Brow Lift (Browplasty) Surgery Cost and Procedure Guide

What Can a Brow Lift Achieve?

In a brow lift, the skin of the forehead is pulled and secured back. This acts to elevate the eyebrows and reduce wrinkles on the forehead.
As we age, the skin begins to lose its elasticity, causing the skin to hang more loosely. This is how we develop wrinkles. This loss of elastic tissue on the forehead can cause wrinkling of the skin in that area and cause drooping of the eyebrows over the eyelids.  In a browplasty, a BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon would pull the forehead skin back and secure it in place so that it will no longer hang loosely. This will eliminate both forehead wrinkles and drooping eyebrows.
Patients may consider having a brow lift if they:

• Would like to get rid of wrinkles on the forehead
• Would like to lift low-set or drooping eyebrows
• Are self-conscious of frown lines between the eyebrows
• Have seen no improvement in the drooping of the forehead after having Botulinum toxin injections
• Are experiencing visual disturbances due to the drooping of the forehead or brows.

Why have a brow lift?

Brow lift candidates may be unhappy with their forehead's natural appearance or be dissatisfied with how the ageing process is affecting this area. A brow lift will lift, tighten, and correct loose skin drooping in the forehead, upper eyelids, and eyebrow area. As a result, a browplasty can: 

• Give a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.
• Correct any asymmetry of the forehead and eyebrows.
• Improve the confidence patients have with their physical appearance

What will a brow lift not resolve?

It is important to remember that a browplasty focuses on the area of the forehead. Therefore, while a brow lift will restore a more youthful appearance to the forehead, there are some issues this procedure will not address.  These include:

• Sagging of the eyelid.
• Wrinkling and sagging of the mid and lower face.

Despite the fact a brow lift will not address these issues, other procedures are available that will. For example, if patients are unhappy with the drooping or sagging of their eyelids, they may wish to consider blepharoplasty. This can be carried out alongside a brow lift.  Furthermore, if patients would like to address the sagging of the skin on the mid to lower face, patients may wish to consider a face or neck lift.

How much does brow lift surgery cost?

Brow Lift Surgery usually costs between £4,795 and £6,000, but the exact price can vary to reflect the personally tailored procedure package.

During the initial consultation, both patient and surgeon will decide upon the right aspects of the procedure for each individual. Some of those factors may affect the final price. The factors may include:

• Which hospital or clinic is chosen for the procedure
• Surgeon experience
• Anaesthetist experience
• Surgical techniques or combination surgeries
• The time required in surgery for each patient’s case

It is only after the consultation that a price can be determined. That final price will cover the following:

• Highly rated CQC hospital costs
• Surgeon and anaesthetist costs
• Overnight stays (if required)
• Aftercare and follow-up appointments

Who are the best candidates for a brow lift?

A brow lift is a popular cosmetic procedure for both men and women in the UK. While some people have a naturally low-set brow which causes their eyebrows to hood over their eyelids, others may develop a drooping brow as they age. This happens because their skin begins to hang more loosely as it loses its elasticity. This can also cause wrinkles to develop on the forehead. These features can cause people to be unhappy or self-conscious with the appearance of their face. If so, they may be suitable brow lift candidates.
A brow lift will lift the skin of the forehead and secure it back, elevating the brow and removing the appearance of wrinkles. Patients may be a suitable candidate for a brow lift if they:

• Have wrinkles on the forehead that they wish to eliminate.
• Are concerned about frown lines that are present between the eyebrows.
• Have hooded upper eyelids because of a low-set or drooping brow.
• Are experiencing trouble with vision due to low-set or drooping brow.
• Have had botulinum toxin injections in the forehead and are not happy with the results.
• Are relatively fit and well.
• Have a healthy BMI.
• Do not suffer from any serious medical conditions.
• Have realistic goals for the surgery.
• Feel mentally and emotionally ready to undergo this procedure.
• Refrain from smoking cigarettes/nicotine products

How is a brow lift performed?

A brow lift procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours to perform. The surgeon is likely to do the procedure under a general anaesthetic; however, it can also be done under a local anaesthetic with sedation. After the brow lift is complete, patients will be able to go home either that day or the next day. Before the brow lift procedure, you will meet with the consultant surgeon. During this consultation, they will discuss the details of when the patient will be required to stop eating and drinking before surgery. They will also discuss any changes that need to be made to any medication schedules.

Consent

Before the surgery, patients will meet with their surgeon to consent to the brow lift procedure. This will either be at the pre-operative assessment or on the day of the surgery. The surgeon will go through the procedure itself, the risks and complications, and answer any patient's questions. Patients will then be given a consent form to read. If patients are happy with all the information and would like to proceed with the surgery, they will sign the consent form.

