Limited-incision forehead lift for eyebrow elevation to enhance upper blepharoplasty

Abstract

Treatment of eyebrow ptosis to enhance the cosmetic effect from blepharoplasty is commonly done with a forehead lift using a coronal incision approach. The coronal scalp incision is associated with the annoying sequelae of frontoparietal scalp numbness, itching, and paresthesias, all of which can be permanent. A forehead lift technique with temporal scalp incisions only 4.5 to 5.0 cm in length can produce a result comparable with that of the coronal incision approach when combined with transpalpebral resection of the corrugator supercilii muscles and transection of the procerus muscle. This eyebrow elevation technique, like the endoscopic approach, minimizes the risk of permanently injuring the supraorbital nerve branches that innervate the frontoparietal scalp. Unlike the approach using only endoscopy, however, this technique can effectively treat cases of advanced eyebrow ptosis. The appropriate area of eyelid skin for excision may be difficult to assess when a forehead lift and upper blepharoplasty are done concomitantly. The described forehead lift incorporates a method to determine this area. This forehead lift technique, combined with a technique for protecting against overresecting upper eyelid skin, is described as used effectively on 140 blepharoplasty cases followed for 3 months to 4 years.