Forehead/Eyebrow Lift: Plastic Surgery

Overview

What is a brow lift?

A forehead lift (also referred to as an eyebrow or brow lift) elevates the sagging eyebrows and reshapes the eyebrows so they look more refreshed. With aging, the eyebrows lower or descend. Patients often complain of looking angry or sad. A forehead lift is often combined with eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty (a blepharoplasty, alone, cannot reposition the eyebrow).

Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center offers several types of forehead lift procedures, including minimally invasive approaches that hide incisions and minimize visible scars.

Why choose us?

Experts at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center have advanced training in forehead/eyebrow lift. When considering forehead/eyebrow lift, always look for a surgeon with significant experience. A good rule of thumb is to see a surgeon recommended by your primary care doctor, family members or friends who have had a positive experience.

You should feel comfortable with the surgeon. You should ask how many such procedures the surgeon has done, and you should review before and after photographs of their past procedures. Make sure to ask your cosmetic surgeon about their credentials, training and how many procedures they have performed.

Learn more about Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center.

Before & After Photos

This is a woman in her early sixties who desired correction of low brows and laxity of her lower face and neck. She is shown before browlift and lower facelift (left) and over 1 year after (right).
This is a woman in her early sixties who desired correction of low brows and laxity of her lower face and neck. She is shown before browlift and lower facelift (left) and over 1 year after (right).
This is a woman in her early forties who was concerned of low and asymmetric brows. She is shown before brow lift and upper blepharoplasty (left) and 2 months after (right).
This is a woman in her early forties who was concerned of low and asymmetric brows. She is shown before brow lift and upper blepharoplasty (left) and 2 months after (right).
This is a 49-year patient who presented with desiring facial feminization. The patient is shown before brow lift with forehead contouring and upper blepharoplasty shown before surgery (left) and 8 months after surgery (right).
This is a 49-year patient who presented with desiring facial feminization. The patient is shown before brow lift with forehead contouring and upper blepharoplasty shown before surgery (left) and 8 months after surgery (right).

How to Prepare

Am I a candidate for a forehead lift (eyebrow lift)?

A forehead lift (also known as an eyebrow lift or brow lift) is a highly individualized procedure. Good candidates for brow lift surgery are:

Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery.
Individuals with a positive outlook and specific, realistic goals in mind to improve their appearance.

How do I prepare for a forehead lift (eyebrow lift)?

Preparing for your forehead lift at a Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center will include:

An in-depth history and physical examination, including an exam of your face and eyelid area.
A review of your medications and cautions regarding the importance of stopping aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications prior to surgery.
Stopping the use of herbal supplements before surgery.

What to Expect

How is a forehead lift (eyebrow lift) performed?

The traditional coronal or open brow lift (which involves a large incision in the hairline) is rarely performed today. It has been replaced by other procedures requiring smaller incisions (leading to a faster recovery).

The endoscopic brow lift is performed using a laparoscope or endoscope using small incisions in the hairline. The camera on the endoscope projects the images on a television screen allowing the surgeon excellent visibility.

Additional variations include a hairline brow lift performed through an incision at the hairline. This allows the surgeon to elevate the eyebrows but also lower the forehead height for those patients with a high forehead.

A direct brow lift (transcutaneous brow shaping) is performed by making an incision just above the eyebrow itself and removing skin at that level.

Is a forehead lift (eyebrow lift) safe?

All surgical procedures carry some risk. Possible complications from a forehead lift (eyebrow lift) surgery include:

Temporary numbness or itching of the forehead and hair.
Small amount of hair loss in the area of the incision.
Bleeding underneath the skin of the forehead.
Prolonged swelling.
Injury to the nerve that raises the eyebrow (very rare).

Results

What results can I expect?

The final results of your forehead/eyebrow lift will appear within several weeks. Results of the procedure typically last for a long time. View our forehead surgery before and after photos to see results from actual patients.

The effects of the procedure can last many years to an entire lifetime, but some patients may need to have the procedure repeated. Following up with a Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center surgeon (in addition to life-long sun protection) is very important to maintaining your results.

What is involved in recovery?

Recovery from a forehead/eyebrow lift takes time, and it’s important that you are patient with the process. Your surgeon will recommend a cold compress for 48 hours following surgery with your head elevated when resting. The sutures are removed approximately one week following surgery. Most patients fully recover within two weeks and return to their normal routine.

Insurance & Financing

Insurance rarely covers the cost of elective cosmetic surgery and procedures. Please call 216.444.4004 and ask to speak with one of our financial representatives who can explain payment options, including CareCredit financing.