Anaesthesia

Patients will meet the anaesthetist on the day of the brow lift procedure. They will likely use a general anaesthetic to put the patient to sleep for the duration of the surgery. This may leave the patient feeling slightly groggy for a while but will wear off within a few hours. Another anaesthetic option is also available. The anaesthetist could also numb the forehead area and sedate the patient for the procedure.

Incisions

A brow lift procedure can be done using several different techniques. The technique the surgeon chooses will depend on the condition of the skin, the facial features and the position of the hairline.

Endoscopic brow lift

This technique may be suitable for patients if they have mild to moderate brow drooping and horizontal forehead wrinkles. 

The surgeon will make several small incisions in various parts of the scalp.

Open brow lift

The surgeon may choose this technique if the patient has more advanced brow drooping and deep-set forehead wrinkles. This is the traditional brow lift method and gives more long-lasting results. However, it is important to note that this technique is also more invasive than other approaches and results in greater scarring.

• The surgeon will make an incision from one ear to the other, along and slightly behind your hairline.
• They will lift the forehead skin, adjusting and tightening the underlying muscles and tissue.
• They will remove a small strip of the scalp before stretching the forehead skin into a new position.
• The scar will be concealed within the hairline.

Anterior hairline brow lift

This method is ideal for patients who have a receding hairline or high forehead. This is because the surgeon can lift the brows but not alter the position of the hairline. It is also possible to shorten the forehead or address brow asymmetry with this technique. 

• The surgeon will make an incision across the forehead, just in front of the hairline.
• They will lift the forehead skin, adjusting and tightening the underlying muscles and tissue.
• They will remove a small strip of the forehead skin before stretching it back into a new position, raising the brows.

Lateral temporal brow lift

This procedure only lifts the lateral aspect of the brows and is the least invasive approach to a brow lift. It does not address wrinkles in the centre of the forehead or between the brows. Therefore, it is most suitable for patients who have mild to moderate sagging of the outer brow area and forehead and want a less invasive procedure with a quicker recovery time. 

• The surgeon will make a small incision behind the hairline in the temples (sides of the head).
• They will adjust and tighten the forehead skin and underlying tissue to lift it to a better position, thereby raising the outer portion of the brow.

Gull-wing brow lift

This technique results in the greatest scarring and is; as a result, less commonly performed. It is most suitable for patients with severe brow or forehead drooping (also known as ptosis). It is also suitable for patients who would like to lower a high or receding hairline.

• The surgeon will make incisions along or directly above the eyebrows.
• They will remove a section of skin and the underlying tissue above the eyebrows, raising the brows.

Closing of incisions

Once the surgeon achieves the desired result from the brow lift procedure, they will close the incisions with stitches or surgical glue.

Return to the ward

Finally, patients will return to the ward after the surgery. They will likely stay there for a few hours or overnight to allow the effects of the anaesthesia to wear off before they can go home.

What to expect from a brow lift consultation?

Patients will meet with their BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon for a brow lift consultation before having the procedure.  This will give both the patient and the surgeon an opportunity to discuss the procedure itself, all personal goals for the surgery and the most suitable technique to use. The consultation usually lasts from 15 minutes to 1 hour.  During this time, the surgeon will ask for more information regarding:

• Current health condition
• Any relevant past medical history
• Previous surgical history
• Any medications (this includes prescribed, the counter and herbal medications)
• Use of cigarettes, vapes, alcohol and other drugs
• Any allergies

We stress the importance of being as open and honest with the surgeon as possible. This will allow them to make fully informed decisions about what is best for the patient's care. It will also allow patients to be frank about the goals and ensure that they are realistic and achievable. This, in turn, will mean patients are more likely to be happy with the results of the brow lift.
During the brow lift consultation, the surgeon will examine the forehead area to decide the most appropriate surgical technique to use. They will consider the features of this area that the patient is concerned about, the quality of the skin, and the hairline's position. They may also ask for permission to take pictures of the area for the medical records before and after pictures.

Questions to ask during a brow lift consultation?

While the brow lift consultation is an opportunity for the surgeon to learn information about the patient, it is also an opportunity for patients to ask any questions. Therefore, patients may find it useful to write down any questions they can think of about the procedure on a piece of paper before the consultation. This way, they will feel prepared. Below is a list of questions patients may wish to ask the surgeon during the consultation:

• Which brow lift technique do you think is most suitable for me?
• Will the technique chosen for me affect my hairline?
• Will there be scarring, and if so, where?
• Do you think my goals for this procedure are realistic?
• How long will it take for me to recover after my brow lift?
• Have you got any before and after pictures of previous brow lifts you have performed?
• How long can I expect the results of my brow lift to last?
• What are my options if I am not happy with the results?

What are the main risks of a brow lift?

