Many patients come to me convinced they need eyelid surgery when the real problem is the brow. As the forehead and brow descend with age, they crowd the upper eyelids, flatten the arch of the brow and make you look tired, heavy or even angry when you feel none of those things. A brow lift repositions the brow where it belongs and opens up the whole upper face, often more effectively than eyelid surgery alone.
What a Brow Lift Can Correct
- A low or flattened brow that makes the eyes look small and tired
- Heavy upper eyelids caused by brow descent rather than excess eyelid skin
- Deep horizontal forehead furrows and frown lines between the brows
- Asymmetry, where one brow sits noticeably lower than the other
Modern Brow Lifts Do Not Look Surprised
The overlifted, startled look of the 1990s came from pulling the entire forehead up. Today I lift selectively. For most patients a temporal (lateral) brow lift through small incisions hidden in the hairline raises the outer third of the brow, which is where the arch is lost and where the eye reads as tired, without touching the inner brow. An endoscopic brow lift uses a few short incisions behind the hairline and a camera to release and reposition the brow with minimal scarring. For patients with a very high forehead or heavy, deeply furrowed brows, a hairline or coronal lift may give a better result. I will show you at your consultation which technique fits your anatomy.
Brow Lift With Eyelid Surgery or a Facelift
A brow lift is often performed in the same operation as upper eyelid surgery, since the two problems usually coexist, and it balances a facelift so the upper face does not look older than the lower. Fat grafting to the temples and upper lids can be added when hollowing is part of the picture.
Hear Me Talk Brow Lifts on Beauty and the Beasts
I devoted a full episode of Beauty and the Beasts to why the brow lift is the most underrated operation in facial rejuvenation, and how modern techniques avoid the surprised look.
What to Expect
A brow lift is an outpatient procedure under anesthesia that takes one to two hours, longer when combined with other procedures. Expect swelling and some bruising around the eyes for the first week. Sutures or clips come out at about one week, most patients return to work in seven to ten days, and residual swelling settles over three weeks. Numbness of the scalp is normal and resolves over a few months.
Brow Lift FAQs
Do I need a brow lift or eyelid surgery?
Look in the mirror and gently lift your brow with a finger. If the heaviness of your upper lid disappears, the brow is at least part of the problem. Many patients benefit from both, and I examine the two together at every consultation.
Will I look surprised?
No. I lift the brow to its natural position and shape the arch, mainly in the outer third. The overlifted look comes from a technique I do not use.
Can Botox do the same thing?
Neuromodulators can give a small lift at the tail of the brow and soften forehead lines, which is a good option for early changes. They cannot reposition a brow that has truly descended.
How long does a brow lift last?
Ten years or more for most patients. You continue to age from a better starting point.
How much does a brow lift cost in Dallas?
Cost depends on the technique and whether it is combined with eyelid surgery or a facelift. You will receive a personalized quote at your consultation.
Brow Lift Patient Reviews
Recognition
Newsweek has named Dr. Jejurikar one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons for five consecutive years. He has been named to D Magazine’s Best Doctors in Dallas and Texas Monthly Super Doctors for many years running.
Schedule Your Brow Lift Consultation in Dallas
If people keep telling you that you look tired when you are not, I would like to examine your brow and eyes together and show you what will actually fix it. Call 214-827-2814 or request a consultation online.
Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute, 9101 N. Central Expressway, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75231. Dr. Sam Jejurikar is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Individual results vary.
