Endoscopic Brow Lift FAQ

An endoscopic brow lift (forehead lift) is surgery that lifts and secures a sagging forehead and eyebrows; at Steady Plastic Surgery, it is performed through small incisions in the scalp behind the hairline while checking blood vessels and nerves with an endoscope. The released forehead tissue is lifted and secured with absorbable fixation devices, and the surgery takes about 1 hour under IV sedation.

An endoscopic brow lift is considered when drooping eyebrows make the eyes look heavy and tired, when straining the forehead to open the eyes has deepened forehead wrinkles, or when forehead and frown lines give a harsh look. Raising the eyebrows widens the space above the eyelids so the eyes look more open, and using the forehead less to open the eyes can help reduce wrinkles.

An endoscopic brow lift is performed through small incisions in the scalp behind the hairline, so the incisions are hidden by hair and often not visible. Temporary partial hair loss can occur around the incisions, but hair generally begins to grow back within 3–6 months.

After an endoscopic brow lift, returning to daily life takes about 7 days; the head bandage is removed 1–2 days after surgery and the stitches 7–10 days after surgery. Swelling and bruising are most noticeable on days 2–3, cold compresses for 7 days after surgery can help, and because the forehead may feel numb, take care to avoid frostbite when applying them. From the next day you can wash your face, cleaning the incision areas with wet wipes, and hair washing is allowed after the bandage is removed.

After a brow lift, stop aspirin-type medications, vitamin E, and multivitamins for 1 week to reduce the risk of bleeding. To prevent inflammation and tissue damage, you must avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 4 weeks, and it is best to avoid strenuous exercise, swimming, saunas, and heated spas for 4 weeks as well. When washing your hair, avoid the scalp incisions and dry with cool air.

After an endoscopic brow lift, a tight or numb feeling, tingling, or itching from the forehead to the scalp can occur as part of recovery and gradually improves over several months. Partial hair loss around the incisions, and rarely asymmetry or overly raised eyebrows that look surprised, can occur, so it is important to plan the eyebrow position and amount of lift accurately before surgery.

Yes, partial hair loss can occur around the scalp incisions after an endoscopic brow lift. It happens because hair follicles are temporarily affected during incision and dissection, and hair generally begins to grow back within 3–6 months. When shampooing, avoid rubbing the incisions hard, and dry your hair with cool air to help recovery.

The results of an endoscopic brow lift tend to last a long time even after the fixation devices are absorbed, because the released tissue is lifted, secured, and then attaches in its new position. However, skin and tissue continue to age, so sagging can recur over time, and how long results last varies with skin condition and lifestyle.

If forehead wrinkles appear only with facial expressions and the eyebrows are not drooping, forehead botulinum toxin often improves them. On the other hand, if drooping eyebrows make you keep using your forehead muscles to open your eyes, forehead botulinum toxin can make the eyes feel heavier, so an endoscopic brow lift that raises the drooping eyebrows may be more suitable. The method is chosen after checking whether the wrinkles come from muscle movement or sagging.

An endoscopic brow lift and upper blepharoplasty can be performed together. Eyebrow drooping and eyelid skin sagging often occur together, and because lifting the eyebrows first changes the amount of remaining eyelid skin, it is important to set the eyebrow position with the brow lift first and then remove only as much eyelid skin as needed. Whether to do both at once or separately is decided during the consultation.

The cost of an endoscopic brow lift depends on the extent of surgery, whether it is combined with procedures such as upper blepharoplasty or a sub-brow lift, and whether it is a revision. Because the extent of surgery varies with the condition of the forehead and brows, an exact cost can be given after consultation.