Service
Brow lift
A brow lift is a procedure that returns the brows to a higher position. The medical term is brow lift. When the brows drop, the skin of the upper eyelid looks heavier and the gaze more tired — and this is often what brings people in who think their eyelids are the problem.
What concerns does it address?
When is Botox enough, and when is surgery needed?
This is the first thing to sort out, because the difference is large, both in the procedure and in how long it lasts.
- Botox lifts the brow by relaxing the muscle that pulls it down. The effect is smaller and temporary.
- Surgery moves the position of the brow and changes it permanently.
When the brow is only slightly lowered, Botox may be enough; it relaxes the muscles that pull the brow downward.
Brows or eyelids?
A lowered brow and excess skin on the upper eyelid give a similar impression, but they are solved with different procedures. In some people both are present.
Whether the eyelid, the brow or both are lowered, and what is done for each, is described on the Drooping eyelids page.
How is it done?
The brow is lifted in one of three ways, depending on how far it has dropped and how high the forehead is. Through the scalp — short incisions hidden in the hair, through which the forehead tissue is released and fixed higher; the scars cannot be seen. Directly above the brow — excess skin is removed through an incision along the upper edge of the brow; quick and precise, but the scar stays next to the brow, so it is chosen for thick brows and for men with deep forehead lines. With Botox — for a slight drop, relaxing the muscles that pull the brow down lifts it by a millimetre or two, temporarily.
When is the procedure not suitable?
The procedure is not suitable when the main problem is excess skin on the upper eyelid and the brow sits where it should; eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is then done, and a brow lift would not solve the problem. It is not done with active skin infection of the forehead and scalp, with uncontrolled blood pressure and with clotting disorders. With a high forehead and a receding hairline, an incision in the scalp would raise the hairline further, so another approach is chosen or the procedure is not recommended. With weakness of the facial nerve on one side, the result is unpredictable, which we discuss at the examination.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
How do we prepare for the procedure?
At the examination we assess what is lowered — the brow, the eyelid or both — because that determines which procedure is chosen. Photographs are taken at rest and while lifting the brows; hair is not cut.
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Recovery
Swelling and bruising around the eyes go down over the first weeks. Procedures are grouped into four recovery profiles: A, outpatient (home straight away, no restrictions apart from dressing changes), B, minor procedure (home the same day or after one night, marks are visible for about a week), C, major procedure (one to two nights in the clinic, sick leave and planning in weeks) and D, functional procedure (sick leave and return to work). This procedure belongs to profile B. How long recovery takes and what it depends on is described on the Recovery after surgery page.
What can't the procedure do?
A brow lift changes the position of the brow. It does not remove excess skin from the upper eyelid and does not change lines under the eyes or on the cheeks.
Risks
Expected — swelling and bruising around the eyes, numbness of the skin above the incision that fades over weeks. Occasional — asymmetry of brow position, a visible scar in the hairline.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Brow lift under local anaesthesia | €1,000–1,200 |
| Upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a temporal lift or brow lift | €3,300–4,300 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
In the same visit
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) — a lifted brow shows how much eyelid skin needs to be removed, so blepharoplasty is done in the same procedure, with one recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the scar be? In the scalp, a few centimetres behind the hairline, where the hair covers it. There is one, longer incision in the scalp. An incision along the hairline is made only with a high forehead.
Will I look surprised? The aim is to return the brow to the position it had before it dropped, not to lift it above that. An over-lifted brow gives an expression that cannot be corrected for months, so we work with restraint.
How long does the swelling last? On average seven to ten days, with bruises that can travel down to the eyelids. A feeling of tightness in the forehead and reduced sensation in the scalp can last a few weeks and gradually fade.
Can it be combined with blepharoplasty? Yes, and it is one of the most common combinations. A lifted brow shows how much eyelid skin really needs to be removed, so blepharoplasty is done in the same procedure, after the brow lift.
Will I lose hair along the incisions? Hair along the scalp incision can thin temporarily in a narrow strip, on average two to three millimetres on each side. Permanent hair loss along the scar is rare and visible only with a short haircut.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.