As with any surgical procedure, a brow lift comes with risks and complication. Therefore, it is important to be fully educated about all brow lift risks and complications before deciding to continue with the procedure. All BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeons strongly recommend that patients spend at least two weeks thinking over all the information before deciding to continue with the surgery.
While many of the brow lift risks and complications below are uncommon, it is still useful to know there is a possibility that they can occur. The risk and complications of a brow lift include:

Hair loss and hairline elevation

Hair loss may occur around the areas of the incision. This loss may be temporary or may cause a permanent reduction of hair growth. A brow lift procedure may also result in an elevated hairline.

Skin discolouration

One of the brow lift risks and complications includes skin discolouration. Most people will see a slight change in the colour of their skin in the area where the operation was performed. If this does occur, it will most likely settle after some months. In the meantime, makeup can be a useful tool if patients wish to cover these colour changes.  

Infection

Any surgery is an invasive procedure, and with this comes the risk of introducing infection into the body.  Infections usually become apparent in the first 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.  Patients may notice that the wounds or treatment areas are not settling as expected. Mild infections generally settle down with a course of antibiotics.
The signs of infection to look out for are:

• A temperature of over 38° C.
• Redness at the incision site begins to spread outwards from that site.
• Yellow pus or foul-smelling fluid coming from your wounds.
• An increase in pain or discomfort that your pain medication does not help.

Tissue or skin necrosis

It is a possibility that some areas of skin may die if blood supply to that area is lost during surgery. This is called necrosis and is much more likely to occur in smokers. This is an infrequent complication, but you must be aware that it might affect the final results of the brow lift if it were to happen. Patients may also require another operation to help fix the damage. 

Nerve injury

Injury to the nerves during surgery can lead to a loss of sensation or movement in the face. This may be temporary or permanent, but generally, long-term loss of sensation or movement is a rare complication. Choosing an experienced, highly qualified BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon to carry out the surgery helps minimise this risk.

Bruising and bleeding

Mild bleeding and bruising is common following a brow lift procedure and is usually temporary. However, if more severe bleeding occurs, it may form a solid collection of blood under the skin called a haematoma. This presents with pain, significant bruising and facial or neck swelling. Almost all haematomas occur within 24 hours of the procedure and require medical attention. Despite this, it should not significantly affect the results of the brow lift. 

Scarring

As the surgeon will be making incisions on the treatment area, patients should expect that scars are unavoidable. In most cases, however, scarring is minimal and well hidden within the hair or hairline. The extent of scarring depends on the technique used and the skins ability to heal.

Aesthetic

There is always a risk that patients will be unhappy with the brow lift results for aesthetic reasons. This means they may not be happy with how their face looks after surgery. Indeed, there is a risk that there may be some asymmetry in the facial features. Therefore, it is advised that patients choose their surgeon carefully and make sure they have the necessary experience and qualifications. It is also recommended that patients are clear and frank about their goals during the consultation.

General surgical complications

All surgical procedures carry some common risks. These general surgical complications include but are not limited to:

• The development of blood clots
• Risks of anaesthesia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Post-operative pain

What to expect after a brow lift?

Knowing what to expect after a brow lift can help prevent any fears or worries of the unknown.  When patients meet with their prospective surgeon, they will discuss the details of the brow lift aftercare.  This will include time frames for when patients can go back to work, when they can begin driving again and when they can resume normal exercise.
Before patients leave the hospital after the surgery, they will be appointed to come back for a post-operative review. This is usually 1 to 2 weeks after the brow lift takes place. The surgeon will remove any non-dissolvable stitches at this appointment and ensure that patient is recovering as expected.

Waking up after surgery

How patients feel immediately after surgery will depend on what anaesthetic they have. If they opt for general anaesthetic, patients will wake up slowly after their brow lift.  Memory and concentration may be affected, but this will usually resolve after 1 to 2 days. On the other hand, patients may feel numbness around the treatment area if they choose local anaesthetic. This, too, will wear off with time.

Getting home

Patients will not be able to drive home after the brow lift.  Therefore, they should arrange for someone to collect them. They may also need to ask an adult to supervise them for the first 24 hours after the operation. This is because patients may still be experiencing side effects from the anaesthetic.

Dressings and drains

The surgeon will wrap the forehead in a dressing and an elastic bandage after the brow lift. This will help minimise swelling and bruising after the procedure. The surgeon will explain how long the patient has to keep this on. The surgeon may also place a thin tube in the skin to drain away any excess blood or fluid. They will remove any non-dissolvable stitches and check all progress 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery at the post-operative appointment.

Time off work

The amount of time patients will be required to take off from work will depend on the type of job.  It is recommended that they take at least 1 week off if they have an office job and at least 2 weeks off if they have a more physically demanding job. Furthermore, it is advised that they avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous activity during this time off.

