Dr. Christine BokmanEyelid & Brow Surgery
Brow Lift
An endoscopic brow lift raises a heavy or descended brow, in the hands of an oculofacial plastic surgeon who treats the brow and the eyelid as one region.
Procedure at a Glance
- Anaesthetic
- Local with sedation, or general
- Duration
- Procedure length varies by plan
- Setting
- Accredited surgical facility
- Social downtime
- About 1 to 2 weeks
- Back to work
- Around 1 to 2 weeks for desk work
- Full recovery
- Swelling settles over several weeks
- Final results
- Around 2 to 3 months
- Longevity
- Results are long-lasting
Her Approach
Natural, never surprised
Dr. Bokman most commonly performs an endoscopic brow lift, a brow lift with incisions hidden behind the hairline so there are no visible scars. She always inspects pictures of patients when they were younger, because overlifting a brow is what makes a patient look different. The result is meant to be natural, not surprised. Dr. Bokman also listens to her patients to determine how to contour the brow to what best fits the patient's face.
Overlifting a brow is what makes a patient look different.
The Technique
Hidden incisions, guided by a camera
As the brow falls with age, it presses tissue down onto the upper lid, deepens the frown lines between the brows, and narrows the eye. What appears to be excess skin on the lid is, sometimes, a brow that has dropped. The lift is made through two to four small incisions behind the hairline, with a camera to guide the release and repositioning of the brow, and the deeper tissues are then secured at their restored height. Because the incisions are small and hidden, the healing is quicker and there is little to no hair loss.
Brow & Eyelid Together
The brow and the eye are one region
From the front, a heavy brow and an excess of eyelid skin can look like the same thing. If the lid is treated when the brow is the cause, the correction only goes halfway. Dr. Bokman always considers brow position when assessing the eyelids. More importantly, she never pushes a brow lift if it is only marginally indicated. For instance, many men have heavy, prominent brows, and when a brow lift is recommended to a man who desires eyelid surgery, it can make him look surprised and different. Dr. Bokman also often recommends brow contouring surgery, which is a mild to moderate brow lift that complements eyelid surgery.
Recovery
Essentially a scarless procedure
Most patients look presentable within one to two weeks. Stitches and staples are removed after two weeks. Full exercise is advisable after two weeks. The small incisions are hidden behind the hairline, so it is essentially a scarless procedure. The brow settles into its final position by about two to three months. Importantly, Dr. Bokman injects Botox into the brow to maintain the lift for the first year, which usually totals about three to four Botox treatments.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an endoscopic brow lift?
- It raises a descended or heavy brow through two to four small incisions hidden behind the hairline, with a camera to guide the work. The incisions are typically closed with staples to minimize hair loss. Compared to the open technique for brow lifting, hair loss is minimal to none at all. The results are long lasting because the brow is properly released from its bony attachments and fixated at the same time using a hidden suture technique.
- Why does it matter that Dr. Bokman is an oculofacial surgeon?
- The brow sits directly above the upper lid, and the two descend together. A heavy brow presses on the lid and can imitate or increase hooding. An oculofacial plastic surgeon has a trained eye to decipher the differences between eyelid and eyebrow problems, and can best advise on treatment options.
- Will my forehead give me a surprised look?
- Never. That comes from over lifting the brow. Dr. Bokman is trained in the art of facial plastic surgery and listens to exactly what her patients want. An overlifted brow is almost always abnormal looking, and unless that is what a patient desires, Dr. Bokman makes the brow look natural, rewinding the clock back to when you were in your 20s.
- Can a brow lift be combined with eyelid surgery?
- Often. When the brow is heavy, some of what looks like upper-lid hooding is really the brow pushing the eyelid down, and treating the eyelid alone leaves noticeable hooding, especially laterally. Trained in both, Dr. Bokman addresses them together in one plan.
- What is recovery like?
- Most patients look presentable within one to two weeks. Swelling and light bruising settle over the weeks that follow, and the brow reaches its final position by about two to three months.
- How long do the results last?
- An endoscopic brow lift can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, depending on a patient's anatomy. Importantly, neurotoxin is administered during the first year after the brow lift (about three to four times total) to maintain the brow position as everything seals into place, and this improves the longevity of the results.