Forehead lift in Bern

The first signs of aging often appear on the forehead. Over time our skin loses elasticity and wrinkles are created. Through the loss of skin elasticity and the effects of gravity, the brows may droop leading to an excess of skin and wrinkles of the eyelids. This can create the impression of tiredness or sadness. Patients that seek to have a forehead lift often suffer from the fact that their outer appearance does not reflect their inner sense of self. Remarks from colleagues, friends or family about their tired or sad appearance can exacerbate the problem. The aim of a forehead lift is to create a younger and fresher appearance that reflects the patients’ self-perception.

Many surgical procedures are hidden behind the term ‘forehead lift’. The aim of any intervention remains the removal of forehead wrinkles and the improvement of the shape and position of the eyebrows. Frequently a minimally invasive endoscopic technique is sufficient to improve forehead wrinkles and to lift sunken eyebrows without leaving any visible scars. Correction of the brow position can also be achieved with an open brow lift or a temporal lift. As with the forehead lift, these procedures lead to an indirect reduction of excess skin on the eyelids. A forehead lift, brow lift or temporal lift is thus also suitable for patients with sagging eyelids that are associated with a low position. In these cases, a correction of the brow position should be combined with an upper eyelid surgery. A forehead lift can also be combined with a facelift and other cosmetic interventions in order to create a harmonious rejuvenation of the entire face.

Considerations

When to consider a brow or forehead lift?

• You suffer from sagging or low position of eyebrows giving you a tired or sad appearance
• You have deep horizontal creases on your forehead
• You have deep vertical frown lines between your eyebrows
• There is a discrepancy between your outer appearance and your inner feeling of yourself
• There is a discrepancy between your outer appearance and your actual age i.e. you look older than your biological age

 Consultation

A prerequisite to a successful operation is careful planning. This starts with a personal consultation.

• Communication of wishes, expectations
• Explanation of the possibilities and scope of the operation

Examination:

• Medical history is taken
• Physical examination is performed
• Digital photos are taken
• Thickness, texture and elasticity of skin is tested
• Facial and bone structure of forehead are explored
• Forehead creases, brow position and excess skin on eyelids determined

Procedure

There are two options:

• Open brow lift: a curved incision is made behind the hairline or along the hairline from temple to temple or sometimes directly within forehead creases.
• Endoscopic brow lift: several tiny incisions are made behind the hairline through which an endoscope (thin tube with light and video camera) is inserted into the scalp. Allows the surgeon to observe his surgical procedure on a screen.
• Non-endoscopic limited incision forehead lift: small incisions are made in temple area behind the hairline. Useful particularly for men with receding hairlines.

Risks

Serious complications are very rare with brow lifts. Nevertheless every patient has be informed of the risks associated with the surgical procedure:

• Haematoma (bruising), bleeding and swelling
• Seroma (accumulation of wound fluid)
• Healing problems or infection
• Wound breakdown/dehiscence (separation of wound edges)
• Injury of nerves or vessels
• Numbness in the area of operation (temporary or permanent)
• Circulatory problem of skin (skin slough)
• Scars
• Slight asymmetry
• Unsatisfactory aesthetic result
• Secondary surgery
• Thrombosis or embolism

Overall a brow lift is a safe procedure when undertaken by an experienced plastic surgeon. You can help to minimise the risks by following the advice of your surgeon.

Preparation

Our aim is to make the time before and after the procedure as comfortable as possible. By following a few recommendations you can support our care:

• To aid the healing process avoid smoking for two weeks before and after the operation.
• Avoid medication that increases the risk of bleeding, like aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as vitamins and homeopathic remedies for two weeks prior to the operation.
• If you have short hair, it can be an advantage to allow it to grow in order to hide the fresh scars.
• All chemical hair treatments (colouring, bleaching) should be avoided for four weeks after the operation.
• As it is an outpatient procedure, make sure that you can be collected and cared for by someone for 24 hours after the procedure.

Day of surgery

In most cases a brow lift is performed under general anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure at the AARE KLINIK. In individual cases ,when necessary, the procedure can be undertaken as part of a short inpatient stay at an affiliated private hospital.

• During the operation you will receive various medications for your wellbeing as needed.
• Depending on individual cases and the length of operation, you will have a local anaesthesia with sedation or a general anaesthesia.
• For your safety, your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen supply etc. are monitored during the operation.
• You can return home a few hours after the operation.
• It is advisable to get up and walk around as soon after the operation as possible, to prevent thrombosis.
• Mostly the pain after a brow lift is mild and can easily be treated with pain medication.
• If you are an outpatient you should have someone to care for you continuously for 24 hours post operation.
• We also offer the possibility for a short inpatient stay at the AARE KLINIK if required.
• If you are an inpatient in hospital then you will remain there until the following day.

After surgery

• It is important to realise that recovery from an operation varies for every individual.
• During the first days after a brow lift you should lay with your head and upper body in a raised position to prevent swelling.
• Only take prescribed pain medication and do not take medication like aspirin.
• Any irregularities, asymmetry, swelling or bruising should disappear with 2-3 weeks.
• Any feelings of numbness should subside within a few weeks or months.
• You will have numerous postoperative check ups at the AARE KLINIK to make sure your recovery is optimal.

Outcome

• It takes a few months before the outcome of an operation can be fully evaluated.
• The wounds mostly heal quickly. In some cases hair regrowth may take a few months.
• The effects of the brow lift are generally long-lasting. However, the aging process does continue and life style factors, like smoking influence the longevity of the procedure.

Costs

A forehead lift, temporal lift or brow lift is a purely aesthetically motivated operation and therefore the costs have to be carried by the patient. In rare cases of facial asymmetry, i.e. facial paralysis, medical insurance will cover the costs. The cost of a forehead lift, temporal lift or brow lift can vary depending on the extent of the procedure; therefore the exact costs can only by ascertained after a personal consultation.

The overall costs are made up of:

• Surgical fee (including consultation and post-operative care)
• Anaesthesia fee
• Technical infrastructure costs (AARE KLINIK/hospital)
• Inpatient hospital costs
• Medication
• Diagnostics (laboratory, ECG, scans, etc.)

Appointments for a forehead lift with Dr. Scheufler in Bern

Before any forehead surgery you should have a comprehensive consultation and additional examination. Only in this way can you be sure whether the type of surgery will lead to the result you expect. In addition, your consultation will give you a good impression of our experience in the field of facial surgery. Feel free to ask for before and after photos to get an idea of what the results look like.

PD Dr. Oliver Scheufler, board certified plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon and author of this website, is pleased to be at your service for a personal consultation. Besides his main occupation at the AARE KLINIK, Dr. Scheufler is also scientifically active and lectures at the University of Basel. He also was a visiting professor at Duke University (USA). Please do not hesitate to contact him if you wish a professional consultation!