The position of the eyebrows and forehead is significant in giving the face a youthful and fresh appearance and is an important consideration in deciding on upper eyelid surgery, and in aesthetic treatments such as Botox or filler injections.
Naturally, over the years, a gradual drooping of the eyebrows and forehead appears on the upper eyelids, causing aesthetic disturbance and a feeling of drooping eyelids/excess eyelid skin.
There are several techniques for treating the phenomenon of forehead and eyebrow drooping, depending on the degree of drooping and the degree of aesthetic disturbance. Despite the physical similarity and proximity, eyelid surgery and eyebrow and forehead lift are two different procedures, separate and refer to different areas and achieve a different aesthetic result. The diagnosis and adjustment of the procedure will be performed by the surgeon. It is important to understand that when there is significant drooping of the eyebrows, eyelid lift surgery will result in partial or little improvement if it is not accompanied by eyebrow lift surgery. Adjusting expectations before surgery is essential for the success of the medical procedure, and for patient satisfaction.
A brow lift is a procedure that aims to improve the natural sagging that occurs due to gravity, changes in collagen tissue, and loss of volume in the upper eyelid and eyebrow area. A brow lift allows the eye area to open up and return to its previous appearance. The result of a brow and forehead lift is a fresher, younger appearance that is often accompanied by a higher self-image and a great degree of satisfaction that is maintained over time.
In the early stages of drooping, non-surgical treatments such as Botox injections in the sides of the eyes or fillers in the eyebrow area can be considered. Repeated injections can improve the position of the eyebrows over time and delay the need for surgery to correct drooping eyebrows. There are cases where the effect of Botox or fillers is suboptimal and it is recommended to consider surgery.
One of the most prominent symptoms of age is the loss of tissue volume, especially adipose tissue. Relative depletion of facial adipose tissue occurs in all areas – forehead and eyebrows, upper eyelids, lower eyelids and jaw lines. In the upper eyelids, fat absorption gives the appearance of sunken eyes, in the eyebrows, an emphasis on bony tissue (bone) and a feeling of drooping eyebrows. In the lower eyelids, fat absorption gives the appearance of bags or dark circles under the eyes. In many cases, before deciding on surgery, it is possible to consider injecting fillers to restore the lost volume, in order to give a younger and fresher appearance. Prof. Ben Simon performs injections of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance naturally found in the body, and also integrates well with normal tissues with a low percentage of side effects.
The acid can be injected directly into the eyebrow tissue or the depressions in the lower eyelids. Sometimes more than one treatment is needed, and it can also be combined with Botox injections to reduce wrinkles on the sides of the eyes and forehead and to shape the position and shape of the eyebrow.
When you do decide on a surgical procedure for an eyelid lift or forehead and eyebrow lift, in many cases Prof. Ben Simon recommends an injection of autologous fat to restore the missing volume. Here too, the fat injection will be done in similar areas, but larger amounts can be injected and combined with injections in additional areas of the cheeks and face. Restoring volume is of great aesthetic importance, sometimes no less than the surgical procedure itself.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the patient’s wishes and other factors that will be discussed with the surgeon at the time of the consultation. In many cases, the surgery is combined with lower eyelid surgery to the extent necessary. The doctor marks the desired lifting direction (lifting vector) as well as emphasizes lateral or central lifting according to the patient’s preference and the desired result. There are cases in which a direct eyebrow lift is performed through an incision near the eyebrow line and the excess skin is removed to the extent necessary. Recovery is usually rapid and the scar is not significant for about two months after the surgery. When an endoscopic eyebrow lift can be performed (detailed below), here the incisions are made within the hairline without a visible scar.
The preferred surgery in cases of eyebrow drooping is an endoscopic eyebrow lift.
Which is performed using a minimally invasive technique by creating small, hidden incisions in the hairline and stretching the skin upward through them in a way that does not leave an external scar. This is a relatively common surgery with good results and a high safety profile. The surgery gives a natural, youthful, and fresh appearance to the upper face and is the preferred choice of many patients. In men, it is less recommended to perform eyebrow lift surgery using an endoscopic approach.
There are two approaches to brow lift surgery: one is the subperiosteal approach, in which separation is performed at a plane adjacent to the bone tissue. This plane is considered relatively safe because it is easy to dissect (separate) and does not contain motor nerve tissue. The other is the preperiosteal approach, in which separation is performed at the subcutaneous plane. This separation can be technically challenging, but some argue that it gives better results over time. There is no clear answer to this, and each surgeon has their own preference.
The new eyebrow position is fixed with deep stitches in the lateral area and with fine titanium screws in the central areas. It is important to understand that the screws are not visible or felt and are similar to the pins used to sew the skin. After about two weeks, the screws and pins are removed in the clinic, in a procedure that is not accompanied by pain or discomfort. About a week after the surgery, Prof. Ben Simon performs a Botox injection into the forehead area to weaken the forehead muscle and ensure better aesthetic healing.
Eyelid lift surgery and eyebrow lift surgery are different procedures, but in many cases they can be combined to obtain a better result.
Additional options for a certain amount of eyebrow lift include the injection of fillers and the injection of Botox-A into the muscles of expression on the sides of the eye and forehead. In this case, the improvement will be specific and relatively short-term. The duration of the effect of fillers and Botox is several months, after which there is a gradual decrease, which requires supplementary treatments every period of time. In cases where the sagging is not significant or patients are hesitant about surgery, this may be the preferred choice, so that the resulting correction is sufficient and at the same time serves as a preventive treatment for worsening sagging. However, it is likely that at some point the rate of natural sagging will exceed the restraining capabilities of conservative treatment and invasive intervention will be required in order to obtain better results.
