Forehead Lift
Wrinkling and drooping occurs in the forehead affecting both appearance and vision. The functional problems include: impaired vision and headache. Impaired vision occurs because the forehead droops pushing the eyebrow and then the upperlid downwards and obstructing vision and upward gaze. When this causes a significant visual impairment the condition is called pseudoptosis. Some people find the pseudoptosis annoying and develop a habit of constantly raising their eyebrows. This puts the forehead muscles in spasm and causes pain, a condition which is called asthenopia. Both are readily corrected with forehead surgery.
Aging also affects the forehead with sagging and wrinkling. This is in part a stretching of the skin and in part a result of underlying muscle activity. There are several surgical procedures to improve forehead appearance and function. The simplest is a browlift. Small incisions are placed immediately above the brow or in the first or second wrinkle above the brow. Excess skin is excised, the underlying tissues are tightened and the incisions closed. These surgeries are often performed in association with upper eyelid surgery.
Full forehead lifts are generally performed with incisions either in the hair line or at the back of the head. Endoscopes and endoscopic surgical techniques are now frequently used to limit the incision length and the scar. Excellent results are now possible. The approach is individualized for each patient.