Exercise and sport

As part of the brow lift aftercare, it is advised that patients try to do some light walking every day to keep active after they leave the hospital. Patients can attempt some light cardio from 2 weeks after the surgery.  Avoid any strenuous activity or contact sports for at least 4 to 6 weeks after the brow lift.

Pain management

It is common to experience pain, swelling and bruising around the forehead, brows and eyes after a brow lift. This can take several days to settle. Patients will be given appropriate pain medications to help minimise any discomfort. In addition, sleeping upright with the head elevated for one week after having brow lift surgery will help reduce the swelling.

Scar care

The positioning of the scars will depend on the technique the surgeon chooses to perform the brow lift. Usually, scars tend to be raised in the first few weeks after surgery and eventually fade to faint lines over the following months. As the incisions used for this procedure are usually underneath or along the hairline, the surgeon is generally able to hide the scars well.  

Final results

Brow lift aftercare does not just involve the few weeks it takes to go down for the swelling and bruising. Instead, it is the journey from the actual surgery to the point at which patients can finally appreciate the final results of the brow lift. Although the brow lift surgery results are immediately visible, it can take around 6 to 12 months to appreciate the full cosmetic results. Therefore, it is important to remain patient.  Initially, in the first few days after surgery, brows may appear to be higher than expected. However, brows will gradually settle into the desired position with time.

The results of your brow lift will last many years. Despite this, no procedure can stop the effects of time and ageing. As a result, some wrinkle lines may return over the following years. The technique used, your skin thickness and elasticity and environmental damage will also affect how long the results last for.

Your brow lift preparation is easier than ever with the list of tips we have put together for you. Getting things in order before your surgery will no doubt help to make your post-operative period as smooth and easy as possible.  You may like to come up with more ideas but here are some suggestions for preparing for a brow lift:

Cleaning

Make your recovery more relaxed by getting all your cleaning jobs out of the way beforehand.  It may help to get on top of the washing, take out the rubbish and give the house a clean so that you can take a few days off after your brow lift.

Shopping

It is likely your face will be bruised and swollen after your surgery and you may not feel like going shopping.  The solution? Do a big food shop to keep you going the day before your procedure. You may also like to make up some meals and freeze them, that way you won’t have to worry about cooking.

Support network

You may like to organise for friends or family to help look after kids or pets for a few days after your brow lift. Organising this in advance will help prevent any unnecessary stress during your recovery period.

Beauty treatments

If you are planning to have any hair or facial treatments, we recommend you do these before your surgery. Your scars will be sensitive to the chemicals often used in these treatments for the first few weeks.

Driving

Due to the anaesthesia used during surgery, you will be unable to drive yourself home. You will, therefore, need to ask someone you know to drive you home. You may be unable to drive for up to two weeks after the browlift, but check restrictions with your surgeon.

Clothing

It is advised you choose to wear clothing that zips or fastens easily at the back or the front so you do not have to pull anything over your head. This will avoid contact with the treatment area and make sure you are comfortable!

Eating and drinking

We advise that you try to stick to high-protein, low-sodium foods like fruit and vegetables after your brow lift. Avoid consuming high amounts of salt and sugar while you recover.  Drink water regularly to stay hydrated and aim to avoid beverages containing caffeine.

Sleeping

Ensure you have plenty of extra pillows to help you elevate your head while sleeping after your surgery. Your BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon will advise that you rest and sleep on your back in an inclined position, avoiding lying flat. This will help reduce your swelling.

Your BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeon will give you specific advice regarding when you can shower and wash your hair after a brow lift. Generally, you may shower the day after the surgery and wash your hair with a mild shampoo two days after surgery. Blow dry your hair on the cool setting or if possible, let it dry naturally. Take care to be gentle when combing or brushing your hair.

Brow lifts are not usually available on the NHS for cosmetic reasons. However, it may be provided by the NHS if the drooping of your brows is affecting your vision or making it difficult for you to open your eyelids. You may like to speak to your GP about whether not you would qualify for the NHS to pay for your surgery. 

Generally, most cosmetic surgeons will be happy to see you for an initial consultation without a referral from your GP. It is likely, however, that they will ask permission to contact your GP if you decide to opt for a brow lift.  This will be to gain access to medical information they will need to know about you. 

The use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs can increase the risks of complications for your brow lift. Consequently, we recommend that you stop smoking for at least six weeks before and after your surgery.  You may even like to use this as an opportunity to quit smoking. We also advise that you try to cut down on your alcohol consumption around the time of your brow lift and refrain from taking recreational drugs.

All of the information found on our website is sourced from highly reputable experts, government-approved authorities and is widely used by healthcare professionals.

• https://www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information/surgery-guides/face-and-brow-lift British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
• Understand.com Understand

Our content is written by our Medical Quality Managers and Patient Care Advisers, all of who have medical backgrounds and training. Prior to publishing, all the information is reviewed by a surgeon specialised within the relevant field.