Where a patient has brow lift scars depends on what type of brow lift surgery they undergo. There are three different types of brow lift surgery, and each one is accompanied by a different incision pattern, something Smita R. Ramanadham, M.D. carefully evaluates based on your anatomy, skin elasticity and aesthetic goals.
In this post, we’ll examine what type of brow lift may be best for you and what resulting scars you can expect.
3 Types of Brow Lift Surgery
In order to determine what your brow lift scars will look like, we must first go over the three different types of brow lift surgery.
1. Classic Brow Lift Surgery (Coronal Brow Lift)
A coronal brow lift requires one long incision from the top of one ear, along the entire hairline, all the way to the top of the other ear. The forehead skin is then gently lifted so that the surgeon can manipulate the underlying tissues and remove excess skin.
The coronal lift incision is usually made within the scalp area where hair grows so that after brow lift recovery, the patient’s hair will naturally cover the incision line, helping reduce the risk of a visible scar and support minimal scarring.
2. Endoscopic Brow Lift Surgery
Endoscopic brow lifts are growing increasingly popular because they don’t require the long incision that coronal lifts do. Instead, several small incisions are made along the hairline.
A thin tube attached to a small camera (endoscope) is then inserted into these incisions. This guides the surgeon’s work, helping them avoid nerves. Special instruments are used to adjust the underlying tissues.
Endoscopic brow lift scars tend to be quite small and nearly invisible once they heal, especially when proper aftercare supports optimal healing and reduces the likelihood of a visible scar.
3. Temporal Brow Lift
Lastly, a temporal brow lift is basically a smaller version of an endoscopic brow lift. If a patient is happy with the center and middle area of their brows, this may be a good option for them. It reduces the chances of having a “surprised” look following surgery.
Instead, a temporal lift focuses on lifting the outer edges of the brows. Incisions are only made along the hairline near the temples. An endoscope and instruments are used to perform the procedure, typically resulting in minimal scarring when the healing process progresses as expected.
There are also direct brow lifts, but these are rarely performed. This procedure creates incisions right along the eyebrows, which means that direct brow lift scars are typically more noticeable and may result in a visible scar or even raised scars in some cases. See direct brow lift scars photos for examples.
What Do Brow Lift Scars Look Like?
Right after most any type of cosmetic surgery, incisions are just starting to heal and will appear red or pink, raised, and swollen. Naturally, you will have bandages over the area. See brow lift before and after photos depicting typical scar appearance right after surgery to see examples. During this early stage, the healing skin is more sensitive and requires careful attention.
Within a few weeks, incisions will close, and your scars should start to flatten out. Likewise, the color should start to become less pigmented and begin blending more with your surrounding skin. In some cases, scars may temporarily darken scars before improving as part of the normal healing process.
Fading and flattening will only continue as time goes on. Full results from brow lift surgery are usually achieved after around six months. We suggest looking up brow lift scars before and after photos to see what fully healed patients’ scars look like after six months to a year, with most experiencing optimal healing and only minor residual scarring.
Will a Brow Lift With Botox Leave Scars?
First: What is a brow lift with Botox?
“Botox brow lifts” as they are frequently called are brow lifts that do not require incisions. Rather, results are achieved with Botox injections. The downside of this procedure is that it requires numerous treatments over time in order to maintain results.
Your Botox brow lift cost is going to be lower than the cost of a surgical lift, but this is only for the first few treatments. If you plan on regularly getting Botox brow injections, over time, the overall cost may be higher than for a one-off brow lift surgery.
The good news is that you don’t have to deal with scars after Botox brow lifts, making this an option for patients looking to completely avoid visible scar concerns.
Patients often opt to undergo a Botox brow lift first, before getting the surgical brow lift procedure. This allows them to know for sure if they want to pursue a more permanent improvement to the appearance of their brows and forehead.
FAQ: Brow Lift Surgery Scars
How is a brow lift different from a forehead lift?
In fact, a brow lift and forehead lift are the same procedure. This surgery may also be called a browplasty.
How is a brow lift different from a facelift or eyelid lift?
Some patients justifiably confuse brow lift procedures with facelift or eyelid surgery. These are all different procedures.
A facelift reduces sagging skin on the face as a whole in order to achieve a more youthful appearance. A neck lift is often combined with facelift surgery.
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) focuses on the eyelids alone. There are upper eyelid lifts (upper blepharoplasty) and lower eyelid lifts (lower blepharoplasty). Both reduce excess skin and fat on the respective eyelids. Upper blepharoplasty also aims to lift the upper eyelids to improve vision.
A brow lift is a form of forehead rejuvenation. The goal of this cosmetic procedure is to smooth out wrinkles and deep forehead lines on the forehead and raise the eyebrows.
What do gone wrong endoscopic brow lift scars look like?
Gone wrong endoscopic brow lift scars are uncommon, but when they occur, they may appear as visible bumps, uneven healing, or slight asymmetry near the hairline where small incisions were made. In some cases, patients may notice raised scars or areas where the healing process was disrupted, leading to less predictable outcomes.
Where are temporal brow lift scars located?
Temporal brow lift scars are typically placed within the hairline at the temples. This placement allows the scars to remain well hidden while lifting the outer portion of the brows. Over time, these scars tend to fade and become difficult to notice, especially when proper aftercare, sun protection, and attention to the healing skin are followed.
Are direct brow lift scars visible after surgery?
Direct brow lift scars are placed just above the eyebrows, which makes them more visible compared to other brow lift techniques. However, with precise incision placement and proper healing, many patients find that these scars soften and blend into the natural contours of the skin over time, especially when efforts are made to minimize scarring and support optimal healing.
How long for direct brow lift scars to fade?
The timeline for how long direct brow lift scars take to fade varies, but most patients notice significant improvement within 3 to 6 months. Full scar maturation can take up to a year or longer, depending on skin type, healing response, and post-operative care. Following your surgeon’s surgeon’s post operative instructions, maintaining consistent sun protection, and focusing on scar reduction can help minimize scarring and improve outcomes.
Set up Your Consultation with Dr. Smita
Drooping eyebrows, sagging upper eyelids, deep forehead wrinkles, and other cosmetic concerns of the upper third of the face can cause patients to feel uncomfortable and self-conscious about their appearance. Fix sagging eyebrows and related issues with brow lift surgery while taking steps to minimize scarring and support optimal healing.
To learn more about this surgical procedure and what scars typically look like after surgery, contact us today in New Jersey to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Smita R. Ramanadham, M.D., and get personalized guidance on how to care for your skin, promote proper healing process, and avoid long-term concerns like residual scarring.