When it comes to rejuvenating the upper part of your face, brow lift surgery can dramatically change how you look and feel. Aging naturally causes the forehead and eyebrows to descend, which leads to forehead wrinkles, drooping brows, and a tired or even stern expression.
A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, addresses these issues by lifting the brow and smoothing out the skin above the eyes. But not all brow lifts are the same. The two most common types are the classic forehead lift and the endoscopic brow lift.
Understanding the differences between these procedures can help you decide which surgical approach might be right for your needs.
If you’re considering a brow lift in Houston, it’s worth knowing that many modern surgeons now favor the endoscopic technique for its natural results and faster recovery.
Dr. Casso, a facial plastic surgeon based in Houston, exclusively performs the endoscopic brow lift because of its many benefits over traditional open brow lift surgery.
How Brow Lift Surgery Works
The endoscopic brow lift technique offers several key advantages that make it the preferred surgical procedure for many patients and cosmetic surgeons. Because it uses small incisions hidden behind the hairline, it’s far less invasive than older techniques, which results in less trauma to the surrounding tissues in the forehead area.
This means you’re likely to experience less swelling, bruising, and discomfort during recovery. The lift is also more precise, allowing the cosmetic surgeon to correct brow ptosis with greater control, leading to results that look natural rather than overly pulled or tight.
Scarring is minimal and discreet, and most people find they can return to normal activities much faster than with a traditional brow lift. Therefore, if you’re looking to restore a youthful appearance without the downsides of older methods, the endoscopic brow lift is a highly effective and modern solution.
What is a Classic Forehead Lift?
The classic forehead lift, also known as a coronal brow lift, is the traditional technique for lifting the brow and forehead. This approach involves a long incision that runs from ear to ear across the top of the scalp, typically hidden behind the hairline.
Through this incision, the surgeon lifts the forehead skin, adjusts muscles, and removes excess skin before repositioning the brows.
While this method delivers effective results, it’s considered more invasive and comes with several drawbacks:
- A longer recovery period
- Potential for visible scarring or numbness on the scalp
- Greater disruption to surrounding tissues
Because of these factors, many facial plastic surgeons have shifted away from this technique in favor of less invasive options.
What is an Endoscopic Brow Lift?
An endoscopic brow lift is a modern, minimally invasive technique that uses an endoscope—a small camera attached to a thin tube—to guide the procedure.
Instead of one long incision, the endoscopic brow lift involves:
- Several small incisions made just behind the hairline
- Specialized instruments inserted through these incisions
- A camera feed used to visualize the internal structures of the forehead on a monitor
The surgeon then adjusts the muscles, repositions the brow, and lifts the skin with precision. The result is a natural, youthful appearance with significantly less trauma to the surrounding tissues.
Benefits of the Endoscopic Technique
The endoscopic brow lift technique offers a number of key advantages that make it the preferred choice for many patients and surgeons:
- Minimally invasive: The use of small incisions means less disruption to the scalp and underlying tissues
- Quicker recovery: Patients typically experience less swelling and bruising, leading to faster healing times
- More natural results: The subtle lift creates a smoother, more refreshed appearance without an overly pulled look
- Less scarring: Small incisions hidden behind the hairline leave virtually no visible scars
Because of these benefits, most modern facial plastic surgeons—including Dr. Casso in Houston—favor the endoscopic brow lift procedure over the classic forehead lift.
Comparing Brow Lift Techniques
Both the classic and endoscopic brow lifts aim to rejuvenate the upper face, but the approach and recovery are quite different.
Here’s how they compare:
Classic Forehead Lift:
- One long incision across the scalp
- More invasive with longer downtime
- Potential for scalp numbness or scarring
Endoscopic Brow Lift:
- Small incisions behind the hairline
- Less invasive with quicker recovery
- Minimal scarring and more natural results
What to Expect from the Endoscopic Brow Lift Procedure
The endoscopic brow lift procedure typically takes about one to two hours. It is usually performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.
During the surgery:
- The surgeon makes small incisions behind the hairline
- The endoscope is inserted to provide a clear view of the underlying structures
- Muscles that cause frown lines are adjusted
- The brow is gently lifted and anchored in its new position
After surgery, a light dressing may be applied. Most patients return home the same day.
Recovery and Results
Recovery from an endoscopic brow lift is generally smooth and relatively quick. You may experience mild swelling or bruising around the forehead and eyes, but this usually resolves within a week or two.
You’ll likely be able to return to normal activities in about 7 to 10 days. Because the incisions are small and hidden in the hairline, scarring is minimal and often undetectable.
The final results will gradually appear as swelling subsides, revealing a lifted brow, smoother forehead, and more open, refreshed eyes. The procedure also improves the position of the upper eyelids, giving your face a younger, more awake appearance.
Why Dr. Casso Only Uses the Endoscopic Approach
Dr. Casso believes that the endoscopic technique offers the best combination of safety, precision, and aesthetic outcome. Unlike the classic forehead lift, the endoscopic brow lift allows him to make subtle yet impactful changes with less trauma to the face.
By using this modern surgical technique, Dr. Casso is able to:
- Preserve the natural hairline and avoid long scalp incisions
- Achieve symmetrical and natural-looking brow lift results
- Minimize recovery time so you can return to daily life sooner
Because of these advantages, he has moved entirely away from the traditional coronal brow lift and now performs only the endoscopic forehead lift.
Enhancing Facial Rejuvenation
An endoscopic brow lift doesn’t just improve the brow—it enhances your entire facial expression. Many people don’t realize how much the brow affects the look of the eyes, the upper eyelids, and the face overall.
This procedure is often the first step in a full facial rejuvenation plan. By elevating the brow and smoothing the forehead, it creates a youthful, energetic look that balances well with other cosmetic surgery procedures like eyelid lift, facelift, or neck lift.
In cases where there’s excess skin on the upper eyelids or sagging skin around the eyes, a combination of brow lift and blepharoplasty can be especially effective.
A Modern Approach to a Timeless Concern
The brow plays a crucial role in your facial appearance. When it begins to droop or wrinkle with age, your entire expression can appear older or more fatigued than you feel.
While the classic forehead lift served its purpose for many years, the endoscopic brow lift represents a significant advancement in plastic surgery. With small incisions, quicker healing, and natural-looking results, this technique aligns with today’s demand for less invasive, more refined procedures.
If you’re in Houston and considering a brow lift, it’s worth choosing a surgeon who specializes in the most advanced and effective surgical techniques available—like the endoscopic brow lift.
