Dr. Michele S. Green is a board-certified dermatologist. Upper East Side patients and those from the surrounding areas of New York City flock to her practice for a variety of cosmetic dermatology treatments. Haute Beauty chats with Dr. Geen about how Botox can be used to perform a brow lift.

HB: Who is a good candidate for a Botox brow lift?

As the face ages, one of the areas that is of key concern is the forehead area. Many patients don’t realize how the appearance and treatment of the forehead can affect the entire face. As we age, we not only develop more lines on our foreheads and lose volume, but the brows themselves begin to sag and become furrowed. This wrinkled appearance of our foreheads can give a scowling or angry appearance. This aging can be corrected through non-surgical treatments such as Botox and lasers.

HB: How does this procedure work?

Botox is a simple and effective way to have a non-surgical brow lift. A Botox brow lift will remove forehead lines, raise sagging eyebrows and reduce the appearance of upper eyelid hooding. A small amount of Botox needs to be injected above the lateral aspect of the eyebrows to lift droopy brows and provide a lift. By skillfully injecting small amounts of “baby Botox” into key areas of the glabella and forehead areas, the forehead will be raised and you will look more relaxed with a more youthful appearance.

Non-surgical brow lifts are much preferred over surgical brow lifts since surgery can give you a very unnatural “surprised” look. In addition, there are considerable complications from surgical brow lifts including hair loss from the incisions, scars, and localized pain and headaches from the surgery. Dr. Michele Green much prefers the subtle yet elegant enhancement of the non-surgical brow lift using botulinum toxin, or Botox.

There are many ways to inject Botox in the forehead, depending on a patient’s anatomy. If there are very low-set droopy brows, the procerus muscle needs to be injection (the muscle between the eyebrows) and a carefully placed amount of Botox around the orbicularus oculi muscles (the muscles around the eyes) to pull down the tail of the brow. In addition, there are times when the upper portion of the forehead needs an injection to relax the forehead muscle and this helps pull the brows up more.

HB: What are the patient outcomes like?

A potential side effect of Botox in the forehead area is the “Spock brow” or “Jack Nicholson look.” This effect happens when the side potions of the forehead muscle pull harder than the central portion of the forehead and an unnaturally arched eyebrow occurs. This “Spock look” can be easily corrected with a small amount of Botox placed laterally in the forehead. In addition, if too much Botox is injected into the forehead, the brow can actually look heavier and move the eyebrows down with the result being that the eyes look smaller and the eyelids heavier.

HB: Is there any downtime after the procedure?

Localized swelling and bruising can occur as with any cosmetic injection. Patients should not lay flat, bend for four hours after having Botox treatments. Also, no or exercise for twenty-four hours. For the best and most natural Botox results, it is so important to consult an expert in Botox for the best cosmetic result. Dr. Michele Green has been a master injector of Botox for 25 years in NYC and continues to pride herself in not over-injecting patients and leaving them with a beautiful and rejuvenated appearance.

HB: How long do Botox eyebrow lift results last?

The effects of Botox can be seen within three to five days after the injections. The full effects of Botox however are noticeable after fourteen days. The delayed onset is the time it takes for the botulinum toxin to react with the body. The effects of Botox injections can last three to four months depending on the patient.

Lastly, one of the newer ways to contribute to a brow lift is through radiofrequency technology. Radiofrequency has been proven to tighten the skin around the jowls and neck for years now. However, a newer use for Thermage is to give you a noninvasive brow lift, raise the eyebrows and treat the periorbital lines around the eyes as well. Through Thermage, there is no downtime, no needles, and no discomfort. The radiofrequency laser heats the skin and creates new collagen and lifts the brows. The new collagen produced tightens and lifts the brow giving a rejuvenated look.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Michele Green email: info@hautebeauty.com