A droopy brow is a cause for concern for many patients because it makes the eyes look tired or aged. It is a concern for both men and women and for both young and older patients. A patient with droopy eyebrow wants to know the best option to solve the condition, the costs associated and the recovery time.
In this blog, we will talk about the two main options for treatment of droopy eyebrows: Botox lift and surgical lift.
Botox Brow Lift
Botulinum toxin, or Botox as its commonly known, is a protein that prevents release of acetylcholine, a substance necessary for muscle contraction. By blocking this transmitter, Botox causes temporary paralysis of the muscle where it is injected. Botox is used for both medical and cosmetic purposes. When it comes to Botox Cosmetic, most people know that it helps to reduce wrinkles in the forehead, crow’s feet and bunny lines. However, Botox can also help to raise the tail of the brow if it is applied by an experienced injector.
To raise the brow with Botox, the product has to be applied correctly in the facial muscles that control brow position. The goal is to weaken the muscles that depress the brow (brow depressors) without targeting the muscles that raise the brow (brow elevators). By temporarily weakening the brow depressors, the brow elevators will raise the brow to a higher position. This must be done in a tailored approach for each person to get the best result. If it’s not applied correctly, it can actually make the patient look unnatural or give a “Spock” look, named after the Star Trek character (see image).
On the other hand, when Botox is applied correctly, the results can be magnificent. A nice, youthful brow contour can be achieved. Granted, the results of Botox don’t last forever. Individuals who have had Botox for a brow lift can expect the result to last anywhere from 3 to 5 months. After this time has passed, Botox will have to be applied again to maintain the results.
Not all patients are good candidates for a Botox Brow lift. Botox will not raise a brow that is more than just mildly droopy. That is, the most the brow can be elevated with Botox while achieving a natural result is about 3 mm. Therefore, patients with moderate or severe ptosis have to seek another alternative to raise the eyebrow, and that’s where the surgical brow lift comes in.
Surgical brow lift: BEAUTYlift
For older patients, or those with moderate and severe brow droopiness, the best option is a surgical brow lift. In the past, a brow lift was a very invasive operation, requiring huge incisions in the scalp and putting the patient through lots of risks and a long recovery. Fortunately, brow lift surgery has evolved significantly. Now days, a brow lift can be performed with a minimally invasive, endoscopic approach. Think of it as laparoscopy for the brow.
BEAUTYlift is a procedure that we perform to surgically raise the eyebrows. It consists of making small incisions in the scalp, without shaving the hair, to release the brow attachments and weaken the brow depressor muscles. All of this is done with the use of cameras and surgical telescopes.
The aesthetic results of this operation are incredible. Not only can the surgeon achieve a natural result without visible scars, but this results also last for years. At the same time, the downtime for this operation is short, about 10 days, compared to one to two months for the older techniques (see image).
In summary, for patients with mild brow droopiness who are looking for a safe way to raise the brows that also has little downtime, a Botox brow lift is the best alternative. On the other hand, if brow droopiness is moderate or severe, the patient should consider taking some time off work to go all the way with the surgical brow lift. The recovery is longer for the surgical alternative, but it is definitely worth it.
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