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A brow lift, or forehead lift, is a procedure that provides a more youthful, refreshed look to the area above the eyes. It corrects drooping brows and improves the horizontal lines and furrows that can make you appear angry, sad, or tired. The muscles and tissue that cause drooping are altered to smooth the forehead, raise the eyebrows, and minimize frown lines.
If you are worried about appearing prematurely aged, weary, or irritated because of the aesthetics of your brows and forehead, schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to discover the multitude of options available to make your visage appear younger and beautiful. Our office is 12.7 miles away from Washington, DC and 4.9 miles away from Potomac, MD.
Recovery:
1 week
Cost:
Starts at $5K
Results:
3 months
What is a Brow Lift?
Brow lift surgery is performed on patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their foreheads. This is a region that can impact the way the entire face looks; a low-hanging forehead, deep creases, and sagging brows and eyelids can give a person a façade of advanced age and fatigue which may not match how they feel. There are several surgical techniques to correct these issues; Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, or Dr. Magge will base which approach they use on your specific problem areas, the severity of the cosmetic issues, and your desired outcome after surgery.
Good Candidates for Surgery
Candidates seeking brow lift surgery are dissatisfied with the way their upper face looks and wish to fix it through a surgical procedure. Features that may be fixed include:
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- Deep forehead creases
- Sagging or droopy upper eyelids
- Eyebrows that hang down over eyes creating an angry, irritated look
- Frown lines between the brows
- Unsightly hairline position
Patients who wish to undertake this surgery should be in good overall health and not have any conditions that could increase the risk of complications during and after surgery and hinder the healing process. During your consultation, discuss any pre-existing medical issues and current prescriptions with your brow lift surgeon to ensure the highest possible level of personal safety.
The overall benefit of a brow lift is the results will make your whole visage appear younger, revitalized, and happier. This not only can make patients look more attractive, but it can also help boost self-confidence. Life can be more enjoyable when you don’t need to be concerned with seeming tired or angry.
Types of Brow Lifts
There are three main surgical approaches for the brow lift procedure, depending on your facial structure and the cosmetic issues you wish to address. To decide which method will work best for you, request a consultation visit with Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, or Dr. Magge, who will use their many years of brow lift experience to assess your condition, offer available options, and assist you in your aesthetic decision making.
Open
The open, or coronal, brow lift entails an incision along the hairline, or a bit further back to hide the scar. The incision begins at one temple area and extends to the other. The surgeon then removes excess skin and tissue and adjusts the muscle positioning to create a smoother and younger-looking exterior.
Endoscopic
This method is less invasive than the open method as it involves smaller incisions for less skin and tissue removal. Though initially popular, this newer technique was found not to be as effective or as long-lasting as the open technique and is not done often today. If this approach is taken, your brow lift surgeon will use an endoscopic instrument to view the region below the skin through a few small incisions, which will enable him to decide where to trim the extra tissue and fat.
Limited or Later Incision
This technique, also known as the temporal brow lift, entails shorter incisions than the open approach. These are made near the temples on either side of the forehead, behind the hairline for invisibility, and are used similarly as the coronal method to tighten the excess tissue and skin and smooth frown lines and creases.
Consultation
When you meet with your brow lift specialist in our Bethesda office, they will evaluate your facial features and desired results to decide on the best surgical path. They will provide you with a projection of what the outcome will look like, as well as particular details regarding the procedure steps, your recovery process, risks, and cost. Use this time to voice any questions or concerns you may have before deciding to undergo surgery, as it is a major decision and should be made with all of the necessary information in mind.
Preparation
Preoperative measures are important to make sure you get the results you want with as little risk and side effects as possible.
Patients should stop smoking well before the appointed surgical date, and should alter or altogether discontinue any medications the surgeon considers too risky in conjunction with surgery or the associated anesthesia.
It is also important to avoid anti-inflammatory drugs or supplements that may increase the risk of excessive bleeding; these include aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and vitamin E. If you are not sure whether a medication, herb or vitamin may have potentially negative ramifications for surgical procedures, be sure to ask your surgeon about it ahead of time.
Brow Lift Procedure
Typically, brow lift procedures are performed under local anesthesia with sedation. It can also be done under general anesthesia. This will ensure optimal comfort and as little pain as possible during the operation. After making the proper incisions, removing the excess skin, fat, and tissue from the region, the surgeon will sew the incisions shut usually with dissolvable sutures. The entire surgery takes between one and two hours, depending on the technique chosen.
Recovery & Results
For a brow lift procedure, there is often a bandage worn overnight. Your surgeon will give you instructions to care for the area, including prescriptions for oral or topical medications to treat the surgery site and symptoms to look out for.
Primary healing should take up to two weeks, although the surgeon will check up on you during follow-up visits and provide more circumstantial advice for recovery based on your progress. In most cases, you may return to a normal routine after this initial period, though.
The longevity of your brow lift will depend heavily upon which surgical technique is used, but in any case, the effects will be apparent for many years.
Side effects during the first two weeks may include bruising, swelling, drainage around the sutures and incision sites, and possible headaches. However, the cosmetic results of the surgery should be evident pretty much immediately. The more long-term outcome will become clearer as the patient’s face completes its healing process, and will be visible in its entirety within the ensuing several months.
Endoscopic brow lifts, while less invasive, may last between five to seven years; the results of an open or temporal lift, meanwhile, can last up to ten years. Results cannot counter the natural aging process after this time frame.
Other Procedure Options
A brow lift is not the only choice for improving the look of your forehead, but it is the best in terms of long-term results. Other less invasive procedures may be undertaken to achieve a more subtle brow lift-like effect. These options include:
- Dermal fillers, which can work to smooth creases, fine lines, and wrinkles on the forehead and between the eyebrows to make the face look smoother and more youthful. These are injectable products that are either synthetic or more natural (such as fillers using hyaluronic acid) which trigger renewed collagen production in the face and induce plumpness and natural silkiness in the skin.
