A brow lift, sometimes known as a forehead lift, minimises wrinkles and eye lines by lifting the muscles and tissue of the area above the eyebrows.

Nobody wants to look older than they are. Furrows and creases in the forehead and drooping eyebrows often appear well before wrinkles in other areas.

Reasons for choosing to have a brow lift

The forehead can be one of the first places to show signs of ageing. Stress, sun exposure and gravity are all contributing factors to sagging skin that has lost its elasticity, resulting in wrinkles and lines. The wrinkles in this area are often called frown lines because they make you look like you’re frowning when you’re not. Frown lines can make you look tired, sad or angry. You may also develop creases in the space between your eyebrows, which can yield the same tired look. This look may not reflect the way you actually feel.

A brow lift can help refresh your face and give you a more youthful look. It can also reposition existing expression lines so that they don’t fall between or directly above your eyebrows.

To get an idea of how you would look after a brow lift, put your hands above your eyebrows near the outside of your eyes and raise the skin upwards. If you like the way this looks, you might want to consider this procedure. Brow lifts are popular with women and men between the ages of 40 and 65. They are also suitable for anyone who feels that their brow area has sagged.

Things to consider once you’ve decided to have a brow lift

There are a few ways that a brow lift can be performed, two of which are the most popular used by surgeons today. The traditional method, known as a coronal brow lift, requires a single incision, starting at one ear and ending at the other, crossing the forehead slightly behind the hairline. Muscle and tissue of the forehead is lifted, and excess skin and fat is removed. The incision is then stitched.

Alternatively, your surgeon may use a thin instrument with a camera at one end called an endoscope. The endoscope allows the surgeon to make minimal incisions whilst still being able to see clearly. Usually, about 5 small incisions are made just behind the hairline, allowing the surgeon to insert surgical instruments to tighten and lift muscles and tissue. This method is much less invasive than the traditional method, and usually means a faster recovery time and less scarring.

A brow lift is often performed in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty). If you are considering any facial surgery and the recovery time that goes with it, consider a combination of procedures to rejuvenate the entire face.

What to expect

A brow lift usually takes between 1 to 2 hours, depending on which surgical method is used. The procedure normally takes place on an outpatient basis, and you can go home when the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off. Your surgeon may want you to stay in hospital overnight.

After surgery, a bandage will be wrapped around your head, which will be removed within 2 days. Depending on the type of surgery—coronal lift or endoscopy—stitches can also be removed within 7 – 14 days.

A day or two following surgery you should be able to go about most normal activities, with the exception of bending down and exercise. It is important that you follow your surgeon’s instructions and don’t do anything strenuous.

You will experience swelling and bruising to the forehead area and possibly also the cheek and eye area for up to 10 days following surgery.

It may be several weeks to a month before you see the end results of the brow lift procedure. You may also observe small changes as the muscles of your forehead settle during the months following surgery.

Before and after surgery

There are several things you can do leading up to any kind of surgery to improve the experience. There are also a number of things you can do following any surgery.

You will not be able to use any special hair treatments or chemicals to dye or style your hair for at least a month following surgery, so it is advisable to have any chemical hair treatments done before your surgery.

Possible risks and complications

As with any surgery there are risks involved in having a brow lift. You should be fully aware of these before you elect to have the procedure. It is always best to err on the side of caution when surgically changing your face.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with the list of complications that can arise as a result of any surgery.

The best way to reduce risk is to find a fully qualified surgeon with formal training in brow lift surgery who has performed the procedure many times.

Specific complications may occur after a brow lift. You may, for instance, have permanent hair loss around the scar area on the scalp. This can be fixed with hair transplant surgery.  Some people are unable to move their eyebrows or forehead following surgery. If this happens, additional corrective surgery may be necessary.

Just as you would discuss potential benefits before surgery, it is always advisable to ask your surgeon about the potential risks as they apply to you.

Rough costs involved

The cost of a brow lift will vary depending on the surgeon, the extent of the changes needed and the surgical method used. Your potential costs are best estimated after consulting a surgeon.

A brow lift can cost between $5000 and $7000 (AUD). This includes the surgeon’s and assistant surgeon’s fees, fees for the anaesthetist and the hospital costs. Some Australian private health insurers may help pay for the hospital bed and theatre fees. Getting a doctor’s referral may enable you to make a claim on these costs.

You should expect the costs to be higher if you are having combined procedures at the same time.

This information is correct as of 2019.