The forehead and brows are an expressive area of the face. A lift of the eyebrow or wrinkling of the forehead can express your thoughts without saying a word. Over the years, the forehead and brows can become etched with lines. The frown lines between the eyebrows and forehead horizontal lines are some of the first lines that appear on the face. The eyebrows lose their youthful arch and impact the shape of the eye. At LM Medical NYC in Manhattan, we offer a transforming forehead lift and brow lift surgery that can smooth away lines and restore a youthful brow arch.

Rejuvenating the Brow and Forehead

A brow lift, when needed, can rejuvenate the upper third of the face by elevating a sagging brow, softening forehead wrinkles and reducing the frown lines between the eyebrows. The sagging brow creates upper eyelids that appear heavy and sad. Repositioning the eyebrows upward to a natural position corrects the appearance of the eyes. Wrinkles between the eyes and forehead furrows may also be addressed through a brow lift, often in combination with a cosmetic eyelid procedure called a blepharoplasty. The brow lift complements the blepharoplasty to rejuvenate the upper third of the face. A well-executed brow lift is subtle, natural and not overdone.

Brow Lift FAQ

Who is a good candidate for a brow lift?

An ideal candidate is a healthy adult whose eyebrows are low and forehead is high and who wishes to improve the appearance of their forehead and eyes.

What is the difference between an endoscopic brow lift and an open “coronal” brow lift? How do the results differ between each?

An endoscopic brow lift uses an endoscopic instrument to make three to four ½-inch incisions hidden in the hair. Prior to the endoscope, a coronal brow lift was the most common approach where an incision was made from ear to ear over the top of the head in the hairline, thereby raising the brow and the forehead.

How do I decide whether I would be better off with an open and coronal brow lift?

The open brow lift is typically more dramatic as it maintains a greater elevation of the brows. However, in an open brow lift, more swelling occurs. Patients often experience varying degrees of temporary and/or permanent numbness in parts of the scalp.

Which procedure is more commonly done today?

The endoscopic brow lift is more commonly conducted today because of the faster recovery time and minimized scarring. However, expert facial surgeon Dr. Rabach will assess each individual patient to provide the best surgery protocol to achieve maximized results.

Will there be scarring?

When the incision is made at the scalp, the hair grows through the scar, thereby covering it.

How is the brow held up while it is healing?

There are a wide variety of options including: screws, absorbable “carpet tacks” and various suture techniques.

How do you determine what the best type of brow lift is for me?

Determination of what type of brow lift lies completely with the individual. Renowned facial surgeon Dr. Rabach will carefully and closely evaluate the forehead and hairline to determine which method is best.

What is the difference between an upper eye lift and a brow lift?

A brow lift does not touch the eyelid skin; rather it elevates the brows. An upper eye lift specifically removes excess skin around the lids to reduce the amount of skin between the brow and the lash.

How can I tell whether I should get an upper eye lift or a brow lift?

Typically, a brow lift is most appropriate for patients when there is “hooding” of the upper lid that extends past the end of the eye towards the crow’s feet. Additionally, a brow lift may be appropriate for patients who have lost their brow arch or the brow is within the eye socket. An upper eye lift (upper blepharoplasty) may be a more appropriate surgery if the patient already has a defined arch or wants to maintain the height of their eye. It is best to seek out a consultation with a board certified facial plastic surgeon before determining the course of action.

Can both procedures be done at the same time? If I need both, but just want to do one, which should I do first?

Both procedures can and are often done together. However, because the brow lift has a slightly longer recovery time, some patients prefer the upper blepharoplasty to be the first surgery to perform. When the brow lift is performed first, surgeons can more accurately determine how much excess skin tissue to remove during an upper blepharoplasty.

Can I have other procedures done at the same time as my brow lift?

A common surgery that complements a brow lift is a facelift.

Will a brow lift get rid of the frown lines between my eyes?

A brow lift will not eliminate frown lines. However, they may be softened with the reduction of some of the muscle in the upper forehead region. If the entire muscle in the glabella area is removed, the brows would widen apart. Therefore, it is best to complete this surgery with Botox in order to treat any frown lines that may still be present.

Will a brow lift get rid of the deep lines on my forehead?

A brow lift will not get rid of the forehead lines, but it will reduce them. Most of the time, deep forehead lines are formed because of patients raising their brows. Once the brow is raised, there is less need to lift the eyebrow.

Will a brow lift get rid of the deep lines on the side of my eyes (crow’s feet)?

A brow lift does not eliminate crow’s feet, but similar to forehead lines, it will soften these lines because the brow will not need to be raised as frequently.

Will a brow lift keep me from ever needing Botox again?

Most patients utilize Botox after their surgery to enhance their results. After a brow lift, most patients will not need to come in for their Botox treatment as frequently.

Will I look pulled and tight after my brow lift or will I look natural?

As we age, brows will begin to drop. Skilled facial surgeon Dr. Rabach ensures that each of her brow lift patients achieve a natural-looking lift that is elevated, but not in a way that is highly and overly arched.

Will I have a surprised look after my brow lift?

A surprised look will result from a brow being pulled too high or the inner brow being elevated too much relative to the outer brow. Dr. Rabach makes a close assessment on each patient to ensure these results are avoided.

What are the common risks/side effects after surgery?

Typically, patients experience swelling and some soreness, but pain is not significant. A drain is left in overnight and removed in the morning to help reduce any swelling and bruising, as well as aid in the recovery. Recovery is about three to four days of downtime before going back to work. We recommend waiting a week before traveling by airplane and about two weeks before resuming a routine exercise regime.

If you have forehead lines and sagging eyebrows, a brow lift, or forehead lift surgery, can rejuvenate the upper portion of your eyes and face. To learn more about brow lift surgery, contact us at LM Medical NYC in Greenwich Village and the Upper East Side.