- Botox®, which has a similar effect to dermal fillers but utilizes a neurotoxin to paralyze communication between the nerves and receptors in the muscles, diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.
Some patients also choose to undergo a facelift at the same time as their brow lift to complement their beautiful new forehead. This is a great option because your surgeon can sculpt the whole face at once to create a lovely and cohesive whole, and it requires patients who want multiple cosmetic procedures to avoid repeated visits to the operating room. It also enables the patient’s entire face to gracefully age simultaneously after the surgery, as opposed to spacing the desired procedures out.
Schedule a Brow Lift Consultation
If you have been thinking about browlift surgery then its time to set up a one on one consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. At our office, we have 3 of the top board-certified plastic surgeons in the country who are available for a one on one personalized consultation to determine if the procedure is right for you. Our office is located just 2 miles away from North Bethesda and 5 miles away from Potomac & Rockville. Give us a call today to set up your consultation!
Keshav Magge, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Honored as a Top Doctor by Bethesda Magazine and Washingtonian in both 2024 and 2025, Dr. Magge is recognized for his exceptional surgical skill, artistic precision, and patient-centered approach. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, he completed a fellowship in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he gained advanced expertise in facial rejuvenation and aesthetic surgery innovations.
Meet Dr. Magge
A. Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Jabs is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon recognized nationally for his expertise in creating natural-looking results and his warm, compassionate approach to patient care. Trained in NY at Columbia University, he served in the US Army and has special expertise in facial rejuvenation. He has over 35 years of experience and has consistently been voted a top plastic surgeon by Washingtonian and Bethesda magazine.
Meet Dr. Jabs
Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Richards has been recognized as a Top Doctor by several prestigious organizations, including Castle Connolly, Consumers’ Research Council of America, and Washingtonian magazine. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Richards is the past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital. His expertise is in achieving natural results in facelift and eyelid surgery, with additional interests in cosmetic surgery of the breast and abdomen.
Meet Dr. Richards
Complementary Procedures
Deep Plane Facelift
The deep plane facelift is an advanced technique that focuses on lifting and repositioning the underlying facial tissues, not just the overlying skin. Patients can achieve a more lifted, sculpted, and youthful mid and lower face while maintaining their natural features.
Neck Lift
A neck lift creates a more sculpted and youthful neck by removing loose skin from the neck and jawline, and tightening the vertical bands that may have lost elasticity due to natural aging.
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, or cosmetic nose surgery, can have aesthetic and functional benefits for patients. Various concerns, including a dorsal hump, crooked nose, large nose, or breathing difficulties, can all be addressed with customized rhinoplasty procedures.
The staff was amazing and made me feel comfortable every step of the way.
Get it DONE! The staff was amazing and made me feel comfortable every step of the way. My results are amazing, and I conquered the biggest hurdle in this journey - picking the correct Doctor and team. No regrets. Thank you, CSA.
– verified patient
I have been going to CSA for over a year, and it’s always such a nice visit.
I have been going to CSA for over a year, and it's always such a nice visit. Super professional, and I always feel taken care of.
– verified patient
I AM SO HAPPY I FOUND COSMETIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES.
I had such an amazing overall experience at Cosmetic Surgery Associates. The staff is very pleasant. I had my first invasive cosmetic procedure done back in September, and the final results are amazing. I LOVE IT. I'm so much happier with my body now. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Prior to my surgery, I had been thinking about this for a while, and I'm so happy I made the decision to go through with it. I AM SO HAPPY I FOUND COSMETIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
– verified patient
Their equipment, skill level, and expertise are superb.
This practice is truly outstanding! Their equipment, skill level, and expertise are superb. The staff is extremely friendly, kind, and professional; they make you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door.
– verified patient
Every single person in their office makes you feel so welcomed and comfortable the moment you step into the office.
Every single person in their office makes you feel so welcomed and comfortable the moment you step into the office. The day of my surgery, the staff took amazing care of me and went above and beyond to calm my nerves, talk me through it, and made it such a great experience. I highly recommend this office. I can't thank them enough for all that they did for me!
– verified patient
My experience there was beyond 5 stars.
My experience there was beyond 5 stars. From taking the appointment to post surgery. Even now after 10 months, the follow ups are outstanding. The whole staff took great care of me and the results are what I expected. Thank you for everything. Don't think twice and use this clinic if you want best in class service and the best result.
– verified patient
All of the staff were highly knowledgeable, and I received consistent direction and guidance from all of the staff.
Literally every staff member I interacted with from the front desk down to the surgical team gave stellar customer service and truly made me feel comfortable. My sister even felt the warm energy from the staff after meeting them the morning of surgery. All of the staff were highly knowledgeable, and I received consistent direction and guidance from all of the staff. I would highly recommend Cosmetic Surgery Associates to anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure!
– verified patient
I can’t stress enough how great this whole experience has been.
I can't stress enough how great this whole experience has been. Not only did he make me feel comfortable in my body, but 10x more confident. His work is truly beautiful. 100% recommend!!
– verified patient
I feel very comfortable and look better in my clothes.
The staff are professional, caring, and pay attention to detail. Almost 10 months post op. The results exceeded my expectations. I feel very comfortable and look better in my clothes. I'm so grateful. I highly recommend this practice.
– verified patient
The staff was wonderful, respectful, accommodating, and very knowledgeable!
The staff was wonderful, respectful, accommodating, and very knowledgeable! The facility was very clean and one of the staff members helped me work the coffee machine for a fresh cup of coffee!
– verified patient
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