• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Forehead lift

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Alternative Names:

Endobrow lift; Open browlift; Temporal lift

Risks:

If the patient has had previous plastic surgery to lift the upper eyelids, lifting the forehead could limit closing the eyelids, so such a procedure is not warranted.

Occasionally, forehead lifts will inhibit elevating eyebrows or wrinkling the forehead on one or both sides. This may require additional surgery to bring symmetry to both sides.

If the patient has a high or receding hairline , a thin scar may be visible after surgery, therefore hairstyle is necessary to partially cover the forehead. In most people, the incision for the forehead lift is behind the hairline.

If the forehead skin is pulled too tightly or there is excessive swelling , a broad scar may form. In some cases hair loss may occur along the scar edges. Treatment can be done by surgically removing the scar tissue or areas of hair loss so a new scar can form. Permanent hair loss is rare.

Medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Blood clotting problems
• The tendency to form excessive scars
• Smoking (prevents or slows wound healing)

• Review Date: 11/10/2005
• Reviewed By: Edward W. Chang, MD, DDS, Director of Facial Plastics Surgery Education, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Columbia University-College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.