Are you putting off a forehead lift because you fear you will lose hair? If hair loss is keeping you from the brow lift you’ve always wanted, it’s time to know the truth. Hair loss does not have to go hand in hand with a brow lift, and with the right facial plastic surgeon you simply don’t have to worry.
The forehead lift, also known as a brow lift, can help patients with sagging skin on the forehead. In some people, the sagging skin pushes on the eyebrow skin and impairs vision. In others, it simply leads to creases, wrinkles, and lowered eyebrows that make you look angry, tired, or upset.
Forehead Lift Techniques
Plastic surgeons typically use one of three brow lift techniques: coronal, endoscopic, and trichophytic.
With a coronal brow lift, the surgeon makes the incision across the scalp within the hairline. A section of skin is removed and the remaining skin is pulled up to tighten the forehead skin. Once the skin is pulled up, the incision is closed with sutures. Inherent with this method with this is some hair loss which is imperceptible if the incision is far back enough and the hair is thick.
An endoscopic brow lift requires a series of small incisions made on the scalp within the hairline. This invariably raises the hairline but preserves the hair. An endoscope, or camera device, is inserted under the skin to help lift the skin from the brow to the eye sockets. Once loosened, the skin is pulled up and incisions are closed. The method helps avoid any numbness and protects the scalp from hair loss.
A trichophytic forehead lift is best for people with high hairlines. During the surgery, the incision is made in front of the hairline, but the technique involves a beveled incision that protects the hair follicles. For people who want their hairline lowered, the surgeon can take care of that at the same time. Excess skin is trimmed away and the incision is closed, making sure the beveled edges match up. As the incision heals, hair grows through the incision, thus hiding the scar.
Tips for Avoiding Hair Loss During a Forehead Lift
The coronal technique is the only forehead lift technique that puts you at risk of hair loss after a forehead lift. If you talk to a doctor about an endoscopic or trichophytic lift, your hair is unlikely to be affected. You also must realize that any surgical procedure brings a risk of shock loss, or temporary hair loss, including the forehead lift as well as other surgical procedures like facelift and hair transplant surgery. This is a temporary situation, however, and within a few months your hair grows back.
To minimize any risks associated with the forehead lift, you need to carefully select your facial plastic surgeon too. Look for a board certified doctor with lots of experience in brow lifts. Ask about the type of brow lift performed by this surgeon. Make sure you view before and after pictures, and ask if the surgeon’s former clients are available to talk to about their experience.
View before and after pictures of patients who underwent brow lifts with Dr. Kabaker, an Oakland facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Kabaker has been practicing medicine since 1964 and is board certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. His preferred forehead lift method is the trichophytic lift, and he is happy to discuss the benefits of this technique with you. Call (415) 379-9015 to schedule a consultation.