Some people may be surprised to learn that this facial feature is more important than the eyes and mouth when it comes to a youthful appearance – the brow. Eyebrows play an essential role in defining and framing the face. The gentle counterbalance of the arch in the brow and the shape of the jawline all work together to accentuate the face.

During aging, due to a lack of elasticity in the skin and constant movement of forehead muscles, brows can begin to look creased, furrowed, and tired. People with dropping or heavy brows begin to look tired, angry, and grumpy. If you want a more youthful, lively look, a brow lift might be exactly what you need.

At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we offer brow lifts with stunning results. If you are considering treatment options, there are three things to know about brow lifts and mini brow lifts to ensure your desired aesthetic goals.

What Is A Brow Lift?

A brow lift is a cosmetic procedure that repositions your forehead, resulting in a lift of the eyebrows and a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles. A brow lift can also address other periorbital signs of aging, like excess sagging skin and permanent lines between the eyes caused by using the glabella, a strong muscle that is responsible for frown or scowl lines. 

Over time, even if you are happy and rested, having horizontal lines on the forehead and vertical lines between the eyes can make you look older and give off the wrong emotional expression in social settings. This is why patients at Buckhead Plastic Surgery opt for a brow lift. It permanently improves the forehead by making it look smooth and supple and repositions the eyebrows for a lifted, fresh-faced look.

As with most cosmetic procedures, different types of brow lifts address different aesthetic goals. Plus, since everyone has a unique facial anatomy, certain procedures work better for certain people. Amazing brow lift results depend on meticulous attention to detail with the technical portion of the procedure, as well as Dr. Larsen’s artistic touch to create the balanced facial features you desire. 

One of the three things to know about brow lifts and mini brow lifts is the techniques available to you.

3 Types of Brow Lifts and Mini Brow Lifts

• Coronal Brow Lift
• Endoscopic Brow Lift
• Limited Incision or Temporal Brow Lift

Coronal Brow Lift

At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, Dr. Alan Larsen is skilled in various techniques for brow lifts and mini brow lifts. However, this technique is the industry standard for this procedure and yields the most impressive and lasting results.

One thing to know about this brow lift procedure is it removes the excess skin from the forehead and eyebrows without shifting the hairline. Another benefit of the coronal brow lift is it requires one long incision made in front of the hairline that runs from ear to ear. This incision can be well-hidden as part of the natural hairline. 

With just one incision, Dr. Larsen can remove excess skin and reposition the remaining brow and glabellar muscles for a more flattering, youthful appearance. He can also make small adjustments to create a smoother forehead and browline by removing excess fat and tissue.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

An endoscopic brow lift is also known as a mini brow lift. It is called a “mini” brow lift because it is less invasive than other brow lift procedures. While it is less invasive, we do not encourage all patients to get mini brow lifts because it does not provide optimal results.

The thing to know about a mini brow lift is it shifts the hairline back, so it is only ideal for individuals with a low hairline. In an endoscopic brow lift, small incisions are made just behind the hairline, then muscles are repositioned, and the forehead tissue is lifted.

Temporal or Limited Incision Brow Lift

This procedure is similar to an endoscopic brow lift but is slightly more invasive because larger incisions are made above each temple and behind the hairline. 

During the procedure, Dr. Larsen will then reposition the tissues of the outer brow area through the upper incisions (hairline) and smooth out the worrisome lines furrowed between the eyebrows using the incisions made through the upper eyelid (temples).

Recovery After Brow Lift

Another one of the three things to know about brow lifts and mini brow lifts is there is a recovery to consider that will last 3-4 weeks. Downtime is a concern of patients having a brow lift, especially with younger patients. 

Immediately following surgery, your forehead, eyes, and temporal areas will be swollen. For the first two days, specialized ice packs will be placed on your forehead 24 hours a day to relieve the swelling and discomfort. The ice is applied for the first 48 hours followed by warm compresses. 

Keeping your head elevated with no movement helps promote a speedy recovery for most patients. During the healing process, your forehead and eyes will feel tight for the first week or two. Meanwhile, healing will continue for quite some time. It is not uncommon for mild swelling and small lumps and bumps to take 1-2 months or more to resolve. After one month, you should see better results, and after three months, you should see great results. 

When it comes to looking youthful, trim, and fit, most people desire a flat stomach that enhances their silhouette. As we age, even with diet and exercise, it can be hard to maintain a flat stomach. As fat cells increase in size and volume with time, getting rid of stubborn fat in the abdominal area can be extremely frustrating. In some cases, liposuction is the best solution to the tummy of your dreams. 

At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we treat many patients with this aesthetic procedure with stunning results. Before your journey with liposuction, it is important to fully understand how it works and if you are a good candidate. There are some common misconceptions about it, so here are 5 things to know about stomach liposuction. 

