Sub-Brow Lift

Overview

Droopy eyelids are a typical problem that cosmetic surgeons deal with on a daily basis. Upper blepharoplasty, which removes extra skin and fat from the upper eyelids and creates a double eyelid crease, is the most frequent operation sought by patients.

However, some individuals merely wish to fix their drooping eyes and do not desire double eyelids. Others choose to keep their current double eyelid form and curve while enhancing lateral hooding. In these cases, a sub-brow lift is the preferred technique.

 

What is Sub-Brow Lift Surgery?

Sub-brow lift surgery corrects sagging eyelids and brows by removing extra loose skin beneath the brows. This surgery also tightens your eye muscles and tissues, reducing sagging greatly without causing any modifications to your current eyelids.

Sub-brow lifting often achieves a similar outcome to a forehead lift, however it is mainly concentrated on the eye region rather than the forehead. If you want to address both your droopy eyes and your sagging brow, a forehead lift may be a preferable alternative.

 

Ethnic Differences in Anatomy

Asians typically have higher brows than whites. This might be due to an overactive mechanism of the forehead musculature. Asians have higher pretarsal fat and suborbicularis fat, which projects inferiorly and causes puffiness around the eyes. Whites, on the other hand, have more pronounced supraorbital rims, lower-set brows, less postseptal fat, and thinner upper eyelid skin. Because of the ethnic characteristic of generally lower-set brows, whites are less likely to be candidates for Sub-Brow Lift and more likely to be candidates for forehead lift and suprabrow blepharoplasty.

 

Do I Need Sub-Brow Lift Surgery?

As previously said, if you have sagging eyelids, especially if they impede with your eyesight, you should absolutely repair them. Furthermore, a sub-brow lift treatment is appropriate for:

• Those who desire to correct droopy eyelids without getting double eyelids
• Those who wish to keep their present double eyelids but correct sagging eyelid skin
• Those who have additional eyelid fat and skin under the brows (puffy and thick eyelids)
• Those who have a significant gap between their brows and their eyes
• Those who have obstructed eyesight owing to droopy eyelids
• Those with drooping eyelids and/or brows as a result of aging Those with asymmetric brows as a result of sagging eyelids

 

Benefits of a sub-brow lift surgery

A sub-brow lift is a step between a complete forehead lift and a sub-brow lift. Sub-brow lift surgery is a simpler, more elegant procedure that is appropriate for younger individuals who simply want a little lift around the eyes. Many of our Asian patients have thick eyelid skin and prominent eyelid components behind the brows. These facial characteristics will fade with time. This occurrence, where the skin extends with time, is most common in people in their 30s, but it can begin as early as the late 20s in certain cases. This condition causes eyelids to hide a portion of one's eyes.

To get dramatic results, patients frequently combine a sub-brow lift with double eyelid surgery. Furthermore, individuals who have natural double eyelids that have been hidden by drooping eyelids can benefit from this operation since the surgery will show their double eyelids.

We have complete control over how much of the eyelid is elevated and how many wrinkles are visible with sub-brow lifts. The eyelid skin will seem less puffy and smoother when we redrape the skin and muscle behind the brow lines.

• Restores a youthful appearance to the forehead
• Smooths fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead
• Creates an attractive arch for the eyebrows
• Balances asymmetric brows
• Resolves drooping or sagging eyelids

Preparation for Sub Brow Lifting 

There Are Some Key Aspects to Fulfill Before Surgery

• For 4 hours before surgery, no liquids or solids should be consumed.
• Patients should wear garments that are simple to prevent touch with the operated site of the face, such as a T-shirt or an enormous shirt, to avoid contact with the region.
• Smoking affects your respiratory system, producing coughing and sneezing, which can cause bleeding and interfere with surgery; patients are advised to quit smoking two weeks before surgery.
• A severe cold on the day of operation should be mentioned to your doctor since it might interfere with your breathing.
• Aspirin and vitamin E tablets, for example, can cause bleeding by interfering with hemostasis. It is advisable to avoid taking any 7 days before the procedure. If any medications are prescribed, the doctor should be notified.
• It is essential to cleanse your hair and body the day before the procedure. You will be needed to remove your makeup and wash your teeth on the day of the procedure. Remove your manicure and pedicure, as well as any contact lenses or other accessories.

 

Procedure 

A sub-brow lift is accomplished by creating an incision just beneath the brow. The extra skin and muscles around the eyes are then excised, tightened, and sutured, greatly decreasing sagging without altering the original double eyelid crease. The resultant scar is covered behind the forehead, and the sutures are usually removed after about a week.

