Suture brow stabilization procedure offers a simple way to enhance the appearance of the sagging eye and brow.
While lecturing in São Paulo, Brazil last fall, Dr. Tobin was introduced to a new technique of brow stabilization that is proving popular to patients who are looking for a simple procedure that requires little or no recovery.
Drooping of the brow is not only a common result of aging, but is also present in many young people, often resulting in a tired or angry appearance. In fact, not uncommonly, when people request eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), they are really more concerned about the brow than the eyelids.
Traditionally, correction of the drooping brow is accomplished by either an endoscopic forehead lift or a subperiosteal coronal facelift. These procedures are very effective not only for brow lifting but also for forehead and midface rejuvenation.
For the patient that is seeking a more conservative approach, the suture brow stabilization may be just the answer. The operation utilizes buried permanent sutures that suspend the brow in a higher position. The operation allows a bit of brow elevation as well as brow sculpting. In many cases, just the inner or outer portion of the brow need elevation.
Small puncture wounds are made in the brow and the scalp and are positioned according to the needs of the individual patient. The sutures are tied so as to provide the proper lift. A little bit of overcorrection is often used as there will be some later settling. When done by itself, the operation can easily be done under local anesthesia, although it is often combined with upper eyelid surgery, in which case a light general anesthetic is preferable.
Recovery is quite rapid, although bruising, swelling or a temporary notching of the skin is possible. Because the procedure is so new, the long term effects are still not known, although several patients have been followed for a year with persistent correction.
The suture brow stabilization is another of an increasing number of procedures that are being developed to provide simple solutions to patients seeking correction of specific problems and who are not quite ready for more advanced rejuvenation procedures.