Whole Beauty® Institute

Brow Lift

Dr. Cook explains brow lift surgery, the various techniques, and the recovery process.

Why Dr. John Q. Cook Is the Right Facial Plastic  Surgeon for You

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Dr. Cook has over 25 years of experience conducting eyelid and brow lift surgery, and many of those surgeries have been successfully completed under local anesthesia.

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Dr. Cook always considers the areas that frame the eyes in his evaluation. He looks at the position and activity of the brows, the volume and tone of the cheeks, and the quality of the skin.

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Dr. Cook provides a detailed analysis for patients considering brow lift surgery. He considers the fundamental proportions of the face, the degree of structural support, tone and volume, and the resilience of the supporting muscle.

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When appropriate, Dr. Cook combines advanced technologies with surgery including laser and radiofrequency treatments. This is an important part of Dr. Cook’s overall approach to comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

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See the difference experience makes. Scroll through before and afters in the photo carousel of brow lift patients treated by Dr. Cook and his team.

Dr. John Cook Explains Brow Lift Surgery, the Various Techniques, and the Recovery Process for Chicago and Winnetka

The eyelids and the structures that immediately surround them—the brows and the upper cheeks—are rich in expressive information. The area is arguably the richest expressive zone of our body. Through subtly nuanced motion, these structures convey to our friends and acquaintances the myriad emotions of human experience with all their subtle differences: contentment, joy, excitement, disappointment, fear, exhaustion. The utmost care must be taken when refining these areas through brow lift from Chicago-area plastic surgeon Dr. John Q. Cook, with offices in Chicago and Winnetka. Dr. Cook helps his patients restore a natural appearance and functionality to these regions.

Whole Beauty Institute

Contact Whole Beauty® Institute in Chicago or Winnetka for more information about brow lift surgery. Call 312-751-2112 or send a message online.

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One could argue that refinement in this area through brow lift surgery provides a skilled surgeon with his greatest opportunity and also his greatest risk.

The opportunity is to favorably alter the position and dynamics of the structures around the eyes so that a person’s true emotions are conveyed to the surrounding world. One of Dr. Cook’s greatest joys is when a patient reports to him that she no longer feels that she is being misperceived. The fundamental feedback mechanism between the patient and the person who perceives the patient is altered in a favorable way. Whether we like to admit it or not, people respond to us differently when we look tired or angry, and that response in turn cannot help but affect our mood and sense or well-being.

Why Consider a Brow Lift?

For many patients, a gradual settling of the upper facial structures occurs with the passage of time. This may be increased in individuals who develop habits of expression that activate the frown muscles and naturally pull the brow in a downward direction. As a result of these factors, the brow begins to crowd the upper eyelid and obscures the beautiful contours of this region. A settled brow often imparts a tired, weary, or even an angry appearance, and this often leads to a misperception of the patient’s mood on the part of friends and acquaintances.

Many patients with significant brow descent experience a sensation of heaviness in the brow and upper eyelid area that may become more severe as the day progresses. Some patients actually notice a change in their ability to see objects on upward gaze, since the settled brow structures cut across the upper range of vision.

Patients develop compensatory patterns of facial expression to correct the low position of the brow structures. They activate the frontalis muscle, which is the prime brow elevator of the forehead. This activity brings the brow back to proper position, but patients often note a sense of fatigue in the forehead due to the constant over activity of the frontalis muscle. With the constant over activity of the frontalis muscle comes the development of horizontal expression lines across the forehead that can often be quite deep. Women often compensate for this by wearing their hair forward in bangs.

Many patients do not have a full understanding of the mechanics of brow descent. They often remark that “people tell me I look angry all the time,” or they may have a sense that it is difficult to put eye shadow on the upper lid. Often the patient comes to the surgeon asking for an upper blepharoplasty (upper eyelid surgery).

Dr. Cook will educate you during the consultation as to whether the heaviness you experience in the upper eyelid region is mostly caused by brow descent, mostly caused by true excess of upper eyelid skin, or caused by a combination of factors. In this way, a proper treatment plan will be constructed. This is extremely important. If an inexpert surgeon attempts to correct what is fundamentally a matter of brow descent by operating on the upper eyelid, he will usually remove too much skin and compromise eyelid function. He will also alter the beautiful three-dimensional form of this region in a way that may be very difficult for a subsequent surgeon of greater skill to correct.

Dr. Cook has several brow lift techniques at his disposal. The brow lift is one of his favorite procedures because of its ability to restore a sense of balance and harmony to one of the key expressive zones of the face. Dr. Cook often combines the brow lift with other facial rejuvenation procedures, including upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer.

