Brow bone reduction can be done by two basic techniques. A burring reduction of the outer table of the frontal sinus wall is one option. The amount of reduction achieved will be limited by the thickness of the outer table bone which can be anywhere from 2 to 5mms. The other method of brow bone reduction is removal of the entire outer table of the frontal sinus, reshaping it and putting it back in place. This method of brow bone reduction produces a more dramatic result with further setback than what can be achieved by more simple burring methods.
But regardless of the method of brow bone reduction used, an open approach is always needed for the best result. While more limited incision approaches using an endocope have been described, they produce a very minimal reduction in brow bone prominence at best. While this open incisional access is less of an issue for women it is of major consideration in men…who coincidentally make up more than half of patients seeking brow bone reduction.
One option for male brow bone reduction is the mid-forehead incision. Using a prominent horizontal wrinkle line identified by raising of the eyebrows preoperatively, a central forehead incision can be used. It is important to keep the location of the incision limited to the central third of the forehead between lines drawn up vertically between the pupils. By so doing the major branch of the supraorbital nerve is preserved so much of forehead sensation is saved.
Through this limited incision, the anterior table of the frontal sinus can be successfully removed by a combination of a reciprocating saw and osteotome technique. The frontal bone flap can be removed, reshaped and replaced by small plate and screw fixation. Once the incision is closed in layers with small resorbable skin sutures, an imperceptible scar results.
Male brow bone reduction can be successfully done through a limited forehead incision. The result achieved is comparable to what can be done through a longer pretrichial or full coronal scalp incision. Given the state of many men’s hairlines and their potential regression with aging, a well healed mid-forehead incision can be considered a good option for brow bone reduction.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana