Is a Brow Lift Painful?

Many of our patients do not report significant discomfort, and the majority use only Tylenol as needed. Prescription pain medicine is available to you, and we recommend keeping it on hand in case it is needed.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

A minimum of 4 appointments are needed for this procedure. This includes your initial consultation with Dr. Kolstad to determine your candidacy, a preoperative visit, the date of your surgery, and at least one post-operative visit. The purpose of the post-op visits is for our team to monitor your healing and adjust your recovery instructions, if needed. This allows us to ensure your results are coming in as expected, and gives you an opportunity to ask questions you may have during the recovery period.

How Long Until I See Results?

To see the final results without any bruising or swelling, you’re looking at about 3-6 months. The good news is that the vast majority of bruising and swelling subsides within the first 1-2 weeks, with residual swelling being hardly noticeable throughout the rest of your recovery.

Can I Combine a Brow Lift with Other Procedures?

Brow lifts are most commonly performed alongside an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to remove excess skin and fat around the eyes. This creates a more open, youthful appearance and can help improve vision. Additionally, for those who have lost volume in the cheeks or under the eyes due to aging, fat grafting to add volume creates a smooth, full appearance that, paired with a brow lift , significantly reduces signs of aging.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Brow Lift?

When working with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Kolstad, you can rest assured that the risks of this surgery are reduced. However, brow lifts are still a surgical procedure, and, as with any surgery, there is always the risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, asymmetry, or other complications. Dr. Kolstad will review these risks with you and the steps that are taken to mitigate them.

Will I Have A “Surprised Look” After Surgery?

A common concern with any brow lift procedure is the fear of ending up with an expressionless brow or a surprised appearance, which is sometimes associated with poor plastic surgery. Dr. Kolstad’s expertise and experience with endoscopic brow lifts, combined with his aesthetic eye for achieving a natural appearance, allow him to offer long-lasting results without making his patients look “done.”

Can I Go Home After Surgery?

You will have a soft dressing covering your forehead, neck, and cheeks. You may go home after surgery, as long as you have someone to observe you for 24 hours.

San Diego & La Jolla, CA

Brow Lift

Close-up portrait of a blonde woman nestled in a cream-colored chunky knit sweater, looking directly at the camera with a soft expression.

Do I Need A Brow Lift?

Many people don’t realize that not all of the upper eyelid heaviness can be removed during eyelid surgery. Much of the hooding of the upper eyelid requires a browlift. Many people struggle with hooded eyes or brows that are very close to the eyes, leading to wrinkles around the eyes and forehead, excess skin, and, in some cases, vision impairment.

A brow lift from Dr. Kolstad in San Diego corrects these issues, as he uses multiple techniques to lift the brow area without creating a “pulled appearance, opening the area around the eyes, and restoring a youthful look. The results last for decades, and patients report feeling emotional and physical relief after the procedure.

With so many browlift surgeons in San Diego, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Dr. Kolstad is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon who focuses exclusively on the face and neck rather than breast or body procedures. By dedicating his practice entirely to facial rejuvenation, Dr. Kolstad is able to create a facelift tailored to your anatomy, features, and aesthetic goals.

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What is a Brow Lift?

An endoscopic browlift is performed to restore a more naturally youthful appearance and less fatigued look while maintaining or improving visual function. Many men and women are increasingly seeking browlift surgery to restore a younger look that softens frown lines and the perception of scowling.

If the appearance of your brow is making you appear older than you feel, a brow lift can give you incredible results. This procedure reverses the effects of gravity on the forehead and upper brow by resuspending your brow in its youthful, natural position. Repositioning the brow may also be necessary to achieve optimal improvement in eyelid surgery, drawing attention to open, more inviting eyes.

Dr. Kolstad uses multiple techniques to reposition the brow. After discussing your surgical goals and evaluating your unique facial features, Dr. Kolstad will present different strategies to address your concerns.

The most common type of brow lift uses endoscopes and small incisions that are placed within the hair-bearing scalp. Faces with a long or prominent forehead are better treated with forehead shortening browlifts. Faces requiring only subtle lateral brow elevations are candidates for minitemple lifts.

