The Face
Brow Lift
Open, Rested, Naturally Elevated.
Open, Rested, Naturally Elevated.
The brow and forehead frame everything below them. When the brow descends—as it invariably does with age—it makes the eyes appear smaller and heavier, creating a tired or stern expression that no amount of eye makeup can fully counteract. At Edition, our goal is to restore a sense of vitality and rest without creating an unnatural or "surprised" appearance. By precisely repositioning the brow and smoothing the underlying muscles of the forehead, Dr. Schwartz addresses the anatomical causes of heavy lids and frown lines simultaneously, creating a result that is both transformative and subtle.
Because every face is unique, Dr. Schwartz tailors his approach to your specific anatomy, hairline, and aesthetic goals. He performs the endoscopic brow lift almost exclusively—a modern, minimally invasive technique that elevates and secures the brow through tiny incisions hidden within the hairline. This meticulous method ensures that any scarring is well-concealed while allowing for a significantly faster recovery than traditional open techniques. By focusing on how the brow position interacts with overall facial harmony, Dr. Schwartz ensures the rejuvenation enhances our patients' natural features rather than changing them.
Choosing to undergo a forehead lift is a significant decision, and at Edition Plastic Surgery, we are committed to providing clear, direct guidance from the initial consultation through your full recovery. Our team prioritizes your comfort and confidence, personally overseeing every detail of care to ensure a seamless healing process. Dr. Schwartz believes the best surgical outcomes are those that allow you to look as youthful and energized as you feel, and he works closely with each patient to achieve a refreshed look that remains true to their character.
While Dr. Schwartz specializes in the endoscopic brow lift—utilizing a small camera and discreet incisions—he also employs temporal, trichophytic, and lateral approaches to suit our patients' unique hairlines. At Edition, we prioritize modern techniques that allow for significant smoothing of the forehead without the extensive scarring or prolonged numbness associated with traditional open methods.
Our approach centers on restraint and natural positioning. Dr. Schwartz’s goal is to restore the brow to its youthful position rather than over-elevating it, which avoids the 'startled' expression typical of poorly executed surgery. By evaluating your unique bone structure and anatomy, he typically targets two to four millimeters of elevation to ensure the result is both dramatic and entirely natural.
We ensure incisions are meticulously placed within the hair or along the natural hairline to remain imperceptible once healed. For an endoscopic lift, Dr. Schwartz utilizes tiny openings within the scalp, while a temporal lift targets incisions above the temples; both methods ensure your rejuvenation remains your secret.
During the procedure, the corrugator and procerus muscles—the muscles responsible for deep frown lines—can be addressed directly. By weakening or partially resecting these muscles, Dr. Schwartz provides a lasting solution to a 'stern' or 'worried' expression that is more permanent than what injectable neurotoxins can achieve alone.
Safety and patient comfort are the highest priorities at Edition Plastic Surgery. Dr. Schwartz typically performs brow lifts using either general anesthesia or IV sedation, determining the most appropriate option for you during our consultation process based on the specific surgical approach and your personal health history.
Most of our patients return to non-strenuous work within seven days, though we advise waiting at least three weeks before resuming vigorous exercise. Your recovery is managed with cold compresses and our recommendation to sleep in an upright position for the first several nights to facilitate a smooth healing process.
At Edition, we often find a brow lift is most effective when paired with a deep plane facelift or blepharoplasty for a holistic result. Dr. Schwartz plans these combinations in concert so that each procedure addresses a specific zone of the face, ensuring a balanced, harmonious appearance where no single element draws attention to itself.
Drag the handle to compare.
All photographs are of actual Edition Plastic Surgery patients. Individual results may vary.
An endoscopic brow lift has one of the most manageable recovery profiles in facial surgery — most patients are pleasantly surprised by how quickly they feel like themselves again.
Dr. Schwartz will evaluate your brow position, forehead anatomy, skin quality, and whether upper eyelid fullness is driven by brow descent, eyelid skin, or both — a distinction that determines whether a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or a combination is most appropriate. He will discuss realistic brow elevation targets and show you examples of results for your anatomy type.
An endoscopic brow lift is performed under general or IV sedation anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, typically taking one to one and a half hours. When combined with a facelift or blepharoplasty, it is performed as part of the same session. You are discharged the same day with a light dressing and all aftercare instructions.
Swelling and bruising around the eyes and forehead are normal and most pronounced during the first three to four days. A mild headband compression is worn for the first week. Most patients are comfortably mobile from day one and describe the discomfort as very manageable — more tightness than pain.