A sub-brow lift is performed under local anesthetic and takes around 45 minutes. Downtime is reduced as compared to a traditional upper blepharoplasty. To maximize recovery, antibiotics, pain relievers, and anti-swelling medications are provided post-procedure. Typically, downtime lasts 3-5 days.

The average length of removed subbrow skin was 42 mm. The highest breadth of subbrow skin removed was 10 mm on average. To avoid stress to the hair follicles, the top incision of the ellipse should be beveled. To remedy a patient's asymmetry, unequal quantities of skin may be taken away from either side of the subbrow area. Wound closure followed hemostasis. 6-0 polyglycolic (Vicryl; Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) and 6-0 nylon sutures were used to seal the wounds in two layers.

For those who desire a totally "scarless" procedure, brow embroidery can be performed after 2-3 months to conceal any scar completely.

 

When can I see results?

Although there are immediate results, substantial bruising and swelling can linger up to a month, and true effects are seen after 3 months. However, keep in mind that real recovery time varies by individual and is dependent on one's health state and healing reaction.

Keep in mind that the success of your sub brow lift surgery is dependent not only on your surgeon, but also on how well you recover following surgery. So, read our article on eyelid surgery aftercare and post-op instructions to discover how to properly care for oneself throughout the healing time.

Caution After Eye Surgery

• Take your prescribed medicine on time and avoid aspirin as well as hormonal drugs.
• You can wash your hands and take a shower the day after your sutures are removed. However, avoid public bathhouses and saunas.
• Everyone's body recovers at a different rate, so give yourself plenty of time for the bruising and swelling to subside.

 

Complications

Scarring of the top eyelids, injury to the supraorbital neurovascular bundles, asymmetry of the brows and supratarsal folds, and lid lag and lagophthalmos from severe skin removal are all possible consequences of sub-brow lift.

In one research, five of the nine individuals whose outcomes were poor had hypertrophic scarring and four had brow asymmetry. Conservative treatment for hypertrophic scarring included the administration of silicone gel and/or intralesional steroid injection. Brow asymmetry was corrected with revision surgery three to four weeks later.

 

Alternatives to sub-brow lift surgery

Upper blepharoplasty is an alternative to sub-brow lift surgery (double eyelid surgery). However, if you only want to treat your droopy eyelids without creating double eyelids or changing your existing double eyelid crease, sub-brow lift surgery is a better option. forehead lifting is another option to consider, especially if you want to correct both your droopy eyes and sagging forehead.

What other surgery complements sub-brow lift surgery?

1. Ptosis correction

If you have severely drooping eyelids, ptosis correction may be required in addition to your sub-brow lift surgery for effective results.

    2. SMAS facelift

If your midface is sagging, you may want to consider a SMAS facelift to restore your youthful appearance.

    3. Double eyelid surgery

Many people have a sub-brow lift along with double eyelid surgery to improve the appearance of their eyes.

    4. Eye plastic surgery

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your eyes, consider the various types of eye plastic surgery that are available to improve your eyes.

    5. Under eye fat repositioning

With under eye fat repositioning surgery, you can get rid of those pesky eye bags that make you look tired and older.

 

What is an Asian Blepharoplasty?

The majority of Asian men and women have what is known as a "single fold" upper lid. This simply means that these patients have either a barely visible low-lying lid or no crease above the lid at all.

Asian blepharoplasty is a procedure performed on Asian patients who want to create a more prominent upper eyelid crease. This procedure is frequently used to improve the patient's eye size, expressiveness, and alertness. A highly skilled and knowledgeable board-certified plastic surgeon should perform an Asian blepharoplasty.

 

What are the Differences?

The primary distinction between the two blepharoplasty procedures is the condition they are intended to treat. The Asian eyelid lift focuses on creating a lid crease in the upper eyelids, which helps to give the eyes a more alert and expressive appearance. The sub-brow blepharoplasty, on the other hand, only addresses upper eyelid sagging.

Whatever type of blepharoplasty procedure you choose, make sure you choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with a track record of producing excellent results for Asian patients.

 

FAQ

    1. Is a Sub-brow Lift permanent? 

Nothing in the universe, not even the sun, is truly eternal. Brow lifts, on the other hand, provide long-term results that patients can enjoy for a decade or more. Age eventually catches up with us all, but brow lifts can help to postpone the worst effects for a long time.

    2. Will my hair grow bak after a Sub-brow Lift?

Yes. It may take a few weeks or months at most, but your hair will almost certainly grow back after a sub-brow lift.

 

Conclusion 

A sub-brow lift is one of the best options for treating sagging eyelids without changing the existing double eyelid crease line or creating new double eyelids. Though it does not dramatically alter the appearance of your eyes, it does subtly enhance and restore your eyes to their pre-sagging state.