Brow Lift

Who Is a Candidate for a Brow Lift?

Most healthy adults are potential candidates for a successful brow lift. You should refrain from smoking for at least 4 weeks before your surgery and 2 weeks after. Most medical issues can be managed in order to make surgery safe, but diabetes and high blood pressure, in particular, must be under control before the procedure.

Dr. Lewis has many years of experience performing successful brow lifts for his patients. It is a popular procedure for both sexes, as men also find that drooping eyebrows can make them look tired and older than they actually are.

If you have only slight hooding of your upper eyelids, a brow lift may also improve that condition. If you have significant hooding, however, an eyelid lift would be a better option. Many patients have an eyelid lift and a brow lift concurrently to rejuvenate both the forehead and the eyes.

Cost in Richmond

The price of brow lift surgery starts at $7,400, but can vary depending on your individual needs. During your initial consultation, we provide a breakdown of all costs related to your brow lift procedure. This includes:

• Dr. Lewis’s fee
• Operating room fee
• Anesthesia fee
• Cost of any additional overnight stays

We make absolutely sure that there are no hidden costs and no surprises.

Issues Improved by a Brow Lift:

• Forehead wrinkles
• Drooping eyebrows
• Flattened, straight eyebrows that have lost their natural arch
• Slight hooding of the upper eyelids

Individualized Approach

Dr. Lewis customizes every brow lift based on your anatomy, condition, and goals. He uses the latest methods to not just remove excess skin and tighten the forehead area, but to ensure that the muscles of the forehead are intact and not too tight. When a brow lift is done incorrectly, the eyebrows can be too high on the face, causing a constantly surprised look. Dr. Lewis is an expert at evaluating your facial structure so that the placement of your eyebrows will look natural.

Incisions:

For a brow lift, the incisions can usually be made at or within the hairline so that your hair will hide any scars. There are a number of different techniques that Dr. Lewis can use depending on your needs.

In a brow lift, the skin and muscles are lifted, and any excess skin is excised. The brows are reshaped, if necessary, and the tissue is sutured closed for a tighter, younger-looking forehead.

Recovery

Will anesthesia and pain relief be used during/after a brow lift?

We will make sure you are comfortable throughout the whole procedure, which is performed on an outpatient basis. Most patients are given a local anesthetic and IV sedation for what is often called “twilight sleep.” This is lighter anesthesia than full general anesthesia, but you will be very relaxed and will not feel any pain.

What happens immediately after a brow lift?

You can go home the same day shortly after your surgery, but someone will need to drive you home, as you will feel drowsy from the anesthetic and sedative.

Your head will be wrapped in dressings, which can be removed within a few days. Any non-dissolvable sutures or staples that were used to close your incisions will also be removed within a week or so.

How long will complete recovery from a brow lift take?

Most patients take 1-2 weeks off from work after a brow lift. As with most surgeries, there is some residual swelling, bruising, and tenderness. Pain medication, cold packs, and keeping your head elevated while resting are great ways to ease discomfort and reduce inflammation.

You will be provided with post-operative instructions, and you will visit Dr. Lewis for follow-up appointments so that he can monitor the progress of your healing.

Strenuous exercise can increase the swelling and bruising, so it should be avoided for at least 3 weeks.

After all of the swelling has subsided, the final results of your brow lift will be visible.

What are the risks of a brow lift?

Check Accreditation

With any surgical procedure, there are risks that you must be aware of. To minimize the risks, ensure that your surgery is conducted in a safe and secure environment using the latest surgical techniques by checking the certifications and accreditation of your surgeon. Accreditation boards and bodies are there to protect you.

Dr. Gordon Lewis has many years of surgical experience and is affiliated with several internationally recognized professional organizations. He is:

• Board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Affiliated with the Richmond Academy of Medicine and the Medical Society of Virginia
• An Associate member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons
• A candidate member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand

In general, a brow lift is very safe and well-tolerated. It is rare that serious complications occur. We will speak with you at length about these risks and answer all of your questions.

Risks include, but are not limited to:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Hematoma
• Asymmetry
• Nerve damage
• Unfavorable scars
• Elevated hairline
• Eye irritation
• Skin or hair loss
• Skin contour irregularities
• Discoloration
• Pain
• Need for revisional surgery
• Risks of anesthesia

Consultation Expectations

During your comprehensive one-on-one consultation, we will cover several areas of discussion:

• Your medical history and current medications
• Your goals from a brow lift
• Your concerns about brow lifts
• Other options for surgically correcting the issues you want to change
• Risks associated with each option
• A surgical price quote that includes any additional costs such as the OR fee and anesthesia. This will also include financing options, if you wish.

Expect to spend close to an hour in our office for your consultation.

Location

Dr. Lewis performs surgical procedures at an accredited outpatient surgical center or a local hospital. He is affiliated with several local medical centers where his patients undergo surgery. He primarily operates at these locations:

Johnston-Willis Hospital
Stony Point Surgery Center

Initial consultations, follow up appointments and all non-surgical treatments and minor surgical procedures are performed at Lewis Plastic Surgery in Midlothian, VA.