Most patients are presentable — with makeup — within ten to fourteen days. Scalp numbness and tingling are normal and resolve gradually over several weeks. Strenuous exercise is restricted for three to four weeks. The brow elevation is visible almost immediately and most patients are delighted by the result even at this early stage.
Residual tightness and any lingering scalp numbness fully resolve over three to six months. The final brow position and the improvement in glabellar lines are visible and established by this point. The result typically lasts seven to twelve years, after which a maintenance procedure may be considered.
The difference between a brow lift that looks surgical and one that looks natural is a matter of millimeters and philosophy. Dr. Schwartz's commitment to restoring rather than altering — combined with his meticulous technique and his understanding of upper facial anatomy — produces consistently natural, rested results that enhance the eyes without changing the patient's fundamental appearance.
Full Credentials →A brow lift is most appropriate for patients whose brow has descended below its youthful position, causing a tired, heavy, or stern expression that they feel does not reflect how they actually feel.
One of the most common findings at a brow lift consultation is that the patient actually needs a blepharoplasty, or a combination of both. Dr. Schwartz will assess which procedure — or which combination — will genuinely address your specific concern.
Answers to the questions Dr. Schwartz hears most often from brow lift patients — particularly about the naturalness of the result.
Many patients who believe they need an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) actually have brow descent as the primary cause of their heavy, tired appearance. When the brow pushes tissue downward, it creates 'excess' skin on the lids that may not truly be there. At Edition, Dr. Schwartz's evaluation assesses both the brow position and the eyelid itself to determine if a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or a combination of both will genuinely address the underlying cause and restore a more alert, refreshed look.
An endoscopic brow lift uses small incisions within the hairline and a specialized camera to elevate and secure the forehead tissues, resulting in minimal scarring and a faster recovery. Dr. Schwartz performs endoscopic lifts almost exclusively because they produce natural, lasting results with no visible scarring in the vast majority of our patients. While a coronal lift involves a longer incision across the scalp, Dr. Schwartz may occasionally recommend a trichophytic incision along the hairline for patients with specific anatomical needs, such as a high forehead, to ensure the most harmonious result.
Over-elevation is the most common error in brow lift surgery, and our philosophy at Edition is to avoid the 'pulled' or artificial look at all costs. Dr. Schwartz focuses on repositioning the underlying muscles and tissues to a youthful, anatomically correct position rather than simply pulling the skin tight. For most of our patients, a mere two to four millimeters of lateral elevation produces a dramatic improvement in rested appearance without looking startled. We want your friends to notice you look well-rested, not that you have had surgery.
The endoscopic approach offers one of the more manageable recovery profiles in facial surgery. While most of our patients feel ready for light social activities within 7 to 10 days, swelling and bruising are most pronounced during the first three to four days of your recovery. Most patients are fully presentable with makeup within two weeks. You may experience temporary scalp numbness or tingling as nerves heal, which resolves gradually over several weeks. Dr. Schwartz advises waiting three to four weeks before returning to the gym or any strenuous exercise.
An endoscopic brow lift typically maintains its results for seven to twelve years, as the tissues are secured to the underlying bone. While the natural aging process continues, it does so from a younger baseline. Many of our patients find that even a decade later, they only require minor maintenance or a less comprehensive touch-up rather than a repeat of the full procedure.
At Edition, our priority is your safety and a predictable, honest outcome. While any surgery carries risks such as infection or temporary changes in skin sensation, Dr. Schwartz works to minimize these by utilizing modern endoscopic techniques and precisely placed incisions. Our team will discuss your health history in detail during your consultation at Edition Plastic Surgery to ensure we are taking the safest and most effective path toward your rejuvenation goals.
The investment for a brow lift varies based on the complexity of the technique—whether our team is performing a lateral, endoscopic, or traditional lift—and whether it is a standalone procedure or combined with a facelift or blepharoplasty. Because Dr. Schwartz personalizes every surgical plan to your unique anatomy, we provide a detailed, transparent fee quote following your initial consultation. Financing options are also available and can be discussed during your appointment.
Dr. Schwartz performs your brow lift as an outpatient procedure under general or IV sedation, ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience at Edition Plastic Surgery. While most of our patients are presentable in public within ten to fourteen days, Dr. Schwartz recommends sleeping in an elevated position and using cold compresses during the first week to optimize your healing. We advise restricting strenuous exercise for three to four weeks while your tissues settle into their naturally rejuvenated, youthful position. Our dedicated patient concierge team provides comprehensive aftercare guidance and coordinates every follow-up appointment, ensuring your recovery reflects the same premium standard as every other element of the Edition experience.