How Effective is a Brow Lift?

In my hands, brow lifts are treated as brow relaxation procedures. Slight elevation of the brows can create a perception of relaxation and can minimize the need for upper eyelid surgery.
I explain to female patients that one of the goals is to elevate the brow, with emphasis on the lateral third or "tail" of the brow. Furthermore, the major goal of the procedure is not to achieve an Olympic record in brow height, but to create the perception of a more relaxed person. The second goal of a brow procedure is to minimize the central forehead lines through surgical division of the muscles that work in the glabella (corrugator supercilli and procerus).
I utilize two primary techniques in performing brow procedures:
The Endoscopic approach and the Trichophytic Approach. I make the decision on which technique to use (with the patient) based on the height of the patient's hairline. The advantages of the Endoscopic approach are: 1) smaller incisions within the hairline (typically four 1.5 cm incisions), 2) less recovery time. Typically an absorbable fixation device such as an Endotyne (absorbable implant) is used to hold the brow in position during the recovery period. The disadvantages include: 1) potential hairline elevation, 2) potential for less longevity of cosmetic benefit.
The advantages of the Trichophytic Approach (the incision is placed along the frontal hairline in an irregular wavy pattern, mimicking the normal advancement and recession of hair growth) are 1) a high hairline can be lowered or stabilized, 2) greater control over brow elevation, 3) hair will grow through the hairline scar, thereby concealing it. The disadvantages include: 1) a longer scar, 2) longer recovery time. Consultation with your surgeon will help determine which technique works best for you.
Brow relaxation procedures should generally be subtle; there are few tell tale signs of cosmetic surgery that are more obvious than an over elevated brow, or a patient with a high central brow position (quizzical look). In my opinion, a brow lift must be done very carefully in a male patient. Over elevation of the male brow lends itself to a more feminine appearance.

Brow lifts can be highly effective at raising the position of the brows, giving the appearance of opening the eyes further, slightly decreasing the wrinkles of the forehead and in between the brows (in some patients), and improving the upper eyelid area. The degree of improvement will vary from one patient to another and might also vary depending on the technique that is used to lift the brows. There are pros and cons of each surgical technique, and we try to customize each procedure to each individual patient in order to achieve the best possible result. Be sure to ask your surgeon about the various different brow lifting techniques that they offer.All the best,

A well performed brow lift can rejuvenate your face, making you look more awake, alert and rested. The lift should be subtle and natural so that you don't end up with the “surprised” look we sometimes see in celebrities. A brow lift can help lift sagging eyelid skin, reducing the need for blepharoplasty. I hope this helps.

Facial aging is frequently associated with descent of the brow.  This results in the brow sitting at a lower than normal level which tends to make the patient look unhappy and on occasion, angry.  It’s part of the characteristic findings that are seen with the aging process.
The brow lift has historically been performed in conjunction with facelift procedures in an effort to rejuvenate the facial appearance.  Historically, this has been performed by making an incision across the top of the head and pulling the skin in an upwards direction.  Frequently, scars have been associated with this technique and elevation of the anterior hairline.
Endoscopic brow lift represents a significant advance in plastic surgery.  With this technique, small incisions can be made behind the hairline and a small scope inserted beneath the skin, which can be utilized to separate the soft tissue of the forehead from the underlying bony structures.  The skin is then repositioned, utilizing an anchoring device behind the hairline.  This results in a much more youthful appearance of the forehead.  It is frequently performed in conjunction with facelifts and upper eyelid surgery, as part of an effort to totally rejuvenate the aging face.

Brow lifts are actually a set of procedures that address the sagging and wrinkling of the brow. Your surgeon will recommend a certain type of brow lift depending on what is causing the descent of your brow, but all of these procedures work by manipulating the tissues that affect the position and movement of the brow. You can realistically expect to achieve significant improvement specifically in the wrinkling and drooping of your brow, and a more youthful and alert look overall.

Most people who undergo brow lift complain of looking tired or sad. Newer techniques give a more subtle result so as to avoid the “deer in the headlights” look. Actually, we usually gauge results by what happens around the eyes and not by how much the brow is elevated. A more refreshed and relaxed look around the eyes is the goal. Often, it is combined with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). The results can be very long term, lasting up to 15 years or longer.

