7322 E 91st St, Tulsa, OK 74133 · 918-392-0880 · tulsasurgicalarts.com
Oklahoma Surgical Arts · 12400 Saint Andrew’s Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 · 405-751-0042
Brow Lift (Forehead Lift)
Plain-language patient guide
What this surgery is
A brow lift raises the brows to a rested, natural position. It treats a heavy brow that pushes down on the upper lids. It can soften deep forehead lines and frown lines.
It is often paired with an eyelid lift for a balanced result.
What happens during it
You get anesthesia (medicine that makes you sleep) or deep sedation.
The surgeon makes small cuts hidden in the hair above the forehead.
A thin camera (an endoscope) may be used to see under the skin through those small cuts.
The tissues that pull the brow down are released.
The brow is lifted and held in its new position with small anchors or stitches.
The cuts are closed. Surgery takes about one to two hours.
Main risks
Every surgery has risks. Here are the main ones for this surgery, in plain words. We will go over all of them with you in person.
A numb or itchy scalp for weeks to months.
Thin hair along the small scars. It usually recovers.
Brows that sit unevenly and may need a touch-up.
A surprised look if lifted too far. Careful planning avoids this.
Bleeding. Some bleeding can need another trip to the operating room.
Infection. Signs are spreading redness, warmth, pus, or fever.
Scars. Every cut leaves a scar. Most fade over a year. Some stay raised or wide.
Numb skin near the cuts. Feeling usually returns over months. Small areas can stay numb.
Blood clots in the legs. A clot can travel to the lungs. That is an emergency.
Problems from anesthesia (the medicine that makes you sleep). These are rare in healthy people.
Uneven results. The two sides of the body are never a perfect match.
The need for another surgery to fix a problem or improve the result.
What recovery is like
First few days
Tight forehead feeling, swelling, and some bruising near the eyes. Keep your head raised.
One week
Clips or stitches in the hairline come out. Most swelling fades.
Two weeks
Back to work and normal daily life for most people.
Six weeks
Full exercise. Scalp feeling keeps improving for months.
When to call us right away
Call us at 918-392-0880, day or night, if:
You have chest pain or trouble breathing. Call 911 first, then call us.
One leg swells, or one calf hurts more than the other.
You have a fever over 101 degrees.
Blood soaks a bandage and does not slow down with gentle pressure.
Redness spreads out from a cut, or you see pus.
Your pain gets much worse instead of better.
A wound pulls open, or stitches come apart.
Approved for patient use — released under the clinical review of the Tulsa Surgical Arts surgical team, August 2026.