Brow Lift Details

Dr. Cook’s most common technique for brow lift is the endoscopic brow lift. Dr. Cook makes several short incisions behind the hairline, through which he uses special instruments and an endoscopic camera that allows the brow lift surgery to be seen on a video monitor. He precisely mobilizes the brow structures and carefully weakens the activity of the frown muscle between the brows. Dr. Cook then establishes the brows in a proper but not over corrected position with a secure method of fixation that is typically undetectable to the patient.

The lateral subcutaneous brow lift is done through incisions that follow the highest point of the temporal hairline. This brow lift technique can be well-suited to the patient who requires a correction of the outer curve of the brow arch, but who is reasonably happy with the inner aspect of the brow position.

The classical brow lift with endoscopic assist involves an incision that runs along much of the forehead hairline. This brow lift technique can be useful for selected patients who desire a forward advancement of a relatively stable hairline.

With each of the brow lift techniques, patients will notice a softening of the horizontal lines that have developed across the forehead. With the brows back in a position of balance, it is no longer necessary for the patient to overwork the forehead elevator muscles. This over-activity is the prime cause of the horizontal expression lines of the forehead.

Brow Lift Recovery

Numbness, swelling, and bruising occur after brow lift surgery, as with any facial aesthetic procedure. Pain is typically well-controlled with standard prescription pain medications, and most patients are able to discontinue these medications after the first few days. Because of gravity, bruising may settle into the cheek after a brow lift. The team at The Whole Beauty® Institute will instruct you in the application of camouflage cosmetics.

Patients will apply ice compresses and sleep with the head elevated for the first few days after brow lift surgery. Most patients return to normal daily activity in seven to 10 days— some even sooner. It is important for you to limit heavy exercise for the first few weeks after brow lift surgery. Our team will provide specific instructions based upon the details of your procedure.

Whole Beauty Institute

If you would like to have a consultation regarding brow lift surgery in the Chicago area, or if you have questions for our team, please call 312-751-2112 or contact us online.

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Upper Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift

Upper Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift

Patients who come to me seeking rejuvenation of the brow and upper eyelids areas are pleased to learn that I can often accomplish this for them under local anesthesia in either my Winnetka or Chicago office.  Patients can obtain the benefits of an upper blepharoplasty and brow lift and without needing a general anesthetic or even IV sedation.

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Upper Eyelid and Brow Lift

Upper Eyelid and Brow Lift

Heaviness in the upper eyelid area can be caused by true excess of upper eyelid skin and fat or by brow descent or a combination of the two.  A careful evaluation will lead to the proper diagnosis and treatment with a brow lift or upper blepharoplasty or a combined procedure.

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The Brow Lift

The Brow Lift

The brow lift is one of the best operations in plastic surgery. When performed in a skillful manner, this procedure restores the pleasing contours that frame the upper eyelid in an attractive vital face. It also relaxes the forehead muscles and restores a sense of relaxation to the upper portion of the face.

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Dr. John Q. Cook

Practice Blog

Learn more about Dr. John Q. Cook and the non-surgical treatments and plastic surgery procedures available at The Whole Beauty® Institute. Get tips and advice, discover new ways to improve your health and beauty, and more.

HealthGems Blog

Dr. Cook's HealthGems Blog

Dr. John Q. Cook shares his personal thoughts on well-being, quality of life, and more—all drawn from his decades of experience in the industry, studying and working with advanced technology and techniques.

SkinShopMD by John Q. Cook, M.D.

Whole Beauty Skincare

SkinShopMD was created by board-certified plastic surgeon John Q. Cook, M.D. as a trusted source for skin care products. From his years of experience, he developed a portfolio of high quality medical grade products to protect and rejuvenate your skin.

Educational Information on Plastic Surgery

Educational Information

Learn important information about surgical and non-surgical procedures to help you make informed decisions about your desired treatment based on your goals. Topics cover facial surgery, injectables, lasers, breast surgery, body contouring, and other treatments.

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Our Office Locations

Our locations in the Gold Coast of Chicago and Winnetka in the North Shore reflect our commitment to convenient and discrete concierge-level service.

Whole Beauty® Institute |Map | 737 N.Michigan Ave

Chicago Office

737 North Michigan Ave., Suite 760 Chicago IL 60611 (312) 751-2112 Entrance at 151 E. Chicago Avenue

Whole Beauty® Institute |Map | 118 Green Bay Road

Winnetka Office

118 Green Bay Road Winnetka IL 60093  (847) 446-7562
Located directly across from Indian Hill Metra Station