A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, can rejuvenate the upper face by lifting a low or drooping brow, smoothing forehead wrinkles, and softening frown lines between the eyebrows.
When the brow sits too low or the forehead develops deep lines, the face can appear tired, worried, sad, or angry even when you feel relaxed. Brow lift surgery can create a more refreshed, open, and balanced appearance while maintaining your natural facial expression.
At BodyAesthetic Plastic Surgery & Skincare Center, Dr. C.B. Boswell offers both traditional and endoscopic brow lift techniques and will recommend the approach that best addresses your anatomy, skin laxity, and aesthetic goals.
What Is a Brow Lift?
A brow lift rejuvenates the upper third of the face, from the upper eyelids across the forehead and toward the temples.
The procedure can:
- Elevate low or drooping eyebrows
- Improve asymmetry between the eyebrows
- Smooth horizontal forehead lines
- Soften vertical frown lines between the eyebrows
- Reduce upper-eyelid hooding caused by a low brow
- Create a more open and refreshed appearance
- Restore a more youthful position to the eyebrows
Many patients seek brow lift surgery because they are frequently told that they look tired, worried, or upset when they do not actually feel that way.
A brow lift can help create a more relaxed appearance without changing the fundamental character of your face.
Who Is a Candidate for a Brow Lift?
A brow lift may be appropriate for adults who have:
- Drooping or low-positioned eyebrows
- Forehead wrinkles or creases
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Upper-eyelid hooding related to brow position
- Asymmetry between the eyebrows
- A tired, worried, or angry appearance caused by brow position
Brow lift surgery is often performed in patients over 40, although age alone does not determine candidacy. Your facial anatomy, skin quality, degree of tissue laxity, and aesthetic goals are more important factors.
Some patients choose to combine a brow lift with other facial procedures, such as a facelift or eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), for more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
If the amount of forehead skin is excessive, or if significant horizontal wrinkles are present, a traditional browlift may be the best option. In this case, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, just behind the hairline. In patients with a high forehead, the incision is placed just below the hairline so the hairline will not be raised to an unnaturally high position. The resulting scar usually blends nicely into the hairline.
Whichever incision is used, a browlift removes excess forehead tissue and skin, repositions the muscles and tissues that cause wrinkling and frown lines, and tightens the forehead skin. The result is that the eyebrows are raised and the forehead smoothed.
The procedure takes about 1 1/2 hours and may be done on an outpatient basis. If a browlift is combined with other procedures, such as a facelift or eyelid lift, patients usually spend one night in the hospital.
Your Brow Lift Options
Endoscopic Brow Lift
An endoscopic brow lift is performed through several small incisions hidden behind the hairline. A small camera, called an endoscope, allows Dr. Boswell to release and reposition the tissues of the forehead.
At BodyAesthetic, the endoscopic approach is the most commonly performed brow lift technique.
Potential benefits include:
- Smaller incisions
- Less visible scarring
- Less alteration of scalp sensation
- Shorter healing time
- Effective elevation of the eyebrows
- Improvement in vertical frown lines
The endoscopic approach may not be as effective as a traditional brow lift for patients with significant horizontal forehead wrinkles or substantial excess forehead skin.
Traditional Brow Lift
For patients with significant forehead skin excess or pronounced horizontal forehead wrinkles, a traditional brow lift may be more appropriate.
The incision is typically placed across the scalp several centimeters behind the hairline. For patients with a naturally high forehead, the incision may instead be positioned closer to or just below the hairline to avoid unnecessarily increasing forehead height.
The resulting scar generally blends with the hairline, although it can become more noticeable when the hair is pulled away from the face.
During the procedure, excess tissue and skin are addressed, the underlying muscles and tissues contributing to wrinkles are repositioned, and the forehead skin is tightened.
The result is a higher, more natural-looking brow and a smoother forehead.
Brow Lift Surgery
During your consultation, Dr. Boswell will evaluate your forehead, brow position, eyelids, hairline, skin quality, and facial proportions. Together, you will determine which brow lift technique best suits your needs.
Regardless of the technique used, brow lift surgery generally involves:
- Making carefully planned incisions.
- Releasing and repositioning the forehead tissues.
- Addressing muscles that contribute to frown lines and wrinkles.
- Removing or repositioning excess tissue when appropriate.
- Elevating and reshaping the eyebrows.
- Closing the incisions to allow the tissues to heal.
A brow lift generally takes approximately 1½ to 2 hours, depending on the technique and whether additional procedures are performed.
The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia in an operating room.
