The open brow lift is a powerful tool for facial rejuvenation of the upper third of the face which can address rhytids, upper eyelid hooding, and brow ptosis. With a history dating back over a hundred years, a variety of techniques have been described including coronal, pretrichial, mid-forehead, direct supraciliary, and transpalpebral brow lifts. These vary in terms of invasiveness and the ideal approach is determined by patient age, sex, symmetry, and anterior hairline characteristics. While endoscopic techniques became popular in the 1990s based on novelty, smaller incisions, less post-scar numbness, and a perception of less invasive nature, this technique’s popularity has diminished recently and less invasive open approaches have become more popular. Recent years have seen the numbers of all forms of brow lift become less common as neuromodulators, such as botulinum toxin, allow for chemical denervation of brow depressor muscles. This has become a truly non-invasive way to address minor forms of aging of the forehead and brow. However, for advanced cases, open brow lift remains a powerful technique which should remain in the arsenal of the plastic surgeon.
This review contains 3 figures, 2 tables, and 39 references.
Keywords: cosmetic surgery, facial plastic surgery, facial aging, brow ptosis, rhytids, facial nerve, supraorbital nerve, supratrochlear nerve