What Is a Brow Lift (Forehead Lift)?

If your eyebrows have dropped with age, a brow lift may restore a more youthful position. Here is what it involves.

A brow lift (also called a forehead lift) is a surgical procedure that lifts the eyebrows and forehead tissues to a more youthful position. It addresses the upper third of the face.

  • What it addresses:
  • Drooping eyebrows (low brow position)
  • Horizontal forehead wrinkles
  • Frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines)
  • Heavy or tired appearance of the upper face
  • Hooding of the upper eyelids (from low brows)
  • How it differs from blepharoplasty:
  • Blepharoplasty removes eyelid skin; brow lift lifts the brow position
  • A brow lift addresses the cause of some eyelid hooding
  • Many patients benefit from both procedures together

Types of brow lifts:

  • 1. Endoscopic brow lift:
  • 3–5 small incisions hidden in the scalp
  • A camera (endoscope) guides the surgery
  • The forehead tissues are lifted and secured
  • Most common and minimally invasive
  • 2. Coronal brow lift:
  • An incision from ear to ear across the top of the scalp
  • More visible scar but provides dramatic lifting
  • Used for patients with very low brows
  • 3. Temporal brow lift (lateral brow lift):
  • Incisions at the temples only
  • Lifts the outer part of the brow
  • Good for patients with hooding at the outer corner of the eye

When to See a Surgeon

  • Consider a brow lift if:
  • Your eyebrows rest at or below your brow bone
  • You have heavy hooding of your upper eyelids
  • You constantly raise your eyebrows to see better
  • Horizontal forehead wrinkles bother you

Clinical Guidance

A brow lift lifts the eyebrows and forehead to correct drooping brows, reduce forehead wrinkles, and create a more rested, youthful upper face. The endoscopic technique uses small hidden incisions and has a shorter recovery than traditional methods.