The “Gliding Brow Lift”: An Objective Analysis of Outcomes for the Treatment of Brow Ptosis

PURPOSE: To analyze the efficacy, durability, and safety of small-incisional subcutaneous dissection with hemostatic netting, or "gliding brow lift", for full brow recontouring in a US cohort. METHODS: Cases of brow ptosis repair with the gliding brow lift technique involving the entire forehead by a single surgeon between October 2022 and October 2023, with at least 6 months of postoperative data, were retrospectively reviewed at a single private center. Vertical distance measurements were obtained from preoperative and postoperative photographs to determine effective change in brow position. Durability was evaluated by comparing those from the second postoperative month to the most recent visit. Postoperative complications were reviewed to evaluate the safety of the technique. RESULTS: Sixty brows of 30 patients met the criteria. The average millimeter increase in brow height at the medial canthal distance was 5.2, 6.3 at the mid-pupil, and 7.1 at the lateral canthus at 10.5 weeks (all p < 0.01). No significant decrease in brow height was noted at the most recent visit (average 8.4 months), except for the lateral canthal distance, which was minimal at 0.4 mm (p = 0.04). Complications included 5 cases of subjective brow asymmetry (13.33%), with 1 brow undergoing corrective surgery, 1 brow with frontalis weakness, and 1 with focal skin necrosis. There were no cases of hematoma, seroma, lasting paresthesia, infection, alopecia, relapse, or exacerbation of preexisting ptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The gliding brow lift technique successfully modifies the position of the entire brow with relatively lasting fixation and safety.