Brow lift surgery is a good, common, and considered safe surgery. Recovery from it is accompanied by some discomfort, but it is considered a relatively short and easy recovery.
Brow lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia and the stitches or staples used to close the surgical incision are removed about two weeks after surgery. Swelling and bruising in the forehead and temple area lasts for two weeks and gradually decreases over the course of 1-2 months after surgery. Sometimes a feeling of numbness or decreased sensation in the operated area may appear, which usually returns to normal within a few months. There is difficulty in lifting the eyebrows after surgery, but as mentioned, it passes, similar to the lack of sensation. In rarer cases, especially with superficial separation, paralysis of the facial nerve may occur – although this complication is very rare in brow lift surgery. A week after surgery, a Botox injection will be performed into the forehead muscles in order to maintain the eyebrows in the desired position.
The final aesthetic result is achieved one to two months after surgery.
It is important to choose an ophthalmologist with a specialization in eyelid surgery – oculoplastics, a unique field that focuses on upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery (sags under the eyes), forehead and eyebrow lifting, and eye socket and tear duct surgery. As well as having extensive experience in forehead and eyebrow lifting surgery, who will be able to diagnose and adjust the surgery or treatment required for you. It is recommended to see before and after surgery photos of other patients in order to adjust expectations, and sometimes you can even consult with patients in order to understand the experience of treatment and recovery. It is also important to receive an accurate explanation of the surgical process, recovery, the expected aesthetic results, possible complications and their treatment options. Prof. Ben Simon accompanies patients throughout the entire surgical procedure and guarantees treatment throughout the stages of recovery and afterwards.
During the meeting, an initial introduction is made, the patient’s wishes are understood, and expectations are adjusted to the possible outcome. Prof. Ben Simon performs a comprehensive examination of the eye to assess diseases and associated conditions that will require adjustment of the surgery to eye health. A comprehensive examination of the eyelids is also performed, including all aesthetic and functional disorders that can be improved. After a discussion with the patients, an optimal treatment plan is implemented. In most cases, the solution is surgical, but in other cases there are non-surgical treatments such as Botox injections, peeling, or fillers.
After the examination, patients go to the clinic manager to complete tests, receive the technical details of the surgery, and coordinate the surgery date.
The clinic team includes Miri Sapir, who receives the patient, completes some of the preliminary tests, and serves as an aesthetic consultant, and Anna Kasner, the clinic manager, who coordinates the surgeries and obtains full details about the nature of the process.
An endoscopic brow lift or forehead lift is a minimally invasive surgical technique that is performed through small incisions behind the hairline. In this way, there is no skin scar after the surgery. The surgery is performed using an endoscope and is thus possible through small, hidden incisions. There are additional surgical techniques such as a direct lift or a lateral lift, where the surgical technique is adapted to the patient’s condition and the desired result. The surgery is usually accompanied by good aesthetic results and has a high safety profile.
A side brow lift is possible when it is important to maintain a natural appearance of the face and eyebrows. If only a side lift is required, two lateral incisions above the eyebrow or behind the hairline can be sufficient, which reduces the duration of the surgery. The term fox eyes usually refers to a side lift, and giving the eyes an almond-shaped appearance.
The success rate of eyebrow lift surgery is 95%, and in these cases the result is maintained for years. If asymmetry remains after surgery or if the lift is achieved to a lesser extent than required, corrective surgery can usually be performed 3-6 months after surgery. At the review session three months after surgery, the before and after photos are compared, the result and the patient’s satisfaction are examined, and a decision is made on routine follow-up or a plan to complete additional aesthetic treatments.
In the first two days after surgery, it is recommended to apply cold compresses to the area to reduce the degree of edema and hemorrhage. There is no reason to leave the house on the first day after surgery, and what is limiting is the hemorrhage and edema, so it is a good idea to bring sunglasses, a hat or a headband. Walking can be done the day after surgery, but strenuous physical activity such as swimming, cycling, running, Pilates and yoga should be postponed for 1-2 weeks after surgery. Most patients return to work 1-2 weeks after surgery, although the final result is achieved about one to two months after surgery.
Brow lift surgery is considered relatively safe, but as with any surgery, complications can occur, fortunately the vast majority of which can be treated. A suboptimal aesthetic result or one that is not to the patient’s satisfaction, here a reassessment is performed, examining the degree of improvement compared to the preoperative condition, and whether additional treatments or surgeries are worthwhile or recommended. Numbness or tingling in the forehead area almost always appears and returns several weeks after surgery. Weakness of the forehead muscle is also common, and is expected to improve in the weeks following surgery. Complete paralysis of the muscle is very, very rare. Another possible complication is relative absorption of fat in the forehead and temples, which can be treated by injecting autologous fat at the time of surgery, or injecting fillers after surgery depending on the degree of aesthetic disturbance.
MEDICA Medical Center, HaBarzel 28, 1st floor, Ramat HaHayal, Tel Aviv
© All rights reserved to Prof. Guy Ben Simon – Ophthalmologist specializing in eye plastic surgery 2025 | SEO and digital marketing by 
