You are in: eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > BROW LIFT Brow Lift, Periorbital RejuvenationArticle Last Updated: Dec 7, 2007AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATIONAuthor: Gregory Caputy, MD, PhD, Chief, Department of Plastic Surgery, Aesthetica Plastic and Laser Surgery Center of Honolulu Gregory Caputy is a member of the following medical societies: Alberta Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Canadian Medical Association, Hawaii Medical Association, International College of Surgeons, International College of Surgeons US Section, Minnesota Medical Association, and Pan-Pacific Surgical Association Editors: R C A Weatherley-White, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery (Plastic), University of Colorado; Medical Director, Department of Plastic Surgery, Columbia Rose Medical Center; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Residency Program Director, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Director, Center for Advanced Surgical Aesthetics; Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Practice Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center at Swedish Medical Center; Lars M Vistnes, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Professor of Surgery, Emeritus, Stanford University Medical Center Author and Editor Disclosure Synonyms and related keywords: brow lift, periorbital rejuvenation, coronal lift, correction of tired-looking eyes, correction of crow's feet, browlift, brow-lift INTRODUCTIONPeriorbital rejuvenation is one of the most important areas of rejuvenation of the aging face. The eye area is important in contact between individuals, with eye-to-eye communication occurring in approximately 80% of all interactions. The orbital area conveys information on general health and impressions regarding individual health, fatigue, interest, and emotion. For many individuals with limited budgets or limited interest in facial rejuvenation, the eye area is the focus of facial rejuvenation surgery. History of the ProcedureImprovement of aging facial features with cosmetics and surgery essentially parallels the developments of facial plastic surgery through time. Rejuvenation of the periorbital area, although obviously important, lagged behind that of midfacial and lower facial rejuvenation for many years. The coronal and brow lift procedures with ancillary procedures (eg, canthopexy) have been popularized mainly over the last 30 years. ProblemThe aging face has many characteristics, including gravitational (postural), animational, and textural rhytides. Generalized loss of subcutaneous volume with the interplay of sun damage and aging skin is a large topic and is not discussed at length in this article. Largely, surgical procedures help the first two problems, and resurfacing procedures help textural skin problems. Other articles address the many changes in complete facial rejuvenation (eg, nasal tip droop, earlobe lengthening, upper lip atrophy, lower lip pout). The perioral region is an important focus of attention in facial rejuvenation. Conversely, the orbital area reflects aging in a number of ways. With time, the brow falls, tending to fall laterally more than centrally. When this occurs, a relative redundancy of upper eyelid skin is present. A disservice is done to the patient If this alone is corrected and the brow position is not corrected first. The precious skin of the upper eyelid is sacrificed, yet a large number of aging factors of the upper face are not rejuvenated with the procedure of upper eyelid blepharoplasty. If skin resection is excessive, the resulting lagophthalmos preempts proper positioning of the brows. The brow generally descends before the face, resulting in relative excess skin lateral to the eyes. Coupled with squinting and facial animation, this results in the characteristic "crow's feet" at the lateral orbital commissures. The inferior brow generally adheres well to the superior orbital margin, but true descent of the brows commonly occurs. Once a large amount of upper eyelid skin redundancy is present, the patient feels subjectively and objectively that the upper lids are heavy and the eyes are not opening fully. To unweight the upper eyelid region, the frontalis muscle is used, sometimes spastically. This leads to horizontal creases of the forehead termed "worry lines." In many individuals, raising the eyebrows through frontalis action leads to overelevation of the central brow and a surprised look to the facies. The individual often is keenly aware of this and tends to try to raise the lateral brow and lower the central brow. The musculature of the forehead does not allow this directly, but the frowning or concentrated "thinking" look of the central interbrow region is caused by the interplay of corrugator supercilii muscles and procerus muscle action coupled with central brow descent. This interplay of the upper facial muscles leads to the characteristic changes observed in the upper face in all individuals. FrequencyEveryone ages, but the rate and individual nuances of needed and desired corrections vary. EtiologyThe etiology of the aging face is discussed in the Problem section. The interplay of environmental forces acting on the skin and leading to actinic and weathering changes are fundamentally different from those changes that result purely from aging. This is discussed at length in Skin Resurfacing, Chemical Peels. PathophysiologyPathophysiology also is discussed in the Problem section. The only other relevant action involves the interplay between squinting action (mediated by the orbicularis oculi muscles) and the action of a broad smile with elevation of the entire cheek substance by the large muscles of the lateral cheek. Paralysis or surgical alteration of the lateral orbicularis muscle obviously does not greatly alter the rhytides caused by panfacial animation. ClinicalThe aging face has common characteristics. Descent of the brow and mid face causes a hollowing of the periorbital region that can be iatrogenically augmented by overly aggressive blepharoplasty procedures. Lateral canthal descent and canthal attenuation occur with time, and this can lead to ectropion, particularly laterally. This also can be worsened iatrogenically with overly aggressive skin resection during lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedures. Components of the "tired-eye" look also require discussion. This common complaint usually is caused by lower eyelid medial problems. Three parts comprise this problem.