Brow Lift Recovery
Immediately following surgery, a light dressing is placed over the incision and is generally removed the following day. You may then shower according to your surgeon's instructions.
It is normal to experience some tenderness, swelling, bruising, and temporary numbness following brow lift surgery. Swelling and bruising commonly increase during the first two to three days before gradually improving.
Because the tissues around the eyes are delicate, bruising and swelling may also extend into the eyelid area.
Keeping your head elevated during the first several days can help minimize swelling.
Your recovery timeline:
First few days
Expect swelling, bruising, scalp tenderness, and some discomfort. Prescription or recommended pain medication can help manage discomfort.
7–10 days
Stitches may be removed during this period. Many patients are ready to return to work around this time, although patients undergoing an endoscopic brow lift may be comfortable returning sooner.
Around 10 days
Most visible bruising has substantially improved and remaining discoloration can often be concealed with makeup.
Around 3 weeks
Approximately 85% of the swelling may have resolved.
4–6 weeks
Most swelling has subsided, although subtle residual swelling can continue to improve.
Up to 6 months
Your final result may continue to refine as the remaining swelling resolves and the tissues settle.
Side Effects and Risks
Temporary side effects may include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Headaches
- Scalp tenderness
- Itching around the incision
- Temporary hair loss near a traditional brow lift incision
As with any surgical procedure, brow lift surgery carries potential risks. These may include:
- Infection
- Excessive or widened scarring
- Facial nerve injury
- Temporary or permanent weakness affecting facial movement
- Brow asymmetry
- Changes in scalp sensation
- Hair loss around the incision
During your consultation, Dr. Boswell will discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and risks of surgery so you can make an informed decision about treatment.
Returning to Normal Activities
Recovery varies from patient to patient. Dr. Boswell will provide individualized instructions based on your procedure and healing progress.
Work
Patients who work from home may be able to return to work in approximately 4–7 days.
Patients who work in an office commonly feel comfortable returning in approximately 10 days.
Driving
Many patients can resume driving after approximately one week, provided they are no longer taking narcotic pain medication and can comfortably and safely respond to traffic conditions.
Exercise
Light walking may begin the day after surgery, following your surgeon's instructions.
For the first two weeks, lifting should generally be limited to less than 10 pounds. During the following two weeks, the limit may increase to approximately 20 pounds.
An elliptical machine or exercise bike may generally be introduced around four weeks, while unrestricted exercise may resume around six weeks, depending on your recovery.
Always follow Dr. Boswell's specific postoperative instructions rather than relying solely on general recovery timelines.
Duration of Results
A brow lift provides long-lasting correction of brow position and forehead tissue laxity.
Most patients undergo only one brow lift during their lifetime. As you continue to age, some recurrent brow laxity may develop over time, but additional surgery is not typically necessary.
Your result will continue to evolve naturally as the aging process continues.
Brow Lift FAQs
Will a brow lift make me look surprised?
The goal of a modern brow lift is not to create an excessively high or surprised-looking brow. Instead, the procedure is designed to restore the brow to a more natural, youthful position while maintaining appropriate facial proportions.
Does a brow lift remove forehead wrinkles?
A brow lift can improve horizontal forehead wrinkles and vertical frown lines, particularly when these wrinkles are related to muscle activity and excess skin. The degree of improvement varies depending on the technique and your individual anatomy.
Can a brow lift improve hooded eyelids?
A brow lift can improve upper-eyelid hooding when the hooding is caused in part by a low or drooping eyebrow. Some patients may benefit from combining a brow lift with blepharoplasty for more comprehensive upper-face rejuvenation.
Can I have a brow lift with a facelift?
Yes. Brow lift surgery may be combined with a facelift, eyelid surgery, or other facial rejuvenation procedures when appropriate.
How long does brow lift surgery take?
A brow lift generally takes approximately 1½ to 2 hours, depending on the surgical technique and whether other procedures are performed.
Is a brow lift performed under general anesthesia?
At BodyAesthetic, brow lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an operating room.
How much time should I take off work?
Many patients who work from home return within approximately 4–7 days. Patients who work outside the home often allow approximately 10 days before returning to work.
Your individual recovery may be shorter or longer.
Schedule a Consultation for a Brow Lift in St. Louis
If your eyebrows have begun to droop, your forehead wrinkles have become more noticeable, or you feel that your facial expression makes you look tired or concerned, a brow lift may be an option worth exploring.
Dr. C.B. Boswell can evaluate your facial anatomy and discuss whether an endoscopic or traditional brow lift is appropriate for you. Contact us today!