"Brow lift" surgery can take several forms.. The goal of this is to help improve the eyebrow-eyelid region to create a more vital, youthful, and rested appearance. While forehead elevation, either using a traditional forehead open hairline incision or several smaller ones (endoscopically assisted) are the common procedures, don't overlook  other viable options for rejuvenating the brow and eyelid region. These include a limited lateral brow elevation, brow augmentation with fat or fillers, and brow elevation using Botox or Dysport.

Sometimes a relatively minor procedure can produce a subtle but pleasing result without a larger surgery. Certainly it is important to avoid an over- elevated ('surprised')  look to the brows that unfortunately occurs after too much surgery. A natural look is crucial. When one studies the position of brows of attractive people, including those considered "beautiful" by today's world, we see the shape of the brows is much more important than the position. Ask your surgeon what might be best for your face. 

Since the development of the endoscopic technique, brow lifting has gained popularity with both patients and doctors. Gone are the days of open procedures with big incisions, long healing times and a potential for noticeable scarring. Endoscopic Brow lifting is an excellent, minimally invasive procedure, that provides high levels of satisfaction in the properly selected patient. It also helps to provide better balance to the face when other procedures, such as facelifts, midface lifts, and lower eyelid lifts are being done.
Brow lifting is indicated for patients with moderate to severe upper eyelid aging. Skin excess can create a narrowing of the eye opening. Problems with vision may occur if the skin hangs over the eyelid margin towards the side of the eye, physically blocking your visual field. When the eyebrows have fallen significantly, some of this "extra" skin is actually brow skin, which can not be removed with a blepharoplasty alone. If visual field problems are medically documented, then insurance can sometimes cover the procedure.
So, while upper eyelid blepharoplasty or upper eye lifts alone can be effective for patients with mild to moderate problems, brow lifting must be done in order to ensure a good result in people with more advanced problems. Brow lifting can also help to reshape the contour of the eyebrow or create better eyebrow symmetry. It can also be done to avoid the need for blephroplasty in patients with low brows and early upper eyelid skin excess.
Since the procedure is endoscopic, there are only small incisions hidden within the hairline. The bruising and swelling that occurs is typically gone within a week and results do endure. There are very few complications that can occur, such as numbness of the forehead or infection. However, these are exceedingly rare in the right hands.
Finally, like other procedures in plastic surgery, your anatomy may affect the result. Patients with heavy forehead and brow skin, male patients, and those with more shallow eye sockets will not have as much lift as those with thin skin or more deeply set eyes. However, as long as your surgeon explains these limitations, then you will likely be happy with the result you can achieve.

The key to a browlift, much like most of cosmetic surgery, is picking the right procedure for the right patient. Some patients are excellent candidates for a browlift, while others really only need eyelid surgery, so the first step is to consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can analyze each aspect of your upper face carefully, including the arc or shape of the brow, the position and symmetry of your brows, the position of your hairline, and the amount of excess upper eyelid skin and fat that you may have.
The next question is what type of browlift to perform, as they each have different pros and cons. Options include a bicoronal browlift, endoscopic browlift, temporal lift, or limited incision lateral browlift, among others. Here, again, the key is for the surgeon to sit down with you, analyze both your anatomy, and just as importantly, review with you in careful detail what your specific goals are, and pick the procedure that is right for you. Some patients desire a very dramatic difference, while others want the brow position to be altered just slightly.
In the end, pick your surgeon carefully and ask to see some before and after photos to give you a sense of what results you could expect.
Best of luck,
Dr. S

Brow lifts are very effective for the right clients. If you are interested in getting rid of forehead wrinkles, deep lines between the eyebrows or a sagging brow, a brow lift can truly work wonders. You can expect a significant reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and a repositioning of the eyebrows for a more youthful, open expression. Brow lifts are relatively simple surgeries with brief recovery times and few risks, and in the right hands, your results don’t need to look overdone. To ensure that a brow lift is right for you and that you will achieve a natural-looking outcome, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon with plenty of experience.