Brow Lift Surgery: Restoring a Youthful, Natural Upper Face

Medically reviewed by John L. Burns Jr., MD, FACS · Board-certified plastic surgeon · Dallas, Texas · Updated October 2026

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When we think about facial aging, we often focus on the eyelids, cheeks, jawline, and neck. However, some of the earliest and most noticeable signs of aging occur in the forehead and eyebrows.

As the brow descends, particularly along the outer or lateral portion, it can create heaviness over the upper eyelids, make the eyes appear smaller, and give the face a tired, sad, or even angry appearance. Many patients assume that the problem is simply excess upper-eyelid skin when, in reality, part of that heaviness may be caused by a brow that has gradually fallen with age.

A brow lift, sometimes called a forehead lift, is designed to reposition the eyebrows into a more youthful and natural position. When properly performed, the goal is not an exaggerated or surprised appearance. It is to open the eye area, restore youthful brow shape, and create a refreshed appearance while preserving the patient's natural facial expression.

This is Dr. Burns’ in-depth guide to brow lift techniques. For a broader overview, see blepharoplasty and brow lift, the “new BBL”.

Brow Lifts Are Becoming More Popular

Interest in brow lift surgery has increased significantly.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' 2025 Procedural Statistics Report, forehead and brow lifts increased approximately 29% in 2025 compared with the previous year. This was one of the more significant increases among surgical facial rejuvenation procedures. (ASPS 2025 report announcement)

For perspective, ASPS reported 13,621 forehead lifts performed by ASPS member surgeons in 2024, compared with 13,518 in 2023. (ASPS plastic surgery statistics)

The increasing interest makes sense. Today's brow lift techniques are very different from the large-incision forehead lifts commonly performed decades ago. Modern approaches allow us to selectively elevate the areas of the brow that need correction while using much smaller and better-concealed incisions.

Why Does the Brow Fall?

The position of the eyebrow changes gradually with age.

Youthful brows typically have a gentle shape and adequate distance between the eyebrow and upper eyelid. Over time, the brow can descend as the skin, connective tissues, and underlying support structures loosen.

The lateral brow, or outer third of the eyebrow, is particularly prone to descent.

This can lead to:

• Hooding over the outer upper eyelid
• A tired or heavy appearance around the eyes
• Loss of the youthful arch of the eyebrow
• Crowding between the eyebrow and upper eyelid
• Forehead lines from constantly raising the eyebrows
• An appearance that can look tired, sad, or stern even when the patient feels rested

Patients frequently compensate without even realizing it. They continuously contract the forehead muscles to hold the eyebrows up. This can contribute to deeper horizontal forehead wrinkles.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Brow Lift?

A brow lift can be beneficial for women and men who have true brow descent or brow ptosis.

Typical indications include:

• Low eyebrow position
• Lateral brow drooping
• Hooding over the outer upper eyelid
• Loss of the natural eyebrow arch
• Upper-eye heaviness despite relatively limited eyelid skin excess
• Forehead wrinkles associated with constantly elevating the eyebrows
• Brow asymmetry
• A tired, sad, or angry appearance caused by brow position

A careful examination is important because upper-eyelid aging and brow aging frequently occur together.

Simply removing more upper-eyelid skin does not necessarily solve the problem when the brow itself is too low. In fact, overly aggressive upper blepharoplasty in a patient with significant brow ptosis can potentially leave the eyebrow looking even heavier.

The best treatment may therefore involve a brow lift, upper blepharoplasty, or a combination of the two.

What Are the Benefits of Brow Lift Surgery?

A well-performed brow lift can have a surprisingly powerful effect because the eyes are such an important focal point of the face.

Potential benefits include:

• Elevating a low or drooping eyebrow
• Restoring a more youthful brow shape
• Improving lateral upper-eyelid hooding
• Opening the appearance of the eyes
• Increasing the distance between the eyebrow and upper eyelid
• Improving eyebrow symmetry
• Reducing the need to constantly raise the forehead
• Softening some forehead and glabellar lines
• Creating a more rested and approachable appearance

Importantly, a brow lift should not make someone look perpetually surprised.

The objective is repositioning, not over-elevation.

A subtle improvement of only a few millimeters can make a significant aesthetic difference.

How Satisfied Are Patients After Brow Lift Surgery?

Published studies generally report high patient satisfaction after appropriately selected brow lift procedures.

One large national survey of plastic surgeons examining brow lift techniques reported patient satisfaction ranging from approximately 98.2% to 99.2%, although this represents an older survey and included multiple surgical techniques.

More contemporary research using the validated FACE-Q patient-reported outcome system has also demonstrated strong results. In one study of an endoscopic forehead lift technique, 65 patients completing FACE-Q assessments had median satisfaction scores of 100 out of 100 for satisfaction with the forehead and eyebrows, overall outcome, and the decision to undergo treatment. Patients in that study felt, on average, that they appeared approximately seven years younger after surgery.

Long-term research comparing endoscopic and open forehead lifts has also demonstrated significant eyebrow elevation maintained at an average follow-up of approximately six years, with participating patients reporting that they were satisfied or strongly satisfied with their results.

These studies should not be interpreted as guaranteeing a particular result for an individual patient, but they reinforce an important point: brow lift surgery can have very high patient satisfaction when the correct procedure is matched to the patient's anatomy and goals.

Not All Brow Lifts Are the Same

There is no single brow lift operation that is ideal for every patient.

The technique should be selected based on the patient's:

• Brow position
• Degree and location of brow descent
• Forehead height
• Hairline
• Hair density
• Skin laxity
• Gender
• Previous surgery
• Desired degree of correction

In my practice, two particularly useful approaches are the lateral subcutaneous brow lift and the endoscopic brow lift.

Lateral Subcutaneous Brow Lift

Many patients do not need their entire forehead elevated.

Their primary problem is the outer third of the eyebrow, where aging causes the brow to descend and creates hooding over the lateral upper eyelid.

For these patients, a lateral subcutaneous brow lift can be an excellent option.

The procedure focuses treatment where it is needed most. A carefully positioned incision is placed near or within the temporal hairline. The tissues are elevated in a relatively superficial, subcutaneous plane, allowing direct control of the lateral brow.

The advantage is precision.

Instead of unnecessarily elevating the entire forehead, the surgeon can selectively reposition the outer eyebrow and restore a natural arch.

This is particularly useful for patients with:

• Lateral brow descent
• Temporal hooding
• A flattened eyebrow shape
• Heavy outer upper eyelids
• Good central brow position

The lateral brow lift can also be combined with an upper blepharoplasty when appropriate.

The combination can produce a beautifully refreshed eye while avoiding the hollow or overly operated appearance that can occur when too much upper-eyelid skin is removed.

This approach is also called a temporal brow lift.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

For patients with more generalized brow descent, an endoscopic brow lift may be preferred.

Rather than using the long incision traditionally associated with older forehead lifts, an endoscopic brow lift is performed through several small incisions hidden within the scalp.

A small camera, or endoscope, allows visualization of the underlying tissues through these limited incisions.

The forehead and brow tissues are carefully released and repositioned, allowing the surgeon to elevate the brow while avoiding the traditional ear-to-ear incision associated with a coronal brow lift.

The endoscopic technique can be especially beneficial for patients with:

• Central and lateral brow descent
• Generalized low eyebrow position
• Brow asymmetry
• Forehead aging
• Frown lines related to the muscles between the eyebrows
• A desire to avoid a long scalp incision

The endoscopic approach is particularly attractive because the incisions are relatively small and hidden in the hair.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons identifies endoscopic, temporal, and open approaches among the principal surgical options for brow and forehead lifting. (ASPS: brow lift procedure)

Lateral vs. endoscopic vs. coronal brow lift at a glance

What Happened to the Traditional Coronal Brow Lift?

Decades ago, brow lifts were commonly performed using a coronal incision, extending across the scalp from approximately one ear to the other.

While the operation can provide substantial access and correction, the tradeoffs can include a much longer scar, scalp numbness, and potential changes to the hairline.

Modern techniques have allowed us to become considerably more selective.

Rather than treating every patient with a large operation, we can choose a procedure that specifically addresses the location and degree of brow descent.

For some patients that means an endoscopic brow lift.

For others, particularly those whose problem is primarily located along the outer eyebrow, a lateral brow lift may be all that is necessary.

The evolution toward more targeted brow rejuvenation is consistent with the broader trend in facial aesthetic surgery toward smaller incisions, anatomical preservation, precise correction, and natural results.

Brow Lift Versus Upper Blepharoplasty

This is one of the most important distinctions in upper facial rejuvenation.

An upper blepharoplasty removes excess upper-eyelid skin.

A brow lift repositions a low eyebrow.

They treat different anatomical problems.

Many patients have both.

If I manually elevate a patient's eyebrow during consultation and much of the apparent upper-eyelid excess disappears, that tells us that brow position is contributing significantly to the problem.

Performing eyelid surgery alone in this situation may not create the best result.

Conversely, a patient with excellent eyebrow position but genuine excess upper-eyelid skin may need only an upper blepharoplasty.

Proper diagnosis is more important than simply selecting a procedure.

Combining Brow Lift and Eyelid Surgery

Brow lift surgery is commonly combined with upper or lower blepharoplasty.

The brow forms the upper frame around the eye, while the eyelids themselves form the central portion of the eye complex. Treating both when appropriate can create a harmonious result.

