For some of us, the brow is a leading source of frustration. After all, it’s a large expanse of skin that comprises about a third of the face. If your forehead displays prominent horizontal lines, and/or the little furrows between the eyebrows called “the elevens,” you may look older than the rest of you. People may even ask you whether you’re feeling tired or angry when actually you feel fine.
What options do you have?
There are basically two courses of action. One is less-invasive injectable treatment; the other is a cosmetic surgery procedure known as a brow lift or forehead lift. Let’s take a quick look at each.
Injectables for the Forehead
Injectables derived from Botulinum toxin, such as Botox and Dysport, are the least invasive way to smooth forehead wrinkles. This treatment works so well because lines on your brow form due to repeated muscle action—that’s why they’re called dynamic wrinkles. Botox and Dysport injections calm targeted muscles for a few to several months.
In the hands of a skilled professional, your forehead wrinkles will vanish or nearly so, yet you will still look like yourself. Possible side effects are temporary and include minor bruising, swelling and occasional mild discomfort. Rarely a patient may have an allergic reaction or droopiness of the eyelid or eyebrow.
Brow Lift Surgery
The other route many people can choose is a forehead lift, also called a brow lift. When our New York patients choose this option, we tailor the surgical procedure to their precise needs. Through strategically placed incisions, we elevate and smooth forehead skin. Additional benefits include partial lifting of the upper eyelids, which can further brighten up the appearance.
Although it is a surgical procedure, the brow lift involves relatively easy recovery with few risks. Most patients report having a temporary headache and feel some tightness in the area. Minor bruising and swelling are not uncommon as well. Most people are ready to go back to work in no more than a week.
Which One is Best for You?
Many people who are bothered by forehead wrinkles can benefit from either treatment. When men and women consult us in New York about a brow lift or an injectable, we walk them through the pros and cons. Botox and Dysport are less invasive than surgery, obviously, allowing most people to return to work immediately. The injectables also cost less than surgery, although the effects are temporary. You can do a quick “back of the envelope” calculation to see where the cost of repeated injections might eventually eclipse the cost of cosmetic surgery.
You can look at a forehead lift as a kind of investment. The smoothing effect will be permanent, meaning you won’t have to return to a plastic surgeon’s office or clinic repeatedly. Not only that, but a skilled, board certified plastic surgeon will strive to give you the best possible outcome for the cost, meaning he or she will take care to open up your eyelids, refine the position of your eyebrows or even minimize bushy male eyebrows.
Still Can’t Decide?
One step many of our new patients take is to try Botox or Dysport, evaluate the results and see how long the treatment lasts. Then they can make the decision whether to continue with the injectable or elect a brow lift.
As a recent article from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted, if you’re thinking of trying Botox or Dysport, you can choose to work with a board certified plastic surgeon, a facial plastic surgeon, an oculoplastic surgeon or a dermatologist to rejuvenate your forehead. Particularly if you’re still considering your options, we would suggest either a board certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon. These doctors will have the broadest experience and widest array of procedures to offer you. Not only that, they can be a trusted partner for you for the long haul.
If you’re traveling here or you’re a resident of New York, a brow lift or injectable treatment with us might be an option for you. We would welcome you to our offices on Park Avenue for a no-obligation consultation—just send us an email and we’ll arrange it!