INDICATIONSThe indication for facial rejuvenation surgery largely is the patient's desire. Consider the extent, anatomy, and pathology of aging of a particular patient when deciding on procedures for the patient. The medial canthal area requires special consideration even though it is not well addressed by a brow lift procedure. The tear trough (Flowers) and nasojugal groove areas have been difficult areas to address with anything other than complex midface lifts. Many patients present with depressions in this area, which may or may not be overhung with lower eyelid fat. The clinician needs to differentiate whether a true groove exists in the area and determine the extent of the groove and its direction (just along the infraorbital margin or extending into an extended groove, sometimes ending in a festoon or malar bag). Pigmentation of the skin often contributes to this darkness in the area. RELEVANT ANATOMYThe anatomy of the periorbital region is extremely important in the area's features of aging and in the correction of those features. Starting from the most superior area and proceeding downward on the face, the scalp, which is composed of a number of layers, is encountered first. The acronym "SCALP" (S for skin, C for subcutaneous tissue, A for loose areolar layer, L for galea aponeurotica, P for periosteum) is taught in medical school and adequately describes the layers. The presence of a large structure essentially floating on the loose areolar layer (eyebrows at the end of the long expanse of forehead) leads to the descent observed with time. Transverse forehead rhytides largely result from frontalis muscle action. The frontalis acts broadly to elevate the brows, usually somewhat more centrally than laterally. The corrugator supercilii muscles are the depressors and central contractors of the medial brow. They insert into the medial eyebrow skin to a variable distance (up to the central brow in some individuals) and originate in the periosteum of the nasal root. They envelop the supratrochlear nerve, which supplies sensation (branch of cranial nerve V) to the central forehead area. The contour of the eyebrow is important. Central, low brows often are not a concern for individuals once the frown lines are removed. The high arched brows produced by the coronal lifts of the past generally are not desirable today, although a relatively high lateral brow remains a component of the desirable aesthetic periorbita. Similarly, many individuals generally do not desire an exaggerated tilt to the lateral orbit compared to the medial orbit, but a slight tilt and tightness of the lower eyelid is a desirable feature in orbital rejuvenation. The overly high brow is not desirable for anyone, but it is particularly feminizing in the male patient. The lateral canthal ligament has 3 attachments to the lateral orbital rim: superior, inferior, and posterior. Some or all of these may need to be disinserted for significant elevation of the lateral attachment of the lower eyelid. Often, a canthoplasty may be performed in which the attachment merely is tightened and slightly elevated for the desired effect. The medial canthal area generally is not addressed except in reconstructive procedures because of limited descent with aging and concern over the lacrimal apparatus in the area. The nasojugal and tear-trough areas largely are defined by the bony margins of the lateral nose and the medial orbital region as it descends into the maxilla. Orbicularis oculi muscles cause the eyelids to close. Lateral overactivity can lead to laugh lines in the crow's feet area of the lateral periorbital region. The importance of the pretarsal region of the lower eyelid orbicularis muscle recently has been elucidated, and it must be conserved during lower eyelid blepharoplasty. CONTRAINDICATIONSLagophthalmos with a preexisting overly elevated eyebrow or a low brow with insufficient upper eyelid skin for proper eyelid closing after brow elevation is the only contraindication to brow lift procedures. This condition usually is iatrogenic. A high hairline previously was a contraindication to brow lift procedures. It likely remains so for coronal lifts, but hairline incisions can be made that actually lower the hairline while raising the brows. This results in a scar at the hairline, which is acceptable to many individuals who wear bangs. Often the scar can be evened by placement into and back from the hairline; this also results in a less prominent scar over less of the hairline. WORKUPLab Studies
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Other Tests
TREATMENTMedical TherapyMedical therapy of the brow and periorbital area requires a short discussion. Botulinum toxin (BOTOX®) is useful in temporarily paralyzing the corrugator supercilii muscles and portions of the orbicularis oculi muscles. In individuals with little skin excess and few rhytides at rest, this is excellent therapy until the patient is ready for and requires a true brow lift procedure. Surgical TherapyConsider many adjunctive procedures (eg, canthopexy, upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, laser resurfacing, midface lift) at the time of brow lift to rejuvenate the periorbital area. Periorbital rejuvenation is a vast topic; this article only discusses brow lift. Preoperative Details
