ABSTRACT
Forehead lifting serves to restore a more youthful appearance as well as a more functional
and aesthetically pleasing brow position. The purpose of this review is to describe
the pertinent anatomy and forehead aesthetics, then to discuss the patient evaluation,
surgical approaches, complications, and nonsurgical adjuncts. Anatomic features reviewed
include the layers of the forehead and scalp, blood supply, innervation, musculature,
and the temporal branch of the facial nerve anatomy. Forehead aesthetics described
include the aging process, with its contributing factors and consequences, and the
ideal brow position in women and men. Key aspects of the patient evaluation include
assessment of skin type; ptosis; hairline, brow, and lid position; symmetry; and bony
contours. Pertinent past medical/surgical history as well as family history are reviewed,
and the need for ophthalmology evaluation is discussed. Surgical indications and approaches,
including direct, coronal, mid-forehead, endoscopic, and trans-blepharoplasty, are
reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed and techniques
briefly described. Complications are mentioned, and the article concludes with a review
of nonsurgical adjuncts.
KEYWORDS
Forehead - brow - lift - endoscopic
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Patrick C AngelosM.D.
Resident, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science
University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code PVO1, Portland, OR 29239
Email: angelosp@ohsu.edu