Eyebrow Lift: a Non-Surgical Approach to a More Youthful Look

What causes the sagging eyebrows that make us look tired and tense?

Aging and sun damage can cause our foreheads to wrinkle and our eyebrows to sag, making us seem tired and tense. As we get older, our skin naturally loses collagen, a crucial protein that keeps our skin looking firm and youthful. During the aging process, our skin also gets thinner, with downward gravity causing sagging, especially around the eyes. Sagging eyebrows, or heavy brows, make our eyes look droopy, and increase our deep furrows and facial frown lines – resulting in a “down” appearance that can affect our self-confidence. Eyebrows are a defining feature of any face, so it is important to pay attention to their appearance.

What can be done to correct sagging eyebrows?

Botulinum toxin injections can give some eyebrow raise but for more significant ptosis a brow lift can help you brighten your outward appearance so that it matches the bright way you feel inside. Your face should reflect your youthful spirit. Eyebrows frame the eyes and are an important element of your facial appearance and expression. A brow lift can change your appearance and shed years off your visible age.

How can your eyebrows be restored to a more youthful appearance?

To lift your sagging eyebrows and heavy upper eyelids, and to refresh your entire facial and neck appearance, Sofwave™ Medical Ltd. (Sofwave™) has developed Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam (SUPERB™)technology, which can dramatically lift your eyebrows and reduce the wrinkles in your furrowed forehead – all without having to schedule surgery with a cosmetic surgeon and allowing you to avoid enduring a long healing process.

How does Sofwave™ SUPERB™ technology lift sagging eyebrows?

Sofwave™ SUPERB™ technology revitalizes skin through ultrasound treatments that stimulate the new production of collagen – the protein responsible for the firmness and elasticity of healthy skin. This ultrasound energy precisely passes through the skin’s surface (the epidermis), heating the mid-dermal tissue at just the right depth and temperature to stimulate collagen fiber production and improve the overall appearance of the skin. This ultrasound energy causes tissue to heat up rapidly. Once the cells in the targeted area reach a certain higher temperature, they are stimulated to produce more collagen and elastin – which consequently lifts your sagging brow and revives skin to a younger, more wrinkle-free appearance. The impacted treatment zones stimulate a healing response, called neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis, which increases and regenerates the collagen and elastin in the skin – thus reducing fine lines and wrinkles, lifting the eyebrows, and lifting the lax skin of the submental (beneath-the-chin) and neck tissues.

How does Sofwave™ technology protect the skin during these cosmetic procedures?

The Sofwave™ ultrasound treatment creates a controlled, elongated, and directional thermal coagulation at a depth of 1.5 mm in the mid-dermis – achieving beneficial effects with minimal penetration, while ensuring no damage to the epidermis or to underlying nerves, bones, blood vessels, or face and neck tissue. The ultrasound energy is absorbed and cannot penetrate deeper than 2 mm, thus preventing injuries. During the Sofwave™ ultrasound treatment, the SUPERB™ system’s Sofcool™ cooling mechanism provides real-time skin temperature monitoring and protects the uppermost skin layer from burning – ensuring the safety of this cosmetic procedure.

Are Sofwave™ ultrasound treatments appropriate for all skin types?

The Sofwave™ SUPERB™ ultrasound treatment is ideal for all skin types, as ultrasound absorption is determined by the microscopic and bulk mechanical properties of tissue and is independent of skin color or pigmentation. Cosmetic surgeons recommend this procedure for patients who are not ready for surgical options. This procedure is also ideal for patients who desire to undergo a simple procedure with minimal discomfort, and who want to see visible results within two weeks.

What do patients typically experience during these treatments?

As the Sofwave™ ultrasound energy is delivered, patients may feel a warmness of the skin, which can be resolved by applying a topical anesthetic cream just before the treatment. Following the treatment, patients usually experience no sensations, and there is no need to apply any special care to the skin. Discomfort levels are usually very mild, allowing patients to resume their daily activities immediately, and no post-treatment care or surgeon follow-up is required.

Has this technology been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

Sofwave™ SUPERB™ technology has been FDA cleared for reducing facial lines and wrinkles, lifting the eyebrow, and lifting lax skin of the submental (beneath-the-chin) and neck tissues.

Is eyebrow lifting with Sofwave™ treatments safe to do?

The non-invasive Sofwave™ procedure has been proven to be very safe and effective. In clinical testing, patients did not experience any skin penetration, pain or tenderness, bruising, ulcerations, or skin pigmentation. Additionally, the treatments, which take approximately 30–45 minutes to cover the full face and neck region, are performed by qualified healthcare providers who have received specific training. These ultrasound treatments are designed to minimize patients’ downtime and to enable them to return to their normal activities right away.

How many Sofwave™ treatments are necessary for a successful eyebrow lift?

Typically, the Sofwave™ treatment protocol, which is administered by a trained healthcare provider, calls for just one or two treatments, depending on the patient’s skin condition and a board-certified physician’s recommendations.

How long does it take to see improvement in facial skin and upper eyelids?

Immediate results can be seen as soon as one week following the Sofwave™ treatment. The collagen regeneration process can sometimes take up to 12 weeks, so patients can expect to see ongoing improvements within the first few weeks or three months after their treatment.

Who is a good candidate for Sofwave™ eyebrow lift?

Good candidates for this in-office procedure are in their 20s or older, and have drooping eyebrows, mild to moderate skin aging, and fine lines and wrinkles. Also, ideal candidates should not have smoking in their medical history.

In addition to Sofwave™ ultrasound treatments, are there reconstructive surgery methods or other procedure options for a brow lift?

