The average cost of a brow lift procedure is $8,280, according to hundreds of patient reviews. Prices can range widely, from just $3,000 to $19,000.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons puts the cost of a brow lift at $5,460, noting that this is just the average surgeon’s fee: it doesn’t include anesthesia, facility fees, or other related costs.
Read on to find out whether it’s worth the money (according to patients), what to look for in a cost quote, and all the factors that will impact the price you pay.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About a Brow Lift
Brow lift surgery has a 88% Worth It Rating from patient reviews on RealSelf, with many saying it made them look significantly younger.
When it comes to smoothing forehead creases, furrows, frown lines, and wrinkles, there’s really no substitute for a surgical brow lift (aka a forehead lift). It offers a level of improvement that you can’t get from nonsurgical options like Botox, and results can last up to a decade.
Related: When It's Time to Quit Botox and Get a Brow Lift
Brow lifts have relatively few complications, but some reviewers on RealSelf do say that this procedure was “Not Worth It” for them because they experienced problems like temporary or long-term nerve damage around the incision site, visible scars, overly raised eyebrows, significant asymmetry, or even an inability to close their upper eyelids completely. Be sure to see an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon for this procedure.
Also be aware that different techniques have different complication rates. A 2017 analysis of 76 studies on brow lift complications showed that:
To help ensure your brow rejuvenation results are worth the money, it can be beneficial to consult with more than one qualified, board-certified surgeon. Ask about which technique they'd recommend, their complication rates, and how they handle any problems that arise.
Calling a practice to request their brow lift surgery price range over the phone can be a good place to start when comparing costs, but they may just quote you the surgeon’s fee or a wide range. You’ll get the most accurate, personalized estimate of your all-in expenses by having a consultation with the surgeon.
They should confirm whether you're a good candidate for this cosmetic surgery and recommend a customized treatment plan before providing you with a detailed, written cost quote, including:
Also ask whether you’ll need to cover the cost of pain medication for the first few days of recovery and antibiotics, to reduce your risk of infection.
These are the biggest factors that will influence the price you pay for a brow lift.
Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon who specializes in this procedure can help ensure that you'll get good brow lift surgery results, with a lower risk of complications.
Make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery, or American Board of Ophthalmology (in the case of oculoplastics). Pay close attention to their patient reviews and photo gallery, and don’t be afraid to ask during your consultation how many brow lift procedures they perform each month.
The surgeon's fee will be largely based on their credentials, level of experience, and how much patient demand there is for their services.
This procedure is considered safe in experienced hands, but it also comes with risks of visible scarring, nerve damage, and poor aesthetic results.
If you’re going to do it, it's worth paying to ensure you’ll be operated on by a true expert in facial plastic surgery.
Surgeons who practice in major cities, especially in upscale areas, have to charge patients more to offset their higher overhead costs, including rent and staff salaries.
If you live in a place like New York or LA and you’re willing to go outside your local area, you may be able to save by finding a qualified surgeon in outlying areas, or by traveling to a smaller city with more reasonable prices.
Many surgeons offer virtual consultations to out-of-town patients, and some even offer fly-in specials to help offset travel expenses.
Having your surgery performed in a hospital operating room can give you added peace of mind if you're a high-risk surgical patient with a condition like heart disease or diabetes.
If you don’t have underlying conditions and your surgeon has their own surgery center, that’s a great way to save money on facility fees.
Just be sure to ask if their surgical facility has been certified for safety by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) and if they have hospital privileges at a nearby hospital (in case of an emergency).
All brow lift procedures involve resetting the skin to smooth out forehead lines and reposition a sagging brow. However, some forehead lift techniques, like the direct brow lift and the coronal brow lift, are more invasive, complex, and time-consuming than others. They also require more brow lift recovery time.
The surgical technique your surgeon uses will depend on what they think will give you the best result, based on the depth of your forehead wrinkles, the amount of excess skin that may need to be removed, and your aesthetic goals.
“The presence of deep horizontal forehead lines, the thickness of the brows, the amount of brow asymmetry, the height of the forehead, the position of the hairline, the hair color and density, and the patient's typical hairstyle are all factors that play in to determining the best technique for each individual patient,” says Dr. Matthew Richardson, a facial plastic surgeon in Frisco, Texas.
For example, an endoscopic brow lift is minimally invasive and involves small incisions, but it may not be a good option if you have serious skin laxity. During your consultation, your surgeon will examine your entire face and explain their recommended technique. This is a perfect time to ask how that will impact the price you pay.
They may also recommend combining your eyebrow lift with a facelift and necklift or an eyelid lift (aka eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty), to give your face a more youthful appearance.
Additional procedures can add thousands of dollars to your bill, but if you’re planning to get them anyway, there are financial advantages to having them in one go. Surgeons often discount their fee for each additional procedure, and you’d also save on anesthesia and facility fees.
Typically, people undergoing brow lift surgery have general anesthesia, which essentially puts you in an induced coma.
Some plastic surgeons opt for local anesthesia with IV sedation, otherwise known as twilight sedation. This option blocks pain and anxiety, but you stay awake (semi-conscious) and breathing on your own. An anesthesiologist still has to be present to monitor you throughout your procedure, so it won't save money, but it does have some safety advantages.
General anesthesia or twilight sedation can be administered by either a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist (MD). Anesthesia fees will be higher with an MD than a CRNA, but some surgeons and patients prefer to have the expertise of a doctor.
Most plastic surgeons do accept financing options or offer monthly payment plans. In fact, it’s very common for patients to pay for their procedure via financing.
Before booking, talk to your provider’s patient coordinator about which financing options they accept.
Related: Plastic Surgery Financing: How to Pay for Your Cosmetic Procedure
Browse the average cost of a brow lift by U.S. state, according to patient reviews on RealSelf. As of July 2023, Colorado had the cheapest average cost (as reported by patients), while Nevada was the most expensive. States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.
State | Average Cost of Brow Lift Surgery |
|---|---|
Colorado | $5,117 |
New York | $5,905 |
Florida | $6,714 |
Texas | $6,750 |
Maryland | $7,417 |
Arizona | $7,533 |
New Jersey | $7,850 |
California | $9,214 |
Nevada | $9,530 |
Average costs according to patient-reported data, as of July 2023. Cities not listed did not have enough data to include.
Metro Area | Average Cost |
|---|---|
Phoenix, AZ | $7,533 |
Las Vegas, NV | $9,530 |
Washington, DC | $9,900 |
North New Jersey | $11,408 |
Los Angeles, CA | $11,500 |