Brow Lift
Body area: face
Overview
A brow lift raises drooping brows, smooths forehead wrinkles, and reduces frown lines between the eyebrows. It restores a more youthful, open, and alert appearance to the upper face. Several techniques exist, ranging from minimal-incision endoscopic approaches to open methods.
Who is it for?
Adults with a heavy or drooping brow, deep forehead lines, or frown lines that create a tired, angry, or sad expression.
Technique overview
The choice of technique depends on hairline position, forehead height, degree of brow ptosis, and desired outcome. Endoscopic and endoscopic-style approaches are often favored for appropriately selected patients because they use minimal incisions, leave smaller scars, and typically allow faster recovery.
What this procedure cannot do
A brow lift raises the brow position and softens forehead lines, but it does not remove excess upper-eyelid skin (that requires an upper blepharoplasty), correct true eyelid ptosis (a separate eyelid muscle procedure), or eliminate dynamic frown and surprise lines that come back as soon as the muscles move again — neuromodulators address those. The procedure also will not lower a high hairline; in fact, the coronal technique can raise it further. Patients with extensive sun damage, deep static creases, or thin crepey skin may need adjunct skin resurfacing for the best appearance.
Scars and incisions
Endoscopic brow lifts use 3–5 short incisions (typically 1–2 cm each) hidden behind the hairline. A temporal or lateral brow lift uses small incisions in the temporal scalp. A hairline (pretrichial) lift places the incision right at the front edge of the hairline — useful for patients who want to avoid raising the hairline, but the scar can be visible if it doesn't heal well. A coronal lift uses an ear-to-ear incision across the top of the scalp, fully hidden in hair but the longest of the options. Most scars mature into pale, well-hidden lines, though hairline-incision scars deserve careful long-term follow-up.
Recovery
Endoscopic approaches typically allow return to work within 7 to 10 days. Open techniques may require 10 to 14 days. Swelling and bruising resolve within 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid strenuous activity for 4 weeks.
Longevity of results
Brow lift results typically last 7–10 years, with endoscopic and SMAS-style fixations among the more durable options when performed by experienced surgeons. Brow position can drop subtly over time as gravity, soft-tissue changes, and continued aging proceed. Maintenance with neuromodulators (to reduce the depressor muscles that pull the brow down) can help extend the visible result.
Typical price range
$5,000 - $12,000
Common goals
- Raise drooping eyebrows
- Smooth forehead wrinkles
- Reduce glabellar frown lines
- Open up the eye area
- Achieve a more refreshed appearance
Risks
- Numbness or tingling
- Hair loss near incisions
- Asymmetry
- Elevated hairline (with coronal technique)
- Nerve injury
- Over-correction or under-correction
How to choose a surgeon
Choose a surgeon board-certified by the ABPS or ABFPRS who performs brow lifts regularly — not as an occasional add-on. Ask which technique they recommend for your specific anatomy and why, what fixation method they use (endotines, sutures, bone tunnels), and what their personal rate of asymmetry or revision is. Review their own before-and-after photos at 6+ months. Be cautious of providers marketing non-surgical "brow lifts" via threads or radiofrequency as equivalent to surgery — they are different procedures with different limits.
Frequently asked questions
Should I just use Botox instead?
Neuromodulators can subtly raise the lateral brow by relaxing the muscles that pull it down, and that's often a great starting point for younger patients or those not ready for surgery. But neuromodulators don't lift heavy tissue or remove redundant skin — and the effect is temporary, requiring repeat treatments every 3–4 months. Surgery is a longer-lasting answer for patients with true brow descent.
Will the brow lift change my hairline?
It depends on the technique. Endoscopic and temporal lifts typically don't change the hairline meaningfully. A coronal lift can raise the hairline by 1 cm or more. A hairline (pretrichial) approach lifts the brow without raising the hairline — sometimes it can lower it slightly. Discuss your hairline goals before choosing a technique.
Do I need a brow lift or upper blepharoplasty (or both)?
If your brow position is fine but you have heavy upper-lid skin, a blepharoplasty alone is usually right. If your brow is descended and pushing the upper-lid skin downward, lifting the brow may be the actual fix — and an upper blepharoplasty done without addressing the brow can pull it down further. Many patients need both. A surgeon's exam, with the brows held in their natural and lifted positions, is the only reliable way to tell.
How long is recovery?
Most patients return to non-public activities at 7–10 days for endoscopic approaches and 10–14 days for open techniques. Visible bruising usually fades by 2 weeks; mild numbness and tingling along the scalp can persist for weeks to months and almost always resolves. Strenuous activity is typically restricted for about 4 weeks.
Editorial disclaimer: This page is educational content reviewed by the MDcontour editorial team. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a board-certified plastic surgeon about your individual situation.