There are a variety of treatment options for a brow lift. In addition to eyelid surgery, which lifts the excess skin and excess fat off your eyelids, the leading brow lift surgery options are the following reconstructive surgery procedures:

Coronal brow lift (or classic brow lift)

This is performed under general anesthesia by a board-certified surgeon. This facial cosmetic surgery involves an incision that starts just above the ear level and follows the hairline up the forehead to the next ear. With this reconstructive surgery procedure, a facial plastic surgeon performs a forehead lift to adjust fat, tissues, and facial muscles, and to trim excess skin. The coronal brow lift is also known as an “open brow lift” reconstructive surgery.

Endoscopic brow lift

An endoscopic brow lift is a minimally invasive procedure for brow lift surgery performed by a facial plastic surgeon under general anesthesia. For this endoscopic method, the surgeon makes small incisions that are hidden in the hair and uses specialized equipment to gently release and elevate the brow tissue. Generally, the endoscopic brow lift procedure involves faster healing time and less bruising than the classic approach.

Temporal brow lift (also called a limited-incision brow lift or a lateral lift)

A temporal brow lift involves the facial cosmetic surgeon making one small incision in the forehead that is carefully hidden within the hairline. This cosmetic procedure provides a forehead lift that, in turn, lifts the eyebrow by focusing on the outer third of the brow.

What are the post-treatment instructions for brow lift surgery procedures?

In the first few days after a surgical brow lift, patients of brow lift surgery are typically instructed to rest with their head elevated and to take pain medication as recommended by their physician. Facial plastic surgery patients usually receive specific instructions to apply cold compresses to their incision areas in order to relieve swelling and to also avoid exposing their incisions to excessive pressure or motion for a certain number of days.

What are the risks of a surgical brow lift?

• Risks associated with surgical brow lift procedures include:
• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Asymmetry in the position of the brows, or brows that are too high
• Eye irritation or dryness
• Elevated hairline or hair loss at the incision site in the forehead skin
• Bleeding, infection, and/or scarring in the forehead tissues
• Swelling and bruising, along with a rare risk of blood clots
• Possible damage to underlying muscles

What are neuromodulators, which are used for a non-surgical brow lift?

Neuromodulation is defined by the International Neuromodulation Society as “the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus, such as electrical stimulation or chemical agents, to specific neurological sites in the body.” In addition to reconstructive surgery options for the upper face, neuromodulators (which include botulinum toxin therapies) are non-surgical methods for lifting the eyebrows and also the sagging skin causing forehead wrinkles through the use of injections that temporarily weaken the muscles that are pulling the eyebrows down. As a result, the eyebrows are lifted, and the eyes appear bigger and more open. These treatments are generally accomplished with only slight discomfort, and the effects of these procedures usually last approximately three months.

What are some of the risks with botulinum toxin therapies?

Botulinum toxin injections must be administered in the correct facial locations for the best and most natural-looking results – otherwise, the eyebrows could be asymmetrical following the treatment. Other risks associated with botulinum toxin therapies include:

• Minor pain and irritation at injections sites
• Swelling, redness, or bruising
• Mild headaches
• Numbness
• Drooping eyelids
• Facial muscle weakness

What are other methods for brow lifts?

Dermal injections, which use skin-plumping solutions to fill in wrinkles, are also used for a brow lift. Since brows tend to droop because of deflation of soft tissue fullness under the lateral brow, and because of skin laxity, the injection of fillers or fat below the eyebrow restores fullness and thus causes a noticeable elevation of the brow.

What are the disadvantages of dermal injections?

While dermal injections can be completed in minutes, and no downtime is required, additional injections are typically required to maintain the initial results. Also, patients may experience possible pain, swelling, redness, and discomfort at the injection sites.

What are the advantages of Sofwave™ SUPERB™ ultrasound treatments over these other methods?

SUPERB™ ultrasound technology requires no needles, no incisions, and no anesthesia to restore your eyebrows and forehead to a more youthful appearance. Your hairline and forehead are left unchanged – with no scars from surgical incisions. Sofwave™ SUPERB™ ultrasound treatments are designed to achieve an ideal outcome though usually just one single procedure that lasts 30–45 minutes. Facial plastic surgeons are now recommending these safe and innovative Sofwave™ treatments for patients who prefer a non-surgical procedure for eyebrows lifting.

How long have Sofwave™ ultrasound treatments been available?

Sofwave™ unveiled its next-generation ultrasound technology in 2020 for treating wrinkles and lax skin. These state-of-the-art treatments quickly proved popular across the globe for patients to achieve effective brow lift without surgery or invasive procedures. Sofwave™ technology has become a preferred treatment for many physicians, as this ultrasound energy precisely passes through the skin’s surface to stimulate collagen and elastin fibers, and to ultimately improve facial and neck appearances so that patients consistently achieve their desired results.

What recognition has Sofwave™ received for this revolutionary technology?

Sofwave™ was recently a recipient of Elle magazine’s 2021 Future of Beauty Awards, which honored the company’s technology in the “In-Office Skin Treatment” category as one of the best in the world in providing patients a younger appearance.

Why don’t you schedule a Sofwave™ appointment today?

In a simple outpatient procedure, Sofwave™ ultrasound technology addresses collagen remodeling so effectively that patients are spreading the word about this powerful, yet simple, procedure that has made them feel beautiful again – without having to go through painful recoveries. What other procedure can successfully improve your appearance in just one session and with minimal downtime? To find out how you can receive a non-surgical eyebrow lift, contact your Sofwave™ provider today! For more information, please go to Sofwave.com.