The fact is that the signs of aging don’t just add years to your appearance. Lines across your forehead and a sagging brow can also change the way people perceive your emotions. Frown lines and droopiness can make it look as though you’re scowling, even if you aren’t.

If lines and sagging in the forehead and eyebrow are starting to get to you, there are a few things you can do minimize their appearance. Whether you need surgery or not, and where, depends on what you are dealing with.

Brow Lift

A brow lift is typically the go-to surgery for patients dealing with drooping brows or forehead creases. There are a few ways that a surgeon can perform the procedure. In many cases, a brow lift is performed endoscopically, meaning only a few small incisions are made and the doctor uses a small camera to help guide him as he works.

The traditional method of performing a brow or forehead lift involves making a long incision across the top of the head. Although that method is performed less frequently, it can be an appropriate option for patients with more severe sagging or creasing across the forehead.

Although an endoscopic brow lift is generally a short and simple procedure that takes less than two hours and can be performed with local anesthesia and sedation, some recovery time is needed. You might need to take between one and two weeks off from work, and you’ll want to avoid certain activities for even longer.

Eyelid Surgery

Although eyelid surgery won’t directly improve the appearance of the forehead, it can be helpful if you’re dealing with some sagging or droopiness in the area around the upper eyelids and brows. The surgery is generally recommended if you have heavy upper eyelids.

While eyelid surgery on its own won’t correct forehead creases or frown lines, it is possible for your surgeon to combine the procedure with a brow lift to create a more refreshed appearance.

Botox

Botox doesn’t just reduce the frown lines and other dynamic wrinkles on the face. It can also be injected in such a way that it helps elevate drooping brows. A Botox brow lift has a few advantages over a surgical brow lift. For one thing, it has a lower upfront cost. Botox injections typically cost a few hundred dollars, compared to a few thousand dollars for a brow lift.

There’s also a minimal recovery time after Botox and many people are able to get back to their regular activities pretty much right away. A Botox brow lift doesn’t require incisions and leaves no scars.

The trade-off is that the results you get from a Botox brow lift aren’t nearly as dramatic as the results you’d get from surgery. Botox can elevate the brows by a few millimeters while surgery can lift them a bit higher. Botox is also temporary, and results typically start to fade after about three months. You can repeat the treatment if you like the results or decide to have surgery instead, the results of which will last longer.

Fat Transfer

Fat grafting, which is the transfer of fat from one area of the body to another, can also be used to create the effect of a brow lift. The procedure can be ideal for people who still have taut and elastic skin in the forehead and brow area but who are beginning to lose volume in that area.

Typically, the fat used in fat transfer is taken from the hips, thighs or abdomen. Patients who don’t have an adequate amount of fat in those areas aren’t the best candidates for the procedure. The fat is then cleaned of any impurities before it is injected into the treatment area. Along with being used by the eyebrows, fat grafting can be used all over the face. The results are permanent, although it is possible for the body to reabsorb some of the fat over time.

Are you bothered by forehead lines or a droopy brow? Find out more about the various treatment options and discover the method that is right for you. Dr. Stephen Smith, a fourth generation facial plastic surgeon in Ohio , offers patients a variety of options for the forehead and brow area. To get more details and for a consultation, call 614-678-7180 today.