If you’ve begun to notice forehead frown lines or drooping eyebrows, consider a brow lift from Connecticut-area plastic surgeon Dr. Ellen Mahony. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, she specializes in facial surgery and has the training and skill to give you a naturally enhanced look.
You’ll be surprised at how even subtle changes in your forehead and brow area can produce dramatic results, in the form of a smoother look. Dr. Mahony welcomes patients from Westport and Fairfield County, Connecticut.
What Is a Brow Lift, Exactly?
A brow lift, sometimes called a forehead lift, is a surgical procedure that raises the brows. Dr. Mahony makes a brow lift simple and convenient for you. In a minimally invasive outpatient procedure at her practice, she will smooth the skin across your forehead, then reposition your brows to a more youthful position.
It’s also common to confuse a brow lift with nonsurgical treatments. Neurotoxins relax the muscles that cause forehead lines, but they don’t change the position of the brows.
A brow lift goes a step further by addressing both the appearance of wrinkles and the structure of the upper face. It’s a stronger option when sagging brows are part of your concern.
Benefits of a Brow Lift
Both women and men can see unique improvements from this procedure. The biggest benefits may include:
- A smoother forehead with fewer creases and frown lines
- Lifted brows that create a brighter, more awake appearance
- Restoration of the natural arch in women’s brows
- Correction of heavy or overhanging brows in men while keeping a masculine shape
- A more refreshed look without an artificial or “overdone” effect
What to Expect During Surgery
A brow lift is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. Dr. Mahony begins by making carefully placed incisions, often hidden along the hairline or within the scalp, to minimize visible scarring.
Through these incisions, she lifts and repositions the underlying tissues and smooths the skin across the forehead. The brows are gently elevated, and excess skin may be removed if necessary. The procedure is done under anesthesia for your comfort and typically takes one to two hours, depending on the technique.
Your Brow Lift with Complementary Treatments
A brow lift is just one of the many facial cosmetic procedures available from Dr. Mahony. Others include eyelid surgery and facelifts.
If you prefer less invasive rejuvenation, ask about neurotoxins like BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®, dermal fillers, thread lift, or ALMI, a natural alternative to fillers that uses your own fat.
Dr. Mahony also recommends that you prep your skin for any facial surgery with one of her platelet-rich plasma (PRP) procedures to stimulate collagen production, increase blood flow, and repair elastin fibers in deep layers of your skin.
See Dr. Mahony’s results: Before and after brow lift.
Why Choose Dr. Ellen Mahony
Dr. Ellen Mahony is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Westport, CT, with more than 30 years of medical experience. Her background is unique: she first earned a degree in physical therapy from the University of Connecticut and a master’s in International Health Care from Yale before completing medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she was among a select group of female physicians invited into the General Surgery Residency and went on to complete a fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery and a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency.
Dr. Mahony has received awards from the American Medical Association, authored research articles, and been featured in national media, including Ladies’ Home Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Surgery, and she is licensed to practice in Connecticut, New York, and Maine. Patients value her professional expertise and the personal attention she brings to every consultation.
BROW LIFT
FAQs
My Eyebrows Are Asymmetrical. Can an Eyebrow Lift Make Them Even?
Although a brow lift may be the answer, Dr. Mahony would really like to see you before making that suggestion. Keep in mind that although lax skin will impact the position of the eyebrows, the muscle action will also be affected. We all develop ‘habits’ in how we move our foreheads, eyebrows, and mouth.
You probably have noticed people who always seem to have their brow raised, right? Well, sometimes we also favor one side more than the other, contributing to an asymmetric look. The keyword is ‘look’ because the look is not necessarily permanent.
It may be due to uneven muscle action. So, the first thing to consider is a small amount of a neurotoxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) to see if that corrects the asymmetry.
What Is the Difference Between an Eyebrow Lift and an Eyelid Lift?
Any procedure that raises the position of the eyebrows (not eyelids) can be considered a brow lift. Ideally, our eyebrows sit above the rim of bone above our eyes. With aging, the forehead skin becomes lax, and the eyebrows drop and sit lower. Sometimes, it even seems like the eyebrows are crowding the eye space.
A variety of incisions and techniques are available to tighten the forehead skin and raise the position of the eyebrows. Incisions for this procedure include those within the hair, at the hairline, or directly over the eyebrow.
In comparison, an upper eyelid lift is for removing the excess upper eyelid skin folds and sometimes a small amount of protruding fat. This involves the upper eyelid skin only, not the eyebrow.
Will a Brow Lift Correct the Horizontal Lines on My Forehead?
The horizontal lines on the forehead are created from the forehead muscle contracting and rippling the skin. Many years ago, it was popular to cut this muscle or the motor nerve that supplies the muscle, so that the muscle could not contract and create those lines. This resulted in a very “flat immobile forehead and is no longer popular today.
Current brow lift procedures are designed to remove or lift the lax skin and actually tighten the forehead, not paralyze it. For this reason, the forehead lines continue to persist with muscle contraction, although they may not be as deep. Neurotoxins have become much more popular as a means to manage the horizontal animation lines, and they provide a more natural look to the forehead.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Brow Lift?
The ideal brow lift candidate is a patient in good overall health who wants to eliminate forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and other signs of aging from the upper face and eye area. Candidates must be nonsmokers, as smoking may cause complications with surgery. Candidates should also maintain realistic expectations about their results from the brow lift procedure.
Although a brow lift can benefit patients in their late 20s and 30s, patients in their 40s and 50s can see the most noticeable results, as a brow lift effectively eliminates signs of aging and restores youthfulness to the face.
What Is Recovery Like After a Brow Lift?
Patients can expect to return to work after a recovery period of 10 to 14 days. Patients may experience redness, swelling, and slight discomfort while healing, but these side effects are common and will naturally subside. They can also be managed with medication. Dr. Mahony will recommend the best methods for managing your brow lift recovery in comfort.
Patients must follow Dr. Mahony’s aftercare guidelines during recovery to avoid complications. Patients should be diligent about elevating their heads to reduce swelling and being gentle with the upper face area.
What Are the Risks and Considerations of Brow Lift Surgery?
While complications are rare, potential risks can include:
- Temporary swelling or bruising
- Numbness or itching in the forehead
- Minor asymmetry during healing
- General surgical risks, such as infection or scarring
Dr. Mahony takes every precaution to minimize these issues and provides detailed pre- and post-operative instructions to support a smooth recovery.
How Long Will My Brow Lift Last?
The results of a brow lift are long-lasting, but no procedure can stop the natural aging process. Many patients enjoy a refreshed, younger look for 10 to 12 years or more, especially if they maintain a healthy lifestyle and care for their skin.
Over time, some relaxation of the brows and forehead skin may occur, but you will almost always look younger than if you had never had the surgery. Regular use of sunscreen, good skincare habits, and nonsurgical treatments like neurotoxins or fillers can help prolong your results.
Can I Finance My Brow Lift?
We know cost plays a role in your decision. At your consultation, you’ll receive a clear estimate based on your treatment plan. Our practice accepts CareCredit®, which offers convenient monthly payments and a revolving credit line for future procedures. Applications are quick, with most patients receiving an instant online decision.
Schedule a Brow Lift Consultation with Dr. Mahony
If you are interested in a brow lift, don’t hesitate to schedule your first consultation with Dr. Mahony today. To find out more about the brow lift procedure and how it can benefit you, give us a call at 203-221-0102 to reach a team member at our office in Westport, CT.
DR. MAHONY'S ACTUAL PATIENTS
BEFORE & AFTER
