Brow Lifts: What They Are & Why Everyone's Talking About Them

Brow lifts are having a moment – celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, and Bella Hadid have sparked buzz around lifted, more open eyes. What are brow lifts? Okay, it's not rocket science. A brow lift lifts the position of the eyebrow itself. The lateral arch, the medial arch, or the entire eyebrow itself can be lifted. It is about subtlety here. Too much lift makes for a crazy, surprised look. NOT what we are going for!! But a strategic lift of just a few millimeters – chef's kiss. A WONDERFUL, subtle, refreshing, natural change!

Who Are Brow Lifts For?

To understand who brow lifts are for, let's first understand what is the normal position of an eyebrow. While it is different depending on gender and ethnicity, normally the female brow sits 0.5-1cm above what is called the orbital rim (or the bony ridge above your eye socket). Male brows are right at the level of the orbital rim, and are often more straight and less arched. As we age, the brow can descend from this optimal location. It can descend laterally, medially, or along the whole eyebrow.

Think of the upper eyelid skin as the curtain, and your eyebrow as the curtain rod. While you may have excess upper eyelid skin that benefits from an upper blepharoplasty or upper eyelid surgery, without correction of the position of the eyebrow, or curtain rod, the periorbital area will not look as rejuvenated and young. 

Things to Consider When Thinking About a Brow Lift

I rarely do just a brow lift in isolation. I usually combine it with other procedures, such as facial fat grafting, upper or lower blepharoplasty, or face lift. That is not to say you couldn't have a brow lift alone if that was the only thing you wanted or needed! But it illustrates the point that facial aging is a complex, multifaceted process that takes place globally in the face. Therefore, small other procedures combined with a brow lift often provide the most natural, truly "WOW" results.

What Is a Brow Lift & What to Expect from the Procedure?

Eyebrow lifts can be broken down into two main types – those that require long incisions along the hairline (either behind the hairline, aka coronal brow lift or forehead lift, or just in front of the hairline, called a pretrichial forehead lift), and those that are done via an endoscopic approach. I prefer the endoscopic approach, as this allows for smaller, more hidden incisions in the hair (see more below).

There is also what is called a "direct brow lift" which is almost used exclusively in men, and hides the incision in a forehead wrinkle.

Endoscopic Brow lift: Incisions, Recovery Time & Outcomes

Incisions are hidden just behind the hairline in an endoscopic brow lift, one of which is pictured below. You have two incisions on each side of your head, and then an additional 1-2 vertical incisions in the midline. I work around your part to hide the incisions so they are as invisible as possible.

Endoscopic Eyebrow Lift

Endoscopic Brow Lift Incisions

Brow Lift Myth Busting

Myth: Brow lifts make you look unnatural or surprised. Brow lifts, when done well, are about small (we are talking millimeters) adjustments. You will not look unnatural or surprised – just more refreshed and more like yourself.

Myth: Brow lifts ruin the hairline. My approach utilizes small endoscopic incisions that are hidden in the scalp and hair. Your hairline is not ruined with this approach.

Myth: Nonsurgical alternatives are as effective as brow lifts. This one is sort of a no-brainer, but the small "lift" of the brows that you can get with neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport) or strategically placed filler does not yield the same results as a surgical brow lift. Surgery is always going to be a more powerful tool than the noninvasive treatments.

Myth: Brow lifts require a long recovery. Simply not true! For the first 1-2 weeks after surgery, swelling, bruising, which can settle around the eyes, and mild pain/discomfort (often described as a headache) are common symptoms. Most of this resolves in about 2 weeks.

For the first 2 weeks, I also have my patients avoid strenuous activity that can increase heart rate or blood pressure, as this can increase risk of bleeding after surgery.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Brow lifts are not just for older individuals. They can be for anyone who has had some descent of the brow, and has a lower-than-optimal brow position.

The in-person consultation in the office is key. I am able to do a detailed physical exam, and assess your face both in person and with professional medical-grade photographs taken in the office. This allows me to develop a personalized surgical plan for you, and discuss how surgery would accomplish your goals.

Brow Lifts in the Wild: The Celebrity Effect

Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, Bella Hadid, and Kylie Jenner – what do these celebrities have in common? While we can't share celebrity brow lifts before and after photos (since none have confirmed the procedure!), there is speculation that brow lifts could be one of the things behind their refreshed, young appearances. While it is unconfirmed if these celebrities have had the procedure, what it does illustrate is that a brow lift, when done well, does not scream "brow lift" – but rather makes everyone ask "What is her secret?! How does she look so good?"Okay little disclaimer here – I'm NOT saying we should chase the sort of impossible beauty standards set by celebs who are jet-setting and sitting front row at fashion shows. BUT, I think it is important to educate the public that there is a good chance that surgery has helped many celebrities to achieve their enviable appearance.

Ultimately, the decision to undergo a brow lift should be made by a surgeon with good aesthetic judgment who is carefully considering the global appearance of your face, the facial aging process as it has unfolded for you, and your goals. Not that different from any other aesthetic procedure.

How Do Brow Lifts Differ from Upper Blepharoplasty or Injectables?

Upper blepharoplasty: An upper blepharoplasty, or upper eyelid surgery (link to page), removes excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper eyelid. While this can rejuvenate the periorbital area, you will not get the desired effect, or as powerful and cohesive an effect, if the brow position also needs to be addressed. It is common for people to think they need an upper bleph when really they may need a brow lift alone or a brow lift in addition to an upper bleph.

Botox brow lift: Neuromodulators, such as Botox and Dysport, can be strategically placed to lift the lateral aspect of the brow slightly, and also to potentially raise the brow some at the medial or central aspect. However, you are NOT going to get as powerful of a lift with this noninvasive treatment. Also, the effects will last 3-4 months. Lastly, you are not addressing or releasing some of the underlying musculature, which can have a very powerful lifting effect.

Is a Brow Lift Right for You?

My approach is thoughtful, personalized, and never one-size-fits-all. Come see me for a consultation to see if a brow lift could be right for you!