Non Surgical Brow Lift – What You Need To Know

The eyes and the forehead are one of the most expressive parts of the face. A single raised eyebrow can communicate much more than words alone can. However, when the forehead and the brows start to sag, you don’t look expressive, you just look grumpy and tired. This means that it may be time to recapture your approachable, youthful look with a brow lift. Qazi Cosmetic Clinic offers both surgical brow lifts as well as a variety of non-surgical brow lift options. 

What is a Non Surgical Brow Lift?

A non-surgical brow lift actually refers to several different non-invasive procedures that are all designed to rejuvenate the brows. No matter which procedure you choose, a brow lift can effectively reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles, stop horizontal lines from forming, lift sagging brows back into place, and reshape brows that have lost their shape due to sagging. Botox, a PDO thread lift, and Bellafill are the best options for rejuvenating your brows without the demands of surgery.

Non-surgical solutions to rejuvenate the brows are ideal for patients of all ages. These procedures can effectively take years off your face, smooth unwanted lines, make you look more approachable, and recapture your expressive brows. Whether you choose to get a PDO thread lift, Botox, or Bellafill, the procedure is guaranteed to be quick, comfortable, and involve very little downtime. 

What Causes the Eyebrows to Sag in the First Place?

No one wants their eyebrows to sag. It isn’t a good look and it makes you feel like you are Frankenstein – and not the sympathetic book version. However, sometimes the brows have other ideas. The most common causes of sagging brows are:

• Age – As people age, it is normal for the tissues of the face to be affected by gravity. For some people, it is the jowls, for others it is the brows that begin to sag downwards first. 

• Sun Exposure – While tanning can be fun, the sun can cause terrible damage to the skin down the line. Sun exposure not only causes skin cancer, it can also exacerbate wrinkles, damage the texture of the skin, and contribute to sagging brows. 

• Heredity – The phrase “come by it honestly” goes double when it comes to how the face ages. If your parents had sagging brows, chances are that you will too. Many cosmetic concerns get passed down, so one day you look in the mirror and realize that you look just like your mom or dad, including the sagging brows. 

• Repeated Facial Expressions – Frowning is not the only factor to blame for wrinkled or sagging brows, but it can definitely contribute to the appearance of deep wrinkles and lines. There might be a lot in this world to frown about, but if you have spent a significant portion of your life frowning, then it will likely show on your face. 

The best solution to sagging brows is to take care of your skin to prevent them from forming in the first place. This means: always wearing sunscreen when outdoors, avoiding tanning, not smoking, and not frowning all the time. However, there is only so much you can do. The truth is that heredity is hard to beat, and if your parents had sagging brows, then you probably will too. 

Surgical Brow Lift vs. Non Surgical Brow Lift

There are pros and cons to both brow lift options. While surgical brow lifts are longer lasting, they also are more expensive and require a recovery time of up to 2 weeks. Surgical brow lifts are also performed under general anesthesia and require quite a bit of prep and recovery. If you don’t want to go under the knife, then a non-surgical brow lift may be right for you. 

If you are trying to decide between the surgical or non-surgical route, here are 5 things to consider: 

1. Longevity 

The results of a non-surgical procedure will not last nearly as long as the results of a surgical brow lift. PDO threads and Botox normally last 6 to 12 months; in some cases, the results can last over a year if you take very good care of your skin or have repeated treatments. Bellafill lasts for up to 5 years. In comparison, the results of a surgical brow lift can last 10 to 15 years, or longer if you take good care of your skin.

2. Recovery and Downtime

Non-surgical brow lifts come with no downtime. You can walk right out of the office and go back to your normal activities. You may need to avoid certain activities like very strenuous exercise, harsh chemicals in skin care, and excessive sun exposure for the first 2 days. Overall, most patients are able to get a non-surgical brow lift on their lunch break. A surgical brow lift, on the other hand, requires 7 to 10 days of healing before you can resume your normal activities. After that, the swelling can still take several more weeks to heal. 

3. Scars and Marks 

When you get a surgical brow lift, the incisions will be hidden in the hairline. However, it can still take several weeks for the incisions to heal to the point where the scars are no longer visible. PDO threads, Botox, and Bellafill, on the other hand, have no risk of scarring. The injection points will not be visible after you leave the appointment. 

4. The Cost

Surgical procedures come with a bigger price tag than non-surgical procedures. This is because the price of a surgical brow lift reflects the costs of the anesthesia, the surgical team’s time, the cost of materials like sutures and bandages, the use of the surgical suite, and more. If a surgical procedure is not financially feasible, then a non-surgical procedure may be better for your wallet. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Qazi to get a better idea of the cost of a non-surgical brow lift.

5. Risks and Side Effects

Because surgical procedures are more involved, a surgical brow lift comes with more potential risks and side effects. The risks of brow lift surgery include: visible scarring, changed to skin sensation, asymmetry of the brows, hair loss, infection near the incisions, excessive bleeding and swelling, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. 