The philosophy should still be conservative.

Modern facial rejuvenation is not about removing as much tissue as possible. It is about preserving anatomy, repositioning tissues, maintaining volume, and correcting the components that are actually responsible for aging.

That philosophy is particularly important around the eyes.

Will a Brow Lift Change the Hairline?

Hairline position is an important consideration when selecting the appropriate brow lift.

An endoscopic procedure is generally performed through incisions behind the hairline. In patients with very high foreheads or specific hairline concerns, another technique may be preferable.

A lateral brow lift can allow particularly focused treatment of the temporal eyebrow without requiring elevation of the entire forehead.

This is why there is no universal "best" brow lift.

The technique should be individualized based on the relationship between the patient's brow, forehead, hairline, eyelids, and overall facial anatomy.

What Does a Natural Brow Lift Look Like?

Patients sometimes worry that brow lift surgery will give them an exaggerated, startled appearance.

That should never be the goal.

A natural brow lift does not attempt to create the highest possible eyebrow. Instead, it restores the brow to a position that is appropriate for the patient's face.

For women, this often involves restoring a gentle lateral arch.

For men, the eyebrow generally remains flatter and slightly lower. Excessive elevation or arching in a male patient can feminize the brow and look unnatural.

These seemingly small details are extremely important.

The best facial plastic surgery should be difficult to detect. Friends may notice that you look rested or refreshed without being able to identify exactly what has changed.

Brow Lift Recovery: What to Expect

Dr. Burns’ brow lift page lists 1 to 2 hours of outpatient surgery. Timelines are estimates.

Risks to Understand

Dr. Burns’ brow lift page lists pain, bleeding, infection, rare damage to nerves and incomplete improvement as risks, with temporary swelling and bruising expected. Coronal lifts add a longer scar, scalp numbness and possible hairline change. Over-elevation is avoided by design.

Brow Lift Cost and Financing

Brow lift cost depends on the technique, any combined procedures, anesthesia and facility fees. Your personal quote is provided at consultation.

Brow Lift Surgery in Dallas

Dr. Burns performs brow lift surgery in Dallas, often alongside facelift surgery, a deep plane facelift or laser resurfacing.

See the brow lift before-and-after gallery.

Brow Lift Surgery as Part of Modern Facial Rejuvenation

The brow is an important but sometimes overlooked component of facial aging.

When eyebrows descend, the changes affect more than the forehead. They influence the eyelids, eye shape, facial expression, and ultimately how rested or youthful the entire face appears.

Today's brow lift procedures allow us to correct these changes much more precisely than in the past.

A lateral subcutaneous brow lift can beautifully address isolated lateral brow descent, while an endoscopic brow lift allows more comprehensive repositioning through small, concealed scalp incisions.

The key is determining exactly where the aging has occurred and selecting the least invasive procedure that will reliably correct it.

When properly planned and conservatively performed, a brow lift should not change who you are.

It should simply make your eyes look more open, your face look more rested, and your brow look like a younger version of itself.

Why patients choose Dr. Burns for brow lift surgery

John L. Burns Jr., MD, FACS

John L. Burns, Jr., MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, with more than 25 years of experience in aesthetic plastic surgery. Dr. Burns specializes in facial rejuvenation including brow lift, blepharoplasty, deep-plane facelift and neck lift surgery, facial fat grafting, and advanced laser resurfacing.

• Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• More than 25 years of experience
• First plastic surgeon in the U.S. to complete a fellowship in laser surgery (UT Southwestern Medical Center); Clinical Instructor of Plastic Surgery, UT Southwestern
• Residency, University of Texas Medical Branch (summa cum laude, UTMB Research Honors Program; Alpha Omega Alpha); microvascular training, MD Anderson Cancer Center; cosmetic surgery training, Miami; Vanderbilt University graduate
• Medical Director, JOLA Aesthetics; Past President, Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute; Board of Directors, Share-A-Smile Foundation
• Named one of America's Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026); 2026 categories: breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, facelift, liposuction, rhinoplasty and tummy tuck
• D Magazine Best Doctors 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; D Magazine “The Face of Breast Augmentation” 2024 and 2025; Texas Monthly Super Doctors 2024
• Allergan Double Black Diamond practice (Botox and filler, top 20 in the U.S.)

Read Dr. Burns’ full biography · Read patient reviews · View the before-and-after gallery

Frequently asked questions about brow lift surgery

The takeaway

A lateral subcutaneous brow lift restores the outer brow; an endoscopic brow lift treats generalized descent through hidden scalp incisions. Diagnosis comes first, and the goal is repositioning, not over-elevation.

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Sources: ASPS 2025 report; ASPS statistics; ASPS brow lift; outcome studies as summarized by Dr. Burns. This article is for education and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.