Brow Lift in Edinburgh
A heavy or descending brow can press on the upper eyelids and make the whole upper face look tired, even when you are well rested. Brow lift surgery at Quaba Plastic Surgery is performed by Mr Will Anderson, a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register, at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment plans your surgery, performs it and reviews the result himself.
Contents
Brow lift surgery overview
- Anaesthetic: local anaesthesia, or general anaesthesia where preferred.
- Length: 1-2 hours.
- Hospital stay: day case at Waterfront Private Hospital.
- Recovery time: around one week off work; six weeks before strenuous exercise.
What brow lift surgery involves
A brow lift raises the position of the eyebrows and reduces hooding over the upper eyelids. It treats the descent of the brow that develops with age – often the real cause of a tired or heavy look that patients first attribute to their eyelids.
At Quaba Plastic Surgery the preferred technique is the direct brow lift, which gives the most reliable and predictable long-term result. A minimal access lift using buried sutures is an alternative for the outer brow in selected patients.
Surgery is performed by Mr Will Anderson at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh, usually under local anaesthesia as a day case, and takes one to two hours.
Types of brow lift
Two types of brow lift are performed at Quaba Plastic Surgery. The right one depends on the degree of brow descent, the position of your hairline, and where a scar can best be hidden.
Direct brow lift
Direct brow lift
A direct brow lift removes a crescent of skin immediately above the eyebrow, leaving a scar that is usually well hidden at the junction of the upper eyebrow and skin. It gives the most reliable and predictable long-term result, and suits older patients and many men with more severe brow descent.
Minimal access (thread) brow lift
Minimal access (thread) brow lift
A minimal access brow lift uses buried sutures to raise the outer brow and open the upper face and eyes. The scars are minimal – hidden in the eyebrow itself and in the hairline high on the forehead. It suits younger patients with early descent of the outer brow.
Benefits of brow lift surgery
A brow lift restores the eyebrows to a more open position and improves hooding around the upper eyelids. The effect is an upper face that looks more awake, without changing the character of your expression.
- A lifted, more open brow position
- Reduced hooding over the upper eyelids
- With a direct lift, a reliable and long-lasting correction
The brow position is deliberately overcorrected at first, as a degree of settling occurs over the first six months. Direct brow lift scars sit in the brow line and take time to fade – up to a year. With a minimal access lift, the scars are hidden in the hairline and there is no scarring around the brows themselves.
Who is an ideal candidate for brow lift surgery?
A good candidate for brow lift surgery has a visibly low or descended brow, hooding of the upper eyelids that starts at the brow rather than the lid, and good general health.
- Heavy, low or asymmetric brows, often most marked at the outer brow
- A tired or stern look that rest and make-up do not change
- Good general health and realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve
Where the excess is in the eyelid skin itself rather than the brow position, eyelid surgery may be the better operation – and the two can be combined. Mr Anderson examines both at consultation and recommends the smaller procedure where it will achieve what you want.
Risks and considerations of brow lift surgery
General surgical risks
General surgical risks
Brow lift surgery shares the general risks of any operation: bleeding, infection and unpredictable scarring. In most cases the scars heal well, but in some patients they can stay red for up to 12 months.
Numbness
Numbness
With a minimal access (thread) lift there is a small chance of numbness in the hairline above the incisions, which usually recovers with time.
Asymmetry
Asymmetry
A slight degree of asymmetry in brow position is common; perfect symmetry does not exist naturally.
Assessing your individual risk
Assessing your individual risk
Your consultant will explain how these risks apply to your individual case at consultation before you decide to proceed.
Aftercare and recovery after brow lift surgery
Swelling and bruising around the brow and upper eyelids settle over one to two weeks. Most patients take around a week off work and return to strenuous exercise at six weeks.
Wounds are kept clean and dry in the first week, and any sutures that need removing are dealt with at your nurse review. Scars in the brow line continue to fade for up to a year and can be covered with make-up once healed.
A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available – if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
What is the cost of brow lift surgery?
A direct brow lift under local anaesthesia starts from £4,400 at Waterfront Private Hospital.
- Direct brow lift (local anaesthesia): from £4,400
Each price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.
The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.
Frequently asked questions about brow lift surgery
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my brow lift?
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my brow lift?
Yes. Mr Will Anderson assesses you at consultation, plans your surgery, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between surgeons.
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available – if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
How much does brow lift surgery cost?
How much does brow lift surgery cost?
A direct brow lift under local anaesthesia starts from £4,400 at Waterfront Private Hospital. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged. A consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.
What is the difference between a brow lift and eyelid surgery?
What is the difference between a brow lift and eyelid surgery?
A brow lift raises the position of the eyebrows; eyelid surgery removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids themselves. Hooding of the upper lids can be caused by either, or both, so the two procedures are sometimes combined. Examination at consultation establishes which is responsible.
Will a brow lift leave visible scars?
Will a brow lift leave visible scars?
A direct brow lift leaves a scar at the junction of the upper eyebrow and skin, which is usually well hidden and fades over up to a year. A minimal access lift hides its scars in the eyebrow and the hairline.
Can a brow lift be done under local anaesthetic?
Can a brow lift be done under local anaesthetic?
Yes. Most direct brow lifts are performed under local anaesthesia as a day case, which avoids the risks of general anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is available where preferred or where brow lift surgery is combined with other procedures.
How long does a brow lift last?
How long does a brow lift last?
A direct brow lift gives the most reliable and predictable long-term correction. The brow continues to age, but the lifted position is long-lasting. The brow is slightly overcorrected at surgery to allow for the settling that occurs over the first six months.
When can I return to work after a brow lift?
When can I return to work after a brow lift?
Most patients take around one week off work. Bruising can be covered with make-up after the first week, and strenuous exercise should wait six weeks.
Can a brow lift be combined with other procedures?
Can a brow lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. A brow lift is often combined with eyelid surgery or a facelift, treating the upper face in a single recovery period. Your consultant will advise whether a combination is appropriate for you.
Author
Mr Will Anderson is a fully accredited Consultant Plastic Surgeon in Edinburgh on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery (3679250). Having served as an NHS Consultant since 2008, he specialises in reconstructive, cosmetic and laser surgery, and holds an MSc from University College London. He practises at Quaba Plastic Surgery and Waterfront Private Hospital.