Intraoperative Details
Postoperative Details
Follow-up
COMPLICATIONSThe most common complication is an area of relative insensitivity and paraesthesias for a few months following the procedure. The area immediately anterior to the scar can remain insensate, but this usually is of very little concern to the patient. Areas of alopecia can be addressed by simple excision if necessary. Asymmetry likewise can be corrected with simple re-elevation of the flap and correction of the lower side. The authors have found that almost a 4-to-1 correction is necessary in most individuals for elevation of the brow from so posterior an incision. Blood loss of greater than 10-20 mL and the incidence of hematomas are unusual when general anesthesia is used and when the posterior flap is hemostatic throughout the remainder of the procedure. Infections are rare. In the uncomplicated or sole brow lift procedure, prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary. The complications associated with midface lifting through lower eyelid incisions have been daunting. The worst is prolonged, severe, and irreparable ectropion. More conservative skin excision has helped, as has better fixation, but any vertical lift that relies upon the lower eyelid for support will generally fail. Midface lifting performed through brow lift incisions, with or without endoscopic assistance, has a lower complication rate and is generally preferred. Fixation to the temporalis fascia is generally acknowledged as the support that differentiates the procedure from lower eyelid procedures of the mid face. Midface lifting, in general, has a more prolonged recovery than brow lifting alone; this is usually manifested by prolonged edema. Complications of treating the tear trough and nasojugal groove have mainly involved the irritation to the area through implants (Flowers) and permanent injectable agents such as silicone or Artecoll (a main stumbling block in its Food and Drug Administration approval process). The use of injectable agents based upon hydroxyapatite or hyaluronic acid is difficult in this area because of the thinness of the skin in the area. Even submuscular placement (beneath orbicularis oculi), which is preferred, can often result in visualization of the soft tissue filling agent. Sculptra is useful in the area, but granuloma formation and subsequent irregularity in contours has been a noted problem. OUTCOME AND PROGNOSISThe outcome for almost all patients is excellent and long-lived. The incision rarely is a concern, and hairdressers and beauticians often comment that it is excellent. The procedure rarely needs to be repeated, even after 20 or more years, because elevation is performed during the procedure and loose areolar tissue is removed, stopping descent of the brow with gravity and aging. The smoothness of the central brow region is difficult to achieve with any other procedure. FUTURE AND CONTROVERSIESCurrently, the largest controversy is the move to the endoscopic approach for the lift procedure. As mentioned previously, unless fixation is improved, the necessity of repeating the procedure and the inability to completely remove the corrugator supercilii muscle does not outweigh the problems with paraesthesia and anesthesia of the area and the scar. In all but a select few patients with severe baldness, the endoscopic approach offers little advantage to the open approach. In the future, with better fixation, means to remove the loose areolar layer, and means of efficient visualization and cautery of the area of the corrugator muscle, the endoscopic approach may become the procedure of choice. A report of the use of an endoscopic handpiece on the carbon dioxide laser for help with bloodless corrugator removal has been presented, but concern exists regarding the supratrochlear nerve, which is likely damaged by this application of laser energy. Laser procedures for nonresurfacing tightening of the skin also may help with correcting skin laxity in the periorbital region. More recently, both monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency tightening of the thin skin of this area has shown promise, particularly in the "crow's feet" area. The longevity, safety, and efficacy of these procedures are not yet definitively supported by peer-reviewed literature. Injectable agents for nasojugal groove correction are not without complication. The use of agents that completely resorb with time is preferable to the unevenness that may occur with long-term or permanent implants. Fat grafting in the area is fraught with problems of uneven contour. If a lower eyelid bag is present, the transposition, redraping, or repositioning of fat into the nasojugal groove while still attached to a stalk supplying blood to the tissue can be an excellent means of rejuvenation of this area. MULTIMEDIA
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Brow Lift, Periorbital Rejuvenation excerpt Article Last Updated: Dec 7, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||