During your consultation, Dr. Kolstad will address the benefits and limitations of each technique to help guide your decision about which procedure is best for you.

Endoscopic Forehead And Brow Lift

This surgery is designed to minimize scarring by placing the incisions in the hairline. There are a total of 4 incisions required, two in the temples and two very small incisions in the frontal hairline. When healed the incisions are hidden by the surrounding hair.

Endoscopic brow lifts place the incisions far from the surgical site and require cameras, monitors and technology to aid the surgeon. This procedure is designed for someone that requires lifting of the entire eyebrow and forehead. The surgery typically takes about 1.5 hours and requires sedation anesthesia. Downtime is about 7-10 days.

Men with temporal or frontal recession typically do not have enough hair for coverage and are not great candidates for this approach.

Hairline Incision Browlift

Dr. Kolstad offers this unique approach to accomplish two goals with one surgery. Using a special beveled incision just behind the hairline the eyebrows can be lifted and the forehead shortened at the same time. Ideal candidates for this surgery have relatively long foreheads want to shorten then distance between the hairline and eyebrows.

A limitation of the endoscopic browlift is that everything, including the hairline, is lifted upwards and backwards. Dr. Kolstad believes that the forehead shortening brow lift creates a more youthful appearance for most people with average to long foreheads. This type of surgery has a longer recovery than the endoscopic lift. The shortcomings of the trichophytic brow lift are numbness lasting several months or longer behind the incision and the potential for a less hidden incision.

Temple Lift / Lateral Brow Lift

This procedure is designed for someone with lateral hooding and fullness of the outer part of the eyelid. A temple lift raises the lateral (outer) eyebrow without raising the inner corner. Dr. Kolstad’s Advanced Eyelid Lift combines a minibrow and upper blepharoplasty and is his most popular upper eyelid rejuvenation technique. Two incisions are placed into the temporal hairline and are camouflaged by the surrounding hair.

Direct Brow Lift

Men with temporal or frontal hair loss are not acceptable candidates for endoscopic, forehead shortening or minibrow lifts. All three of the procedures use thick hairlines to camouflage the incisions. Men with hair loss and deep forehead creases are ideal candidates for direct brow lifts. Dr. Kolstad removes 1-2 cm of skin above the eyebrows to raise them to a more youthful location. The resulting scar appears like a normal wrinkle in the forehead.

Not Ready For Surgery?

Often, the brow can be lifted with medications like Botox or Dysport. When Botox is injected into precise locations, it can actually elevate the outer brow. This puts the outer brow in a more youthful position and elevates some of the fullness of the upper eyelid.

If you have signs of early brow descent, ask Dr. Kolstad if you are a good candidate for a Botox Brow Lift.

What Are the Benefits of a Brow Lift?

Many patients report not just emotional relief from the confidence boost they get after the procedure, but also physical relief. Removing skin and fat from the hooded eyelids, temples, and forehead makes vision easier for some patients and less taxing on the eyes. Emotionally, patients are relieved when they see the smooth contour that is created, eliminating wrinkles and skin that have been interfering with their youthful appearance.

Why Choose Dr. Kolstad?

There are many different philosophies and as many methods for correcting eyebrow position. Some surgeons pull too much, which can create a surprised look. Other surgeons use implantable plates secured to your skull to suspend the brow. Dr. Kolstad in San Diego, CA, has extensive experience in a variety of techniques and will tailor your surgery to meet your specific goals. Dr. Kolstad is very conservative with the lift and will not pull the eyebrows into a surprised position.

Who Are the Best Candidates For a Brow Lift?

In general, Dr. Kolstad tends to work with patients in the 40-60 age range, as these patients often experience issues with wrinkles and sagging skin around the forehead and upper eye area. For those struggling with skin laxity and excess fat around the eyes, a brow lift can be a truly transformative procedure, bringing a youthful light back to the face.

Patients should be generally healthy, understand the procedure, and have realistic expectations for potential outcomes. To determine your candidacy, the best thing you can do is schedule a consultation with Dr. Kolstad in the San Diego area.

What’s the First Step?

