Once upon a time, an eyelid surgical procedure was the number one, most demanded surgery in the Country. Patients did not shy away from the typical $5000 surgical fee or the down time or risk factors associated with it. With the recent recession, patients needed a more cost effective way to lift their eyebrows resulting in the boom of the Chemical/Non-Surgical Eyebrow Lift. This procedure was not only affordable when compared to the thousands of dollars they could be spending, but also afforded patients the luxury to resume their lives as scheduled. A Non-Surgical Brow Lift took minutes and could be accomplished during a lunch break.
In addition to the minimal cost associated with a Non-Surgical Brow Lift, some patients feared the permanence of a surgical procedure and some did not have enough skin to remove surgically. Patients turned to the Non-Surgical Brow Lift for a brighter look to their eyes, a higher brow and to create a more exotic arch. Patients today are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a chemical eyebrow lift that might make their face appear more youthful for a few months and have absolutely no concern with the fact that it is a temporary solution. It is minimally invasive, has no down time and a patient can keep up with the eyebrow shape trends of their time.
HOW IS A NON-SURGICAL BROW LIFT DONE?
In the upper face there are muscles that pull upward and downward on the brow. The key to a successful brow-lift is to relax those facial muscles that are pulling downward on the brow. In doing so, the muscles that pull upward take control and make the eyes appear more open and alive. It is a subtle technique, but when done well, can have a profound effect on helping the patient look refreshed.
This is accomplished with the use of either Botox® or Xeomin® (both neuromodulators). The product is injected into a group of muscles (the corrugator, procerus and orbicularis oculi muscles) that pull the eyebrow down. Now, the muscles that pull the brow up, such as the frontalis, can then function unopposed. Patients report lasting effects anywhere from three to six months.
In some instances, a filler may be used to assist in the achievement of a Non-Surgical Brow Lift. If a patient has an eyebrow that is pulled down, giving the appearance of frowning, they will benefit more from a Botox® or Xeomin® injection. In other patients, with more of a deep-set look to their eyes from losing fat under their eyebrows, they can benefit more from a dermal filler. In this particular case, a filler can be injected to lift the area under the brow giving it more of a fuller, plumper look. For some patients, the combination of a filler and Botox® are used to achieve the desired results.
1 week after Botox® injection to correct droopy eyebrows and create a natural exotic Non-Surgical Brow Lift.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
It is very important, as with any Surgical or Non-Surgical Procedure to set patient expectations. With a Non-Surgical Brow Lift, it is important to let the patients know that this is a temporary solution for their droopy eyelid, and if excess skin is still evident, a surgical approach may be necessary if they choose. For some patients, a Non-Surgical Brow Lift, can correct existing asymmetry or lift the eyebrows just enough for a more rejuvenated look. For other patients, the Brow Lift can be used to create a more exotic or more extreme brow lift. Dr. Christine strongly feels that a brow lift could mean so many different things to so many of her patients. It is a fine line between improving their appearance and overshooting the lift on their eyebrows. If a patient already has a high arch, Dr. Christine asks her patients to manually show her how high they would like to take their eyebrows. In some patients, a tiny, subtle lift is more than satisfactory.
As with any Injectable procedure, side effects can include hypersensitivity, pinpoint bleeding, or black-and-blue marks around the needle insertion point. The most common adverse outcome is swelling and bruising. It is important for our patients to avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, as well as vitamin E and certain herbals, including flaxseed, fish oil, and garlic. If the patient is an easy bruiser, oral medical-grade arnica is very helpful and can be started a couple of days before the procedure. In addition, any trauma to the face can result in a herpetic outbreak. If you have a history of such outbreaks, please notify our office for pre-medicating with Valtrex 500 mg twice daily starting the day before your procedure.