How Effective Is an Eyebrow Lift With Botox?
As we get older, it’s normal to see more visible signs of aging. For instance, you might develop fine lines and wrinkles on your forehead and around your eyes, or your brow may appear to droop a little more than it used to.
Unfortunately, when your brow sags, it can make you look older, tired, or even give you a perpetually angry look, which probably isn’t the vibe you’re after.
In the world of cosmetic surgery, a brow lift is a procedure that lifts your brow to reduce these signs of aging and make you appear more youthful and well-rested. In America, doctors perform 88,000 brow lift surgeries annually, with 90% of recipients being women.
Fortunately, this rather invasive surgical procedure is no longer the only option if you want to improve the appearance or your brow. To avoid the surgery, recovery time, and scarring, but still enjoy the benefits, consider getting an eyebrow lift with Botox instead.
What Is a Botox Eyebrow Lift and How Does It Work?
A Botox eyebrow lift involves injecting small amounts of a neurotoxin into specific facial muscles to temporarily relax them, reducing their ability to pull your brow downward.
Two muscle groups affect the positioning of your brow:
- The frontalis muscle is the broad forehead muscle that lifts the eyebrows and wrinkles the brow.
- The orbicularis oculi is the circle of muscle surrounding the eye that pulls the brow down and closes the eyelid.
When you get an eyebrow lift with Botox, some doctors may inject Botox into the underside of your brow to inhibit the function of the orbicularis oculi and weaken its downward pull on the brow. This leaves the frontalis muscle free to lift the brow unhindered.
However, we use a slightly more strategic approach.
First, we carefully inject specific parts of the frontalis muscle with Botox, leaving certain muscle fibers untouched so they continue to function normally. This gives you the lift you’re after while reserving the orbicularis oculi below the brow as a backup injection site in case you experience any brow ptosis or drooping.
The results of your Botox eyebrow lift will last as long as the Botox remains active in your muscles, which is usually about three to four months.
How Is an Eyebrow Lift With Botox Different From Brow Lift Surgery?
Brow lift surgery is just that — surgery. It corrects features like creases or wrinkles in your forehead and sagging eyebrows to make you look more youthful.
Unlike an eyebrow lift with Botox, brow lift surgery is permanent and requires local or general anesthesia. It can proceed in a couple different ways:
- Endoscopic lift: A cosmetic surgeon makes incisions behind your hairline and uses a scope (a thin tube with a camera and light) to view the tissues and muscles of your forehead. Using surgical tools under your skin, the surgeon sutures or anchors your brow to your scalp so it sits in a higher position.
- Direct lift: The brow-anchoring process is much the same as in an endoscopic lift, except the surgeon makes the incision just above your eyebrow. This method is typically less desirable because it leaves a visible scar.
Brow Lift Surgery: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Your results are permanent, which is good if you’re happy with them.
Cons:
- It’s a major, invasive surgery.
- You may have some brow ptosis or scarring.
- Recovery may take days or weeks.
- Your results are permanent. If you’re unhappy with them, you may need another surgery.
Eyebrow Lift With Botox: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- It’s non-invasive and doesn’t require surgery.
- It only takes a few minutes.
- You get similar lifting effects as you would with surgery.
- If you don’t like your results, we can modify them with a few extra injections.
- The treatment wears off, so you can try it without being stuck with it forever.
Cons:
- If you like the results, you’ll need treatment every three to four months to maintain the effects.
Skip the Surgery — Get a Thorough and Effective Brow Lift With Botox
No surgery is without risk, even cosmetic surgery. If you can avoid going under the knife, that’s generally a good thing.
Choosing to get an eyebrow lift with Botox spares you the possibility of surgical complications while still achieving the youthful appearance you’re after. If you live in West Texas and are interested in exploring Botox for an eyebrow lift, wrinkle reduction, or even TMJ treatment, don’t hesitate to contact our office to set up a consultation.
Dr. Cuthbertson is a physician at Ear Nose & Throat Associates of Lubbock. He joined the team at ENT Lubbock from Houston, where he was chief resident of the prestigious Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery and has quickly built a reputation, not only as an extremely skilled surgeon, but as an approachable and compassionate clinician adept in the newest standards and technologies. Learn more about Dr. Cuthbertson.
Dr. Scolaro is a board-certified Otolaryngologist servicing the South Plains area. He has been practicing in Lubbock since 1990 and has earned a reputation as a skilled and experienced surgeon. He currently serves as the Medical Director for Covenant High Plains Surgery Center campuses, is a member of Covenant Health Partners and is an adjunct faculty professor for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Scolaro.
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