Brow Lift / Forehead Lift

What is a brow lift / forehead lift?

A brow lift, also referred to as a forehead lift, is a cosmetic surgical procedure. Its purpose is to reposition your forehead to:

  • Raise your brow
  • Reduce wrinkles
  • Provide you with a more youthful appearance

 

You may find that your skin has lost elasticity or sun damage has weakened your skin, leading to wrinkles. Whether you have “frown lines” between your eyebrows or the outside of the brow has begun to sag, you can speak to a doctor about correcting your body’s natural changes.

If your doctor agrees that a brow lift is the best path forward, they may refer to it as a:

  • Forehead rejuvenation
  • Browplasty
  • Temporal brow lift (lateral brow lift)

 

What does a brow lift do?

Getting a brow lift can address and correct:

  • Vertical frown lines between your eyebrows (the “11s”)
  • Forehead creases or wrinkles (horizontal lines across the forehead or nose bridge)
  • Sagging eyebrows (hooded eyes)

 

The procedure can help individuals’ eyebrows look more youthful and awaken your overall appearance.

How common is a brow lift?

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Brow lifts are fairly common, with almost 90,000 procedures performed annually in the United States. As of 2022, the procedure is most common among women, and men account for less than 10% of all brow lift procedures in the U.S.

Will a brow lift change my eye shape?

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No, a brow lift will not alter the shape of your eyes or address baggy eyelids. The primary focus of a brow lift is on treating your eyebrows and forehead.

Who is a candidate for a brow lift?

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Your doctor may consider you a strong candidate for a brow lift if you are:

  • Physically healthy
  • A non-smoker
  • Realistic about your goals and the overall outcome of the procedure

You will need to review your complete medical history with your healthcare provider before you pursue next steps with a surgeon. Discussing your brow lift goals will help the doctor determine if you are an appropriate candidate.

Can I get multiple cosmetic procedures done with a brow lift?

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Yes, your doctor may give you the green light to undergo multiple procedures at the same time as your brow lift. These can include:

  • A facelift
  • A mini facelift
  • A neck lift
  • Skin resurfacing
  • Upper or lower eyelid surgery

Make sure to speak thoroughly with your healthcare provider about your best options and to get a clear idea of the overall surgical timeline.

What are the types of brow lift procedures?

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There are three different brow lift procedures, including a:

  • Classic lift: An “open brow lift” or “coronal lift” is one continuous incision from ear to ear that runs across the top of your head.
  • Endoscopic lift: A few shorter incisions are made in your scalp and there is minimal scarring with a shorter recovery time.
  • Limited incision technique: A combination of the previous two procedures, the limited incision technique requires smaller incisions and does not use a scope. It will not correct the center of your forehead. The technique reduces wrinkles at the corners of your eyes, known as crow’s feet.

Speaking with your healthcare provider will give you further insight into each type of procedure and allow them to identify the one that they believe will help you meet your goals.

Is there a nonsurgical brow lift?

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Exploring the use of Botox® (botulinum toxin) or other brands of injections can help smooth out wrinkles on your forehead. A nonsurgical brow lift option can include injecting medicine between your eyebrows and at the corners of your eyebrows. It may be the right choice if you are looking to avoid surgery, longer recovery times, and any scarring.

While they offer many similar benefits, these injections are not as permanent as a surgical brow lift. You will need to undergo repeat treatments several times per year to maintain the results.

What happens before a brow lift procedure?

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Before you get a brow lift, your provider will:

  • Examine your forehead
  • Ask you to make different facial expressions to view wrinkles and lines
  • Discuss your options with the types of brow lifts
  • Review your overall health
  • Take photographs of your brows and forehead
  • Explain the results and any potential complications

How can I prepare for a brow lift?

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Some of your surgeon’s preoperative instructions may include:

  • Limit alcohol consumption
  • Avoid medications like aspirin
  • Stop smoking at least six weeks before the surgery
  • Grow out your hair to cover any scars
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home
  • Ask someone to take care of you for the first night and day post-surgery

Brow lifts are outpatient procedures and generally do not require an overnight hospital stay.

What happens during a brow lift procedure?

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During a brow lift procedure, you can expect several things to happen:

  • Step 1: You will receive local or general anesthesia depending on the procedure.
  • Step 2: Your surgeon will cut into your skin at the hairline.
  • Step 3: Your surgeon will move tissue and remove segments of muscles and skin.
  • Step 4: Your surgeon will use stitches or staples to close the incision.
  • Step 5: Your surgeon will wrap the surgical site with padding and bandages.

Brow lift surgery may take anywhere from one to three hours.

What happens after a brow lift procedure?

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Following your procedure, you may experience:

  • Bruising
  • Skin tightness
  • Swelling
  • A tender or sore surgical site as you heal

 

Your surgeon will discuss how you should take care of yourself and manage your surgical site during the recovery process. Instructions for after-care will include:

  • Medications or over-the-counter pain relievers that you can take to ease any pain
  • How to reduce swelling (elevated head, cool packs around the surgical site)
  • How long to rest and avoid physical activities

 

Your surgeon will prepare you ahead of time on any complications that you should be aware of as you heal. You will also need to schedule a follow-up appointment so your surgeon can make sure that your body is fully healing.

What are the risks of a brow lift?

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Any surgery comes with possible risks. Those who undergo brow lift surgery may experience:

  • Scarring
  • Infection
  • Intense scalp itchiness
  • Limited movement of eyebrows
  • Bad reaction to anesthesia
  • Pain
  • Hair follicle loss around incisions
  • Numbness
  • Asymmetry
  • Bleeding

If you notice these or any other unexplained and/or worrying side effects, contact your provider immediately or seek emergency medical care.

What is the recovery and outlook for a brow lift?

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The length and intensity of your recovery will depend on your chosen brow lift procedure. The recovery timeline will differ between each person, but you can generally expect:

  • Needing to keep your head elevated for at least two days post-surgery, including while you sleep
  • Removing bandages around one to three days after the surgery
  • Experiencing numbness or tingling for the first few days after the surgery
  • Lessening swelling within two weeks, but it may take several weeks to disappear
  • Returning to work will occur within 10 to 14 days
  • Dissolving or needing stitches removed after one or two weeks
  • Avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous activity for a few weeks after the surgery

It can take as long as six months to completely heal after your brow lift. Once your forehead fully heals, you will be able to see the results of the surgery. The permanent cosmetic procedure may last a lifetime, but the results can fade as you age and your skin loses its strength. Wrinkles that return after a brow lift will not be as deep or severe.

Even after speaking with your doctor about your expected outlook, you can improve your brow lift’s longevity by wearing sunscreen and taking good overall care of your skin.

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