Non-invasive procedures come with fewer side effects. Bellafill and PDO threads the following side effects: risk of blocked blood vessels, brising, infection at the injection site, redness, and soreness. Although rare, Botox can cause the following side effects: headache, crooked expressions, eye dryness, bruising or swelling, changes to sensation, and risk of nerve damage. 

How Does a Non-Surgical Brow Lift Work?

Most people know the basic mechanisms behind a surgical brow lift. It goes like this: The surgeon will make small incisions behind your hairline, then lift your skin and tissues to tighten them. If you have excess skin and fat that contribute to the appearance of sagging brows, it will be trimmed away. Once your skin has been repositioned, everything will be secured into place and you will be bandaged up. 

Non-surgical brow lifts do not involve any incisions, trimming, or stitches. This is why they require less recovery time and why they are more desirable to most patients. Bellafill, PDO threads, and Botox all tackle drooping brows and forehead wrinkles differently. 

Here’s how they work: 

Bellafill – The Long-Term Filler

Bellafill is a type of dermal filler that is made with collagen-based gell and polymethyl methacrylate microspheres. Unlike other dermal fillers, the microspheres stay in place and provide structural support for the skin as more collagen is produced. This unique formula is what allows Bellafill to last up to 5 years in most patients. It is mostly commonly used to treat nasolabial folds (also called marionette lines) but is currently FDA-approved as a treatment for acne scars. 

Bellafill is great for smoothing wrinkles and frown lines on the forehead. Once injected, the first thing it does is fill in lost volume. Next, over time, it causes the body to create more collagen, which is what improves the appearance of the skin and helps smooth over wrinkles. 

After you get your Bellafill injection, some swelling, redness, bruising, itching, and discoloration of the treated area is normal. These symptoms usually resolve within 1 to 7 days. Most patients experience only very minimal discomfort, and are safe to return to work or school. You may not want to walk a red carpet immediately after getting Bellafill, but you are safe to attend an afternoon Zoom meeting or bookclub. 

The ideal patient for Bellafill is anyone over the age of 21 who passes the skin test and does not show any signs of allergy to the filler. In rare cases, patients who have a history of allergic reactions to bovine collagen and lidocaine have also had adverse reactions to Bellafill. Additionally, patients with bleeding disorders or sensitive skin that scars easily should not get Bellafill. 

PDO Thread Lift – The Solution To Lift Away Sagging Skin

The PDO thread lift is an amazing, innovative method for lifting and contouring the face, without the need for invasive surgery. A thread lift is one of the most effective ways of treating sagging brows. It is also suitable for almost any area of the face and the neck. 

Here’s how it works: 

First, a topical numbing agent may be applied to the skin. Once it has kicked in and you are comfortable, Dr. Qazi will insert a small, hollow needle into the skin. The location of the needle is highly strategic and placed in a location to give you maximum lift. Inside the needle are barbed threads, which connect to the soft tissue of the skin. When the needle is removed, the threads remain. Dr. Qazi will pull at the threads to lift the brows into their proper position to erase lines and wrinkles. Once you are happy with the results, the threads will be trimmed and secured. 

While the threads are in the skin, they will stimulate collagen production, which will prove the overall texture of your skin. While PDO threads are highly effective for a non-surgical brow lift, they are also not as long lasting as Bellafill. The threads will dissolve within 4 to 6 months, after which time you will require a followup procedure. 

Botox – The Classic Liquid Facelift

Botox is the classic anti-aging procedure. It is also a safe, non-invasive treatment for smoothing lines on the forehead. Botox is just one brand that can be used to prevent wrinkles; Dr. Qazi normally uses a combination of Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport injections to meet the needs of all patients. These injections are all skin-safe neurotoxins that stop the underlying muscles from contracting by blocking chemical signals from the nerves. If the muscles under the skin are not moving, then existing wrinkles will not show and new wrinkles are prevented from forming. 

In addition to the classic anti-aging uses, Botox is also ideal for preventing TMJ pain and reducing excessive sweating. 

When you get Botox, Xeomin, or Dysport to treat forehead wrinkles, it can take up to 2 weeks for the results to settle. After these 2 weeks, you can expect the results to last up to 6 months. If you are a frequent Botox user, you may need to switch to Xeomin or Dysport after a certain number of injections. This is because the body will naturally build up antibodies against the botulinum toxin in Botox or if the body starts to metabolize Botox too quickly. Switching to a different form of the neurotoxin can help you maintain your results. 

Learn More About Non-Surgical Brow Lifts!

If you are starting to look as grumpy and unapproachable as Ove from the bestseller A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, it might be time to consider a non-surgical brow lift. A brow lift can effectively smooth forehead wrinkles, life sagging brows, and make you look and feel more youthful. Schedule a consultation at Qazi Cosmetic Clinic to learn more about your options for a non-surgical brow lift!