Brow Lift

A heavy brow can make you look tired or years older than you feel, even on a good day when you’re well-rested and in a great mood. Deep forehead lines and furrows between your brows reinforce that impression, showing up in photos, video calls and face-to-face conversations before you get the chance to explain that you’re not stressed or angry. Sagging brow tissue can also settle low enough over time to hood your upper eyelids, making your eyes look smaller and more tired than the rest of your face.

A brow lift addresses these problems at their source, repositioning your forehead and brows for results that last well beyond what makeup or injectables can offer. At Northstate Plastic Surgery in Chico, CA, Dr. Kevin D. Myers selects from several brow lift techniques based on your hairline, skin quality and goals, then builds a plan around the natural, alert appearance you want to see in the mirror.

What Is A Brow Lift?

Also known as forehead lift or browplasty, a brow lift or forehead lift reverses the effects of gravity and tightens the soft tissues of the forehead to restore a more youthful contour to your forehead skin, upper eyelids and eyebrows. 

A youthful brow at rest is positioned above the orbital rim, with a gradual arch laterally, and the lateral end or ‘tail’ of the brow located higher than the medial end. As one ages, it is common for the brow to assume a flat or horizontal position. If a sagging brow inhibits your facial expression, a brow lift is a time-tested method for rejuvenating the upper third of your face. 

Every year, thousands of people undergo successful brow-lift surgery and are pleased with the results. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, surgeons performed 13,621 forehead lifts in 2024, a 1% increase over the previous year, reflecting steady demand for a procedure that continues to deliver dependable, long-lasting rejuvenation.

Benefits of Brow Lift Surgery

A More Approachable, Rested Expression

Lifting the brow removes the heaviness that reads as anger, sadness or exhaustion, so your resting face matches how you actually feel.

Improved Vision In More Advanced Cases

When a heavy brow pushes down on the upper eyelid, it can narrow your field of vision, particularly to the sides. Repositioning the brow relieves that pressure and can open up your peripheral vision, along with your appearance.

Results That Hold Up Over Time

Unlike neuromodulators, which relax muscle activity for a few months at a time, a brow lift repositions the tissue itself, giving most patients years before any additional treatment is needed.

A Foundation For Broader Facial Rejuvenation

Because the brow influences how the eyes and upper face appear, addressing it often improves the results of eyelid surgery or a facelift performed at the same time, so the whole upper face is rejuvenated as one cohesive result.

A Boost In Confidence Day To Day

Patients frequently describe feeling more like themselves after surgery, since their expression finally lines up with their energy and mood.

Choosing the Right Brow Lift Technique

There are various brow-lift methods, which involve different length incisions in different locations and, sometimes, an endoscope. Dr. Myers is trained in multiple brow lift approaches and recommends the technique that matches your hairline, degree of brow descent and desired outcome.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

Performed through several small incisions hidden within the hairline, this approach uses a small camera to guide the lift, resulting in minimal scarring and a shorter recovery. It suits patients with mild to moderate brow descent.

Coronal (Traditional) Brow Lift

A single incision runs from ear to ear across the top of the scalp, giving Dr. Myers broad access to reposition the entire forehead. Patients typically get the most dramatic, longest-lasting correction with this method, though it’s generally reserved for those with a lower or average hairline.

Temporal (Lateral) Brow Lift

Small incisions within the temple hairline target sagging at the outer brow, an area that often droops first. Because it focuses on the outer brow specifically, it pairs especially well with eyelid surgery for patients addressing the upper eyelid and outer brow together.

Direct Brow Lift

Skin is removed just above the brow itself, giving Dr. Myers precise control over brow height. The incision is more visible than with other techniques, but the approach works well for patients with a receding hairline or a heavy, hooded brow affecting vision.

What to Expect During Your Brow Lift Journey

Your Consultation

Your visit begins with a thorough evaluation of your forehead and brow anatomy, hairline position and skin quality. Dr. Myers will discuss your goals, walk you through the techniques suited to your face and build a treatment plan around the outcome you want, including whether a combined procedure, such as eyelid surgery or a facelift, would serve your goals better than a brow lift alone.

The Day of Your Procedure

Brow lift surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, depending on your health history and the technique selected. Dr. Myers makes the planned incisions, repositions the forehead tissue and secures it in its new, higher position. Surgery usually takes one to two hours. It will be longer if combined with another facial procedure.

Recovery and Follow-Up Care

You will receive detailed aftercare instructions covering wound care, activity restrictions and pain management. Follow-up visits allow Dr. Myers to monitor healing, remove sutures if needed and confirm your results are progressing as planned.

Recovery and Downtime

Recovery timelines vary by technique and individual healing, but most patients follow a similar general path.

First 48 Hours

Expect swelling, bruising and mild to moderate discomfort around the forehead and eyes. Keeping your head elevated helps reduce swelling during this window, and a prescribed pain medication should keep any discomfort manageable.

First Week

Visible bruising begins to fade, and any bandages or sutures are typically addressed at a follow-up visit within 7 to 10 days. Many patients feel comfortable returning to light, low-stress activities or remote work during this stretch, though some tightness, itching or mild numbness across the scalp is normal.

Two To Three Weeks

Most bruising has resolved, and light exercise can typically resume with Dr. Myers’s approval. Patients who chose the coronal technique may notice temporary hair thinning or shedding near the incision line, which will regrow over the following weeks.

One To Two Months

Lingering tightness and any residual numbness continue to fade as nerve sensation gradually returns. Most patients feel comfortable resuming their full normal routine, including more demanding exercise, by this point.

Several Months

Final results continue to be refined as residual swelling subsides and tissues settle into their new positions. Patients who combine their brow lift with eyelid surgery or a facelift may not experience a longer recovery timeline as the additional treated areas heal in parallel.

To protect your results, avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for several weeks, sleep with your head elevated, keep incisions out of direct sun until fully healed, and follow all post-operative instructions provided by the Northstate team. We will schedule follow-up visits throughout your recovery to monitor your progress and address any concerns as they arise.

Results and Long-Term Outcomes

A well-executed brow lift produces a natural, rested appearance rather than a surprised or overly tight look. Most patients see a noticeably higher, more even brow position along with smoother forehead skin within the first few weeks, and continued refinement over the following months as swelling fully resolves.

Brow lift results are long-lasting, often holding for 5 to 10 years or more, though the natural aging process continues in the background. Many patients describe feeling that their appearance finally matches how energetic and engaged they feel day to day. Daily sun protection and a consistent skincare routine can help preserve the smoothness of your forehead skin well beyond the initial healing period.

When Should You Get a Brow Lift?

A brow lift addresses concerns that Botox and skincare alone cannot resolve. When to consider a brow lift:

• Sagging or low eyebrow position creates a tired, sad or grumpy appearance
• You have deep horizontal creases across the forehead
• You have frown lines or furrows between the eyebrows or across the top of your nose
• You have excess skin or fatty tissue hanging over your eyes

For many patients, the procedure changes how others read their expression day to day. A lifted brow can soften the appearance of anger, sadness or fatigue that a low, flat brow tends to project.

Cost of Brow Lift Surgery

The cost of a brow lift depends on the technique selected, the extent of correction needed and whether the procedure is combined with eyelid surgery, a facelift or another facial treatment. Anesthesia, facility fees and post-operative garments or medications also factor into the total.

During your consultation, our office will provide a clear, itemized breakdown of expected costs along with information on available financing options, so you can plan for your procedure with confidence. Because a brow lift is a cosmetic procedure, insurance coverage is uncommon, though our team can help you explore financing plans that fit your budget.

Brow Lift vs. Blepharoplasty: Which Do You Need?

Patients often confuse a drooping brow with heavy upper eyelids, since both can make the eyes look tired or hooded.

A brow lift repositions the forehead and brow itself, correcting the source of the sagging. Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids but does not change brow position. If your brow sits low, addressing the eyelids alone will not fully resolve the heaviness, and the brow may continue to descend after eyelid surgery.

Many patients benefit from combining the two procedures for a more complete rejuvenation of the upper face. Dr. Myers will evaluate your brow position separately from your eyelids during consultation to recommend the combination, if any, that will give you the most complete and natural-looking result.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brow Lifts

Will a brow lift leave visible scars?

Incisions are placed within the hairline whenever the chosen technique allows, keeping scars concealed as hair grows back in. With the direct brow lift, incisions sit just above the brow and are more visible, though they typically fade and soften over time.

Can I combine a brow lift with other procedures?

Yes. Brow lift surgery is frequently combined with eyelid surgery or a facelift to address the entire upper and mid face in a single recovery period. Dr. Myers will discuss whether combining procedures makes sense for your goals during your consultation.

How long do brow lift results last?

Most patients enjoy their results for 5 to 10 years or longer. Because a brow lift corrects the underlying tissue directly, results tend to hold up well against continued aging, though your skin and facial tissue will keep aging naturally in the years that follow. Maintaining a stable weight and protecting your skin from sun damage can help your results last on the longer end of that range.

Is a brow lift the same as Botox for the forehead?

No. Neuromodulator injections temporarily relax the muscles that cause forehead lines and can offer a subtle, short-term lift to the brow, but they do not reposition sagging tissue. A surgical brow lift provides a more significant, longer-lasting correction for patients with true brow descent.

Why Choose Northstate Plastic Surgery For Your Brow Lift?

Patients throughout Chico and the greater Northstate region choose Dr. Kevin D. Myers for brow lift surgery performed with the training and judgment of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Myers completed his surgical training in New York City and an advanced fellowship in San Francisco before bringing that experience to Chico, where he now offers a full range of brow lift techniques tailored to each patient’s anatomy.

At Northstate Plastic Surgery, every procedure takes place in an accredited surgical facility, and every treatment plan reflects a careful evaluation of your face as a whole, not just the area you came in asking about.

Begin Your Brow Lift Journey in Chico, CA

A heavy or drooping brow can make you look tired, upset or older than you feel, but the correction is often more straightforward than patients expect. During your consultation at Northstate Plastic Surgery in Chico, CA, Dr. Kevin D. Myers will evaluate your brow position, walk you through the technique that fits your anatomy, and discuss whether a brow lift alone or a combined procedure best serves your goals. Call (530) 345-5900 or reach out online to schedule; we proudly serve patients throughout Chico and the Northstate region.

For more information, visit The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.