Your Brow Lift Journey with Dr. Kolstad

Customize your Brow Lift!

If you’re not sure whether you’re a good candidate for a brow lift, we invite you to come to our San Diego office for a consultation with Dr. Kolstad. This appointment is an opportunity for you to get a better understanding of the procedure, see potential outcomes using advanced imaging technology, and express your concerns and goals. Dr. Kolstad will answer any questions you may have, evaluate your anatomy, and review your medical history to determine the best surgical route for you. When you feel comfortable and ready, your surgery can be scheduled.

What to Expect on the Day of Brow Lift Surgery

Your surgery will be performed at our state-of-the-art surgical facility in La Jolla. When you arrive, our team will meet with you once more to review your surgical plan, go over last-minute details, and prepare you for the procedure.

The forehead lift procedure itself typically takes between one and two hours to complete, and is most commonly performed with a combination of local anesthesia and sedation, although general anesthesia is sometimes used. The incisions are inconspicuous and are placed on the hair-bearing scalp.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From a Brow Lift?

Most people take about 7 to 10 days off from work to recover. By the tenth day, all sutures and clips have been removed, the majority of the swelling has resolved, and any residual bruising can be camouflaged with makeup.

For the majority of our patients, the recovery follows a similar experience.

How Much Does a Brow Lift Cost in San Diego, CA?

The cost of a brow lift in San Diego can vary and is dependent on the complexity of your case. Pricing also takes into account Dr. Kolstad’s experience and credentials, the facility, anesthesia fees, and medication costs. To get a more accurate estimate of your surgery, schedule a consultation with our team. We are happy to talk with you in detail about costs and, if needed, financing options as well.

Brow Lift FAQ’S

A minimum of 4 appointments are needed for this procedure. This includes your initial consultation with Dr. Kolstad to determine your candidacy, a preoperative visit, the date of your surgery, and at least one post-operative visit. The purpose of the post-op visits is for our team to monitor your healing and adjust your recovery instructions, if needed. This allows us to ensure your results are coming in as expected, and gives you an opportunity to ask questions you may have during the recovery period.
Brow lifts are most commonly performed alongside an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to remove excess skin and fat around the eyes. This creates a more open, youthful appearance and can help improve vision. Additionally, for those who have lost volume in the cheeks or under the eyes due to aging, fat grafting to add volume creates a smooth, full appearance that, paired with a brow lift, significantly reduces signs of aging.
When working with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Kolstad, you can rest assured that the risks of this surgery are reduced. However, brow lifts are still a surgical procedure, and, as with any surgery, there is always the risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, asymmetry, or other complications. Dr. Kolstad will review these risks with you and the steps that are taken to mitigate them.
A common concern with any brow lift procedure is the fear of ending up with an expressionless brow or a surprised appearance, which is sometimes associated with poor plastic surgery. Dr. Kolstad’s expertise and experience with endoscopic brow lifts, combined with his aesthetic eye for achieving a natural appearance, allow him to offer long-lasting results without making his patients look “done.”

Trusted by Patients

5.0

Highly recommend!

Dr. Kolstad has such a strong attention to detail and truly listens to what you want. He makes sure you feel comfortable and cared for throughout the entire process. His professionalism and calm demeanor really put me at ease, and I trust his expertise completely. Highly recommend!

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Dr. Kolstad is an amazing doctor!

Dr. Kolstad is an amazing doctor! I had two hair transplant surgeries over a span of 12 months with him, 4,800 grafts. I saw a number of other hair transplant surgeons in the area, and Dr. Kolstad’s prices are very reasonable. The outcome was exceptional, I am so happy with my new look! The scheduling of pre- and post-op visits was easy and his staff are excellent. Highly recommend!

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Dr. Kolstad is so incredibly talented

Been coming here for years for filler and Botox. Dr Kolstad is so incredibly talented with his work and keeping a natural look to enhance the beauty you already have! He’s so thorough and communicates with such intent and everyone who works here is so amazing and kind! 10/10

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Dr.Kolstad is a blessing

Dr.Kolstad is a blessing to patients who are looking for a facial rejuvenation and natural beauty changes. