerus muscle is removed.
• Thin the frontalis muscle appropriately based on the preoperative assessment of hyperactivity to the frontalis muscle. Thin it in a transverse direction using Metzenbaum or Mayo scissors to allow for reduction of the muscle fibers but retention of muscle function.
• Take care to avoid the supraorbital nerves that run in the flap near the area of thinning.
• Examine the area for hemostasis.
• Place a small silastic drain and bring it out through the temporalis fascia. Place the drain just into the radix region to drain fluid in this region for the first 24 hours. This diminishes bruising.
• Elevate the scalp and trim appropriately after marking 3 points of tension at the paramedian positions and the mid line.
• Suture these 3 tension points after elevating the flap and double checking the position of the brow. The preoperative assessment of brow elevation remains critical, since intraoperative appearance can be deceptive because of swelling and the recumbent position.
• Perform 1:1 removal of skin to account for brow elevation at the hairline, while 1.5-mm excision of scalp tissue at the coronal position allows for approximately a 1-mm elevation of brow position. In the vertex incision, the excision of tissue may approach 2:1 to allow for a proper amount of elevation.
• Following placement of tension at these 3 points (paramedian points, midline points), trim the flap between the points with no tension.
• Some surgeons prefer to close the galea in an interrupted fashion; others simply close with a full-thickness suture through the skin subcutaneous tissue and galea. A running skin suture is not recommended, because the ischemic nature of the suture and the resultant ischemia to the hair follicles can result in what appears to be a wide scar (but in reality is peri-incisional alopecia). Staples are appropriate for closure of most scalp wounds, especially with a tension-free closure.
• Recheck the 3 points of tension when closure is complete to ensure that tension is not excessive. Replace these sutures if tension appears excessive.
• Use a light Kerlix wrap for dressing. No other dressings are necessary. Place an ice pack over the brow while the patient is in recovery.

Postoperative Details

• Usually, the patient is discharged home on the day of surgery with instructions to empty the drain and apply ice packs to the forehead for comfort and decreased swelling.
• Typically, remove the drain on the day after surgery; the patient should shower and shampoo his or her hair within 24-48 hours.
• Most patients require mild narcotic analgesia or over-the-counter pain relievers. Some swelling in the lower eyelids is expected in some individuals.
• Check the sutures when the drain is removed to confirm that the swelling has not created areas of excessive tension along the sutures. If this has occurred, remove the sutures to release tension.
• Completely remove staples and sutures 7-9 days postsurgery.
• Most patients return to normal work activities within 3-5 days. Normal sports activities and aerobic exercise are begun 2 weeks postsurgery.

Follow-up

Most patients complain of some sensory deficit in the area posterior to the incision (forehead or coronal incision). This sensory deficit can be annoying to some patients, but in most patients it resolves in several months. Some residual swelling of the forehead may occur for several weeks but generally is not socially unacceptable. Forehead and brow mobility also is reduced for several weeks until swelling resolves and healing occurs.

Complications

While brow lift and foreheadplasty procedures are safe and predictable, complications are documented.

• Swelling and bruising may be observed following surgery, although this can be diminished by drains, which are removed in the first 24 hours.
• More significant concerns include hematomas, which are associated with residual bleeding from the flap incision site. This is best avoided using hemostatic sutures to close the incision, including the scalp and galea.
• Alopecia often is observed with endoscopic or open techniques when the trauma to the incisional site is excessive, resulting in hair follicle injury. Tension at the suture line can create ischemia that results in hair follicle death, with resulting alopecia along the incisional site. In the subgaleal brow lift, with proper tension applied at the appropriate sites, alopecia should not be a concern. Avoid tight dressings. Additionally, beveling the incision along instead of across the hair shafts appears to preserve hair follicles. Avoid electrocautery along the base of the hair follicles.
• Infection is a rare complication of brow lift procedures. The vascular supply to the scalp is abundant, and, even with surgical manipulation of the hair along the incision, infection is rare. Perioperative antibiotics are administered routinely.
• Sensory nerve injury to the supratrochlear and supraorbital vessels is a concern. A careful understanding of the anatomic relationships of the corrugator muscles and the anatomic course of the sensory nerves is essential to avoid complications. Sensory loss posterior to the coronal or forehead incision is expected and transient. Advise patients of these issues.
• Injury to the frontal branch of the facial nerve is a more serious concern; however, if the procedure is performed in a subperiosteal or subgaleal plane, these injuries can be avoided by careful dissection along the lateral orbital rim using a blunt technique. Additionally, avoid excessive traction on the flap or neurapraxia may occur. Weakness of the frontal branch is a transient complication of traction on the flap. This usually resolves within 10-14 days, with return of normal frontalis function.
• Undesirable scars along the coronal or hairline incision often are a simple matter of poor technique and failure to attend to the details of closure with appropriate tension. Hypertrophic scars and keloid scars are not observed in these locations. The "widened scar" is more likely the result of peri-incisional alopecia. Hair follicle injury results in what appears to be a widened scar, when in reality hair follicles are injured.
• Contour irregularities and asymmetries are unlikely if careful contouring of corrugator muscles, procerus muscle, and frontalis muscle tissue is performed.
• Hairline distortion is a more significant concern, even in the hands of skilled surgeons. The coronal incision increases the length of the forehead in all patients. In patients with a high forehead (ie, hairline begins high), a hairline incision is much more acceptable so that the hairline actually can be lowered and the forehead length is diminished to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Precisely perform closure of the hairline portion of the incision. In many patients, hair shafts grow through the scar, making the incision almost undetectable and allowing patients to wear a desired hairstyle rather than hiding the high forehead with bangs. This is a critical judgment decision when visiting with the patient preoperatively; explain it carefully to the patient.
• Unfortunately, inadequate correction of brow ptosis occurs frequently. This usually results from failure to release the attachments at the lateral orbital rim, allowing for freedom of brow motion. Excessive elevation of the brow is possible and can be avoided by appropriate preoperative measurement of the amount of brow ptosis and by estimating the amount of tissue to be removed to accomplish this elevation.

• Search for CME/CE on This Topic »

• Brow Lift, Pretrichial Lift (Plastic Surgery)
• Brow Lift, Periorbital Rejuvenation (Plastic Surgery)
• Direct Brow Lift (Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery)
• Brow Lift, Endoscopic (Plastic Surgery)

• Fractional Ablative CO2 Lasers Offer Periorbital Tightening With Brow Lift