Seeking the benefits of a browlift, like smoothed forehead wrinkles and a more refreshed look, without the downtime and cost of surgery? We just might be able to help you. We asked the experts what treatments they would recommend to patients looking to mimic the effects of a browlift. Check out their insight below, and see if one of the treatments is right for you.
Featured experts
- Dr. Janet Allenby is a board-certified dermatologist in Delray Beach, FL
- Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York
- Matthew White, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York
- Tina Alster, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, D.C.
- Kimberly J. Lee, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills
Neurotoxins
Almost all of the experts agree neurotoxin injections are the most effective way to get a nonsurgical browlift. “Toxins or neuromodulators are the gold standard of relaxing the muscles that pull the face down to release the frowns, the forehead lines and the crow’s feet,” says Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby, MD. With this technique, “Forehead muscles are selectively injected to maximize the effect of the brow elevators and minimize the effect of the brow depressors,” explains New York plastic surgeon Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD.
“For a nonsurgical brow lift, nothing beats a well-placed Botox injection. When expertly injected, Botox selectively relaxes the muscles that pull your brow downward—specifically the orbicularis oculi, which is also responsible for that familiar squinting motion,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Matthew White, MD. “It’s a quick and virtually painless procedure, and you’ll start to notice subtle changes in as little as five days. By the two-week mark, you can enjoy a refreshed, naturally lifted brow—often elevated by up to three millimeters—without the need for surgery.”
Devices
“There are multiple devices that contract tissue, grow collagen, smooth out colors and surface along with creating a lift to the forehead and eyes,” notes Dr. Allenby. Devices with no downtime like Ultherapy, microneedling radiofrequency and nonablative CO2 are very effective but usually need multiple treatments, she says. Devices that require downtime that treat tissue tightening around the forehead and eye area, like CoolPeel and Ellacor, can also be beneficial, adds Dr. Allenby
Washington D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD likes to combine injections of Xeomin or Dysport with a radiofrequency treatment Thermage RF around the eyes and brows to produce a nonsurgical browlift. She adds that “if wrinkles are also in evidence, I combine the above with ablative or nonablative fractionated laser treatment.”
Filler
Beverly Hills, CA plastic surgeon Kimberly J. Lee, MD says you can also use fillers to re-volumize the temples or outer brow fat pads to give a lifted appearance, resulting in a more youthful contour. Dr. Allenby explains that filler in the forehead, eyebrows and scalp can all help lift the tissue. “Each zone needs a specific type of filler based on the anatomy and the structures in that area for safety and creating a specific outcome, so it would be preferential to visit someone very experienced in this area,” she notes.
Threadlift
Dr. Lee says a threadlift of the brows can mimic the benefits of a browlift without surgery. With this procedure, “dissolvable threads are placed to lift the brows upward and stimulate collagen formation, providing an immediate lift,” she explains. “Results last for about a year, give or take.”