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a tried and true surgical procedure that breaks down and removes fat from parts of your body. Most patients get liposuction in areas that are resistant to diet and exercise like the abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, chin or neck. Liposuction removes these isolated pockets of fat with a microcannula inserted into the treatment area. This process loosens the fat cells so they can gently be suctioned away. 

Some liposuction techniques use ultrasound, radiofrequency, or laser energy to melt the fat first for easier elimination. Tumescent liposuction is when your surgeon injects a sterile solution into the area where the fat is to be removed. It may consist of saline, lidocaine and epinephrine. This specific kind of solution makes it easier to suction the fat with less blood loss and pain.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) uses sound wave energy under your skin to rupture the cell walls of the fat. This liquefies the fat so it can be suctioned out. Laser-assisted liposuction, or SmartLipo, uses a laser to produce a burst of energy to melt the fat.

Liposuction Is Not a Weight Loss Surgery

One of the misnomers about liposuction is that it is a surgery used for weight loss. While liposuction can remove small pockets of fat, it is a cosmetic surgery intended for a slimmer aesthetic. Liposuction helps reshape your body by contouring it. In the case of stomach liposuction, if diet and exercise are not providing the desired result, liposuction may help achieve that goal. 

However, there are other factors to consider, like the type of fat you are dealing with (subcutaneous fat or visceral fat), your skin’s elasticity, and your weight fluctuations or potential fluctuations. Even if you are an ideal candidate for stomach liposuction, the procedure does not prevent you from gaining back weight in your stomach or gaining weight overall. It is not a “quick fix” that lasts indefinitely, because it requires maintenance for lasting results.

Liposuction Does Not Get Rid of Cellulite

While liposuction can remove pockets of fatty tissue, it cannot treat the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is actually caused by subcutaneous fat pushing against connective tissue bands, which then cause deformations (dimples) in the skin. Since liposuction only removes soft fat tissue, the fat pushing against the fibrous bands is not affected. 

This is one of the important ‘5 things to know about stomach liposuction’ because liposuction can actually worsen the appearance of cellulite in some cases, making the dimpling more obvious. However, adding a laser treatment to liposuction may help get rid of cellulite. 

The mommy makeover surgery that Dr. Alan N Larsen suggested for his patient, to achieve her ultimate goals consisted of a Breast Aug, a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction to her belly & flanks.

Liposuction Does Not Reduce Sagging Skin

Another important thing to know about liposuction is it only removes fat, not sagging skin. As you age, the amount of collagen your body produces decreases, which results in less skin elasticity. Sagging skin may not be completely treated through liposuction. To achieve your desired results, you may need a skin tightening procedure to address sagging skin if liposuction cannot fix the area.

For some, liposuction needs to be combined with either a tummy tuck or a laser contouring procedure for the abs of your dreams.

Liposuction and Tummy Tucks Are Different Procedures

A common misconception about stomach liposuction, as explained above, is what the realistic results will look like. For some patients, by removing small pockets of fatty tissue, they will achieve the sleek, slim silhouette they desire with more defined ab muscles. But for patients with excessive sagging skin, they might be envisioning results from a tummy tuck, not stomach liposuction. 

That’s why one of the ‘5 things to know about stomach liposuction’ is it does not necessarily give you the transformative results a tummy tuck provides. A tummy tuck is ideal for people who want to flatten the area above and below the belly button. During this procedure, your surgeon will tighten the muscles and remove excess skin. While liposuction can be used during a tummy tuck to aid in contouring your physique, the removal of excess, sagging skin and tissue is only performed during a tummy tuck.

You Can Still Gain Weight Back After Liposuction

One of the most important things to know about stomach liposuction is there is still required maintenance after the surgery and recovery. After stomach liposuction, your body will have about 70% less fatty deposits in the abdominal area. But you can still gain weight, and if you do, your body will store the same amount of fat in the same places it usually does. This means if you were to gain weight, your stomach would be smaller than it would be without the surgery, but it can still gain back fatty tissue. 

This is why ideal candidates for stomach liposuction already follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. They are within 30% of their ideal weight and have maintained that weight for the last 1-2 years. Plus, they have firm elastic skin and good muscle tone. All of these things contribute to achieving fantastic results for beautiful, contoured abs.

Want to learn more about tummy tucks? Check out this helpful blog post! 

Why Choose Buckhead Plastic Surgery For Your Stomach Liposuction

Buckhead Plastic Surgery is the premier choice for liposuction procedures in the Atlanta area. Dr. Alan Larsen is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputation for impeccable skill and an eye for detail. He will present you with all your options and help you visualize and understand realistic results. Call us today at 404.367.9005 to schedule your consultation or book a consultation online. We are confident you won’t be disappointed.