A brow lift, also called a forehead lift or eyebrow lift, is a facial cosmetic surgery procedure designed to reposition descended eyebrows and rejuvenate the upper third of the face.

With aging, genetics, gravity, and sun exposure, the forehead and brow tissues can gradually descend. This may contribute to a heavy or tired appearance, lateral hooding around the eyes, deep forehead lines, and changes in eyebrow position. Importantly, these concerns are not limited to older patients; genetics can cause some people to develop brow descent at a younger age.

At Connecticut Surgical Arts, brow lift surgery is based on a detailed understanding of forehead anatomy, eyebrow position, facial proportions, and muscle function. The goal is not simply to raise the eyebrows. It is to create a balanced, natural-looking upper face while avoiding an excessively elevated or “surprised” appearance.

What Is a Brow Lift?

The eyebrows, forehead, and eyes play an important role in facial expression and overall facial harmony. As the tissues of the upper face descend, the eyebrows—particularly the outer portion of the brows—may begin to sit lower.

A brow lift surgically repositions these tissues to create a more youthful and aesthetically balanced brow position.

Brow lift surgery may help improve:

• Descended or low-positioned eyebrows
• Lateral brow hooding
• A heavy appearance around the upper eyelids
• Forehead wrinkles associated with brow position
• Glabellar lines between the eyebrows
• A tired, aged, or unintentionally stern appearance
• Overall balance of the upper third of the face

One of the most important goals is to establish an aesthetically appropriate brow position while preserving the patient's natural facial characteristics.

What Causes the Brows to Descend?

Aging of the upper face is more complicated than skin laxity alone.

Gravity, genetics, sun exposure, changes in the supporting tissues, and activity of the forehead muscles can all influence brow position.

The frontalis muscle is responsible for elevating the forehead and eyebrows, while several other muscles act to depress the brow. As we age, the outer portion of the eyebrow can be particularly susceptible to descent.

Some patients unconsciously compensate for a low brow or excess tissue around the eyes by continually activating the forehead muscles to raise their eyebrows. Over time, this can contribute to deeper horizontal forehead wrinkles.

For this reason, treating the upper face appropriately requires more than simply looking at forehead wrinkles.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

An endoscopic brow lift is one approach to forehead and eyebrow rejuvenation and is a particular area of expertise discussed in Dr. Congiusta's published work.

Rather than using one long incision across the scalp, the endoscopic technique can be performed through several smaller incisions placed within the hair-bearing scalp.

An endoscope—a small instrument that allows the surgeon to visualize the underlying anatomy—is used during the procedure. The tissues of the forehead and brow can then be carefully released and repositioned.

This approach allows the surgeon to address the deeper structures contributing to brow descent while limiting the size of the incisions.

However, an endoscopic brow lift is not appropriate for every patient. Hairline position, skin characteristics, anatomy, degree of brow descent, and other factors must be considered when selecting a surgical approach.

Who Is a Candidate for Brow Lift Surgery?

You may be a candidate for a brow lift if you are bothered by:

• Low or descended eyebrows
• Lateral brow hooding
• A heavy appearance around the eyes
• Forehead or glabellar wrinkles associated with brow position
• Upper facial aging
• A tired or stern appearance caused by brow descent

There is no universal age for brow lift surgery.

While many facial rejuvenation procedures are performed later in life, brow and forehead surgery may be appropriate for some patients in their 20s or 30s because eyebrow position and forehead anatomy are also influenced by genetics.

Your anatomy—not simply your age—determines whether surgery may be appropriate.

Will My Brow Lift Look Natural?

Creating a natural result is one of the most important considerations in brow lift surgery.

Simply raising the eyebrows as high as possible does not create an attractive result. Excessive elevation can alter facial expression, raise the hairline, or create the recognizable “surprised” appearance sometimes associated with poorly planned brow surgery.

Instead, the goal is to stabilize the brow at a position and shape that complement the patient's individual facial anatomy.

At Connecticut Surgical Arts, treatment planning considers your forehead, eyes, eyebrow shape, hairline, facial proportions, and overall appearance.