Lateral brow lift (temporal lift)

Numerous plastic surgical techniques and treatments are available to improve the sagging or droopy appearance of the face. Lateral brow lift, also referred to by many as temporal brow lift or simply temporal lift, is among the less invasive surgical ones and mainly targets the outer eyebrows, the outer corners of the eyes as well as the temporal area. Some consider this procedure a moderate form of midface lift, however it is more similar to a traditional brow lift, but to be accurate, the truth is rather somewhere between these two.

Midface lift allows for the correction of the entire midface region including the cheeks, the nasolabial fold between the nose and the corner of the mouth, the jaw line and the under-eye bags, while lateral brow lift, from all these regions, deals only with the lower eyelid and crow’s feet at the corner of the eye. Compared to standard brow lift surgery, which elevates the whole brows, lateral brow lift is restricted to the outer third or half of the eyebrows. The procedure is intended to raise the end of the brows to a more feminine or youthful position whilst restoring the firmness and smooth surface of the skin. This results in a more relaxed, refreshed look and cat-like eye shape, without any detectable scars or a lengthy recovery period.

Whom it can help?

The development of fine creases around the eye and the descent of the brows are among the first signs of facial ageing. As many other fields of medicine, cosmetic surgery also states that it takes significantly less intervention and shorter recovery time to deal with certain problems not long after they first appear.

Lateral brow lift is designed for patients who are in their 30s or 40s and have begun to experience facial ageing in the form of crow’s feet at the corner of the eyes and midfacial or brow ptosis but are not ready for that and would remain youthful and energetic instead. With the help of the procedure one can delay or even avoid the necessity of a more comprehensive surgery. Apart from cosmetic reasons, temporal brow lift is occasionally performed to correct congenital brow unevenness.

How temporal lift is accomplished

The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia and requires small incisions in the temple area above the hairline (hence the name temporal brow lift or temporal lift). Once the scars fade, they completely blend in with the hair. The incisions can be placed at or behind the hairline, based upon your and your surgeon’s decision and their length can be anywhere from 2 to 10 centimetres. The longer the incision and the higher its placement, the more extensive the lifting. Our plastic surgeons use incisions that follow the hairline and, to ensure the scars will be invisible, they use a zigzag pattern when closing the cuts. If you want to learn more about this incision closure technique, please read about Z-plasty, W-plasty and geometric broken line closure on our page about scar revision.

Upon making the incision, the surgeon separates the skin from the underlying fat and bone structure. This movement ensures that the elevation will be even and the skin surface smooth. Skin is then slightly pulled towards the incision and attached to the underlying structure. Excess skin is removed and stitches or staples are used to close the incision. Your surgeon may also use internal sutures to suspend the tissue. The procedure is then repeated on the other side. The result is usually a 4-5 mm elevation in the level of the outer side of the brow. That is enough to give the face an impressive rejuvenation but not as much to result in a surprised, overdone look.

The outcome is immediately visible and in spite of the swelling, the recovery time is relatively short. Cold impression and painkillers help you through the discomforts and within approximately five days, the sutures are removed. After a week or ten days at most, you will feel like your old self and may start to gradually resume normal activity.

Choosing the right procedure

To fulfil every needs and desires, we offer a wide range of cosmetic procedures. Even if some of them might seem more or less similar, minor differences or modifications can mean several weeks shorter recovery period or much more significant improvement, not to mention price. It is essential to understand that lateral brow lift will only give you a modest improvement. This is a great advantage if you have a moderate amount of sagging in the brow and under-eye area, because the results are natural-looking and discomfort is minimal.

The procedure is highly beneficial in recreating the natural shape and contour of the eyebrows and to some extent smoothing the upper portion of the cheeks. On the other hand, if you seek more intensive elevation, consider a more invasive treatment. In that case, however, temporal lift can still be a part of a full facelift and you may also combine it with eyelid surgery. BeautyHungary is always here to help you and if you contact us, one caring member of our staff will answer all your questions to help you find the most appropriate procedure.