How Long Does a Brow Lift Take?

If frown lines are getting in the way of your smile, you’re not alone. The forehead and eyebrows are often one of the first areas to show signs of aging, which often appear as lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. If you’re ready for long-lasting facial rejuvenation and a smoother forehead, it may be time for a brow lift.

What is a Brow Lift (Forehead Lift)?

A brow lift, or forehead lift, is a procedure to reduce signs of aging in the brow area. Brow lifts target common concerns like frown lines and droopy eyebrows by tightening the skin for a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Unlike blepharoplasty, a brow lift addresses the skin above your eyebrows. This makes it an ideal treatment for deep furrows, lines between your eyes, and sagging brows. For some patients, a brow lift may be combined with an eyelid lift or facelift for the best results.

Brow Lift Techniques

At Specialty Aesthetic Surgery, we perform a variety of brow lift techniques. This allows us to customize each procedure to the patient’s unique needs and goals. No matter what technique is used, your surgeon will minimize scarring by hiding incisions within your hairline or natural skin folds.

Many patients benefit from an endoscopic brow lift, which utilizes an endoscope to minimize incisions and scarring. An endoscope is a thin tube with a tiny light and camera at the end, which allows the surgeon to see through a few small incisions. They can then lift and tighten the skin, securing it in a smoother, more youthful position.

The more traditional method, an open or coronal brow lift, may be appropriate for patients with a receding hairline or more severe skin sagging. This procedure requires an incision from ear to ear above the hairline but allows your surgeon to make more significant adjustments and corrections.

How Long Does a Brow Lift Take?

Your surgery will be an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia or sedation. Depending on your personalized procedure, a brow lift typically takes less than two hours. A friend or family member can drive you home after the procedure, and we recommend having someone stay with you for the first night or two.

How Long is Recovery From a Brow Lift?

Healing will vary for each patient, but full recovery after a brow lift typically takes a few weeks. During this time, swelling and bruising are normal. Some patients also experience side effects like itching, numbness, and tingling during recovery. You should expect to take 10-14 days of downtime. It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for three to four weeks.

We’ll give you instructions on managing any discomfort and using ice packs to reduce swelling. You might need to have the sutures removed a week after surgery unless surgical glue or dissolvable thread was used. You may need to wear a bandage for a few days to a week.

For the first few weeks after your procedure, swelling may obscure your results. This may cause you to look surprised or your eyebrows to be slightly asymmetrical for a while, but this is temporary.

How Long Will My Brow Lift Results Last?

While many people prefer non-surgical treatments like Botox® to combat frown lines and wrinkles, the benefit of a brow lift is its long-lasting results. The exact longevity of your results will depend on the technique used and your skin condition, but you can expect to enjoy a rejuvenated appearance for several years. The results of a brow lift often last up to 10 years.

How Can I Maintain My Results From a Brow Lift?

Since a brow lift targets signs of aging like wrinkles and skin sagging, the best way to preserve your appearance long-term is to take care of your skin and prevent new wrinkles from forming. Using sunscreen and protecting your skin from sun damage is crucial to keeping it healthy and firm.

Additionally, non-surgical cosmetic treatments like Botox® and laser skin resurfacing are a great way to complement and maintain your brow lift results. Neurotoxins like Botox® reduce frown lines by stopping repetitive muscle movements that cause dynamic wrinkles, and laser treatments stimulate increased collagen production to keep your skin firm and smooth.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Forehead Lift?

Most adults who are overall healthy and have realistic expectations are ideal candidates for a brow or forehead lift. This procedure is an effective solution for frown lines, droopy eyebrows, and sagging forehead skin. If you are looking for longer-lasting or more dramatic results than non-surgical treatments can offer, a brow lift may be right for you.

Take the Next Step – Request a Consultation

Want to learn more about facelifts? Schedule your consultation online or by calling Specialty Aesthetic Surgery at (212) 737-8700. We look forward to working with you!

Specialty Aesthetic Surgery serves the greater NYC metro area.

About Our Surgeons

Bruce Moskowitz is an experienced oculoplastic surgeon. His practice encompasses all areas of oculoplastic cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has a well-known reputation for revision surgery, and a large portion of his practice comes from other colleagues to revise sub-optimal outcomes.

Grigoriy Mashkevich is an experienced and double-board certified facial plastic surgeon. He belongs to a highly select group of surgeons with a focused specialization in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose, face, and neck.

Dr. Anna Frants is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who is experienced in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Her areas of surgical specialty include the face, neck, nose, eyelids, eyebrows, and ears.