What is a Brow Lift? Nurse Isabelle Explains.
I do love a good brow lift, and I’m sure most of my clients will agree they love it too!
Becoming increasingly more popular in recent years due to the influence of social media, a brow lift can be the difference between heavy eyelids and looking refreshed.
It is a subtle lift, usually only a couple of millimeters, however, once you have tried, you won’t want to go back.
Not only does it provide a more lifted brow, it can improve brow shape and relieve upper eyelid heaviness which can often be felt when the forehead is treated.
So, what is a brow lift? How does it work?
A brow lift is achieved with anti-wrinkle injections and is a non-surgical approach to create lift to the brow. It is a great alternative for those who want to avoid invasive surgical procedures with less risks, minimal downtime and is also more cost-effective.
There are two muscle groups behind the magic of a brow lift; the Orbicularis oculi and the Glabella (or frown).
The Orbicularis oculi muscle acts as a sphincter that closes inwards, allowing us to close our eyes. However, it also often pulls the eyebrow down with it when contracting, resulting in a lower set brow.
The Glabella, consisting of the Procerus and Corrugator Supercilii muscles, naturally pull the medial portion of the eyebrow inwards and downwards too. Again, contributing to a lower set brow.
So, when we use anti-wrinkle injections to treat these muscles, it can create the reverse effect, giving a nice lift to the eyebrow whilst simultaneously relieving any eyelid heaviness.
How we do this? Usually it involves a two-point injection under the tail end of the brow and a 5 or 7 point injection through the frown. This allows for a lift at both the medial and tail end of the brow, lifting it as a whole, whilst maintaining the natural arched shape of the brow.
Who is a brow lift suitable for?
Although a brow lift is suitable for the majority of our clients, there are a select few that may not be suitable candidates.
A great candidate is someone who pulls strongly through their Orbicularis oculi and Glabella muscles. They may have a small skin fold through their eyelid when they frown or naturally have heavy eyelids. Moreover, you do need to have a relatively strong Frontalis (forehead muscle) to lift the eyebrows. A weakened Frontalis muscle will hinder any lift of the eyebrow.
For optimal lift in thebrows, I often recommend not treating the forehead as this can work against any lift. Sometimes we can get away with a light sprinkling through the forehead as well as a brow lift, but it can be a catch-22 and often the patient will need to prioritise if it is a smooth forehead or a lift through the brows that they are wanting.
In those who may have excessive upper eyelid skin and hooding, we may refer you to a plastic surgeon for surgical intervention; however, your practitioner will discuss this with you at your appointment.
Will my brow lift hurt?
If you have been injected in other areas with anti-wrinkle, it feels the same. If you are new to injectables it can feel like a little sting or bite, but be reassured it is very quick.
What happens after my brow lift treatment?
There may be minor inflammation at the injection site, which I often describe as looking like mosquito bites on the skin and will go down in 10 to 15 minutes post treatment.
There is always a risk of bruising with any injectable treatment, however these are often small bruises and can easily be covered up with makeup from the following day.
It is recommended to stay upright for 4 hours post treatment to avoid displacement of product into surrounding muscles which can lead to complications such as an eyelid ptosis and cause unwanted results.
When will I see results and how long will my brow lift last?
The final result will be achieved at 2 weeks post treatment. If you are lucky, you may notice these results becoming noticeable 3 to 7 days after the treatment but do allow 14 days for the product to take full effect. These results will last an average of 3 to 4 months.
A brow lift is one of my favourite treatments to provide in combination with dermal fillers to the mid-face. It can provide a refreshed, natural result and you’ll fool your family and friends into thinking you’ve had a great night’s sleep even when you haven’t!
Yours sincerely,
