A small amount of botulinum toxin can relax the muscles that pull the brow down and give a subtle lift of a few millimetres, which is why some people try Botox injections before considering surgery.

The two are not interchangeable: Botox softens muscle pull and wears off in three to four months, while a brow lift repositions the forehead tissue itself and lasts for years. A surgeon or injector can tell you which one suits the amount of lift you are after.

A brow lift (or forehead lift) is a surgical procedure that raises the soft tissue and skin of the forehead to improve the appearance of the forehead, brow, and eye area. A brow lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as eyelid surgery or a facelift.

As we age, our skin starts to sag, which is no exception to our brows. In addition, the brows begin to move down as the skin and soft tissues lose elasticity.

When the brows move down, the lower position can cause you to look tired, grumpy, or sad. Conversely, undergoing a brow lift can raise eyebrows and restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance.

You may be a good candidate for a brow lift if you:

• Have eyebrows that droop

• Have eyes that have a tired or heavy appearance

• Are physically healthy

• Don’t smoke

• Have realistic expectations

There are many different brow lift techniques, and they will vary depending on your desired result.

Step One – Anesthesia 

Intravenous sedation or general anesthesia will be given during this procedure to keep you comfortable.

Step Two – The Incision 

Endoscopic Incision: Some surgeons prefer to use a thin tube with a camera on the end (called an endoscope) and special instruments placed through small incisions made in the hairline. Using this method allows the tissue and muscle beneath the skin to be adjusted and correct visible creases and wrinkles in the forehead.

Coronal Incision: Within the hair-bearing skin, a coronal incision is made from ear to ear across the top of the head. The forehead skin is then lifted, and any tissue and muscle adjustments can be made with complete visualization. Scarring from this incision is hidden in the hair.

Hairline Incision: An incision is made just at the anterior hairline for people with particularly large foreheads. Using this method, the brow can be lifted without ever changing the height of the hairline. This method is often used if someone has a high receding hairline. However, a scar might be visible along the hairline depending upon healing.

Step Three – Closing the incisions

Brow lift incisions are usually closed with removable or absorbable sutures, skin adhesives, or small clips.

Step Four – See the Results

Swelling and bruising will subside after a few weeks, and then you will be able to see your full results.

Most brow lifts take one to two hours, and up to about three for a traditional coronal lift, depending on the technique and whether it is combined with another procedure.

Like any surgery, recovery varies from person to person.

Week One: There will be some discomfort the first week after your surgery, especially 24-48 hours after completion. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach and side as it may cause your sutures to loosen and become undone.

Week Two: Your surgeon may encourage you to do some light walking in the first two weeks after your brow lift but avoid heavy workout routines.

Week Three: Post-Op swelling and bruising should subside after 2-3 weeks, but mild swelling may last several weeks after surgery.

Week Four: You May return to your everyday tasks and exercise regimes.

A brow lift is long-lasting but not permanent, and it does not stop the aging process. Most people keep a noticeable lift for somewhere between five and fifteen years: an endoscopic lift through the hairline tends to sit at the lower end of that range, and a traditional coronal lift at the higher end.

How long yours holds depends on your age at surgery, your skin’s elasticity, sun exposure and whether you smoke. Your surgeon can give you a realistic range for the technique they recommend, and many people maintain the result for years with sun protection and, if they want it, occasional non-surgical treatment.

Because no two patients are identical, the average cost of a brow lift in Canada can vary depending on the complexity of your surgery. The cost of a brow lift in Canada can range between $3,000-9,000.

As with any surgery there is a risk of complications, and your surgeon will go through them with you. Numbness, tingling or itching across the forehead and scalp is the most common of them and is expected rather than unusual: sensation returns to normal within about two to three months for most people, occasionally takes twelve to eighteen months, and is rarely permanent.

Less common risks include:

• Asymmetry of the brows, or a brow lifted higher than intended

• Temporary or, rarely, lasting weakness in raising the eyebrow, from irritation of the nerve that moves the forehead

• An elevated hairline, or hair loss around the incision

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Scarring

Choosing a surgeon who does this operation regularly is the single biggest thing within your control.

Satisfaction with brow lift is generally high. On the patient review site RealSelf, 273 of 306 people who had the procedure and reviewed it rated it “worth it” — about 89%.

That is other people’s experience rather than a prediction about yours, and satisfaction tracks closely with how well the plan matched what someone wanted going in, so it is worth being specific with your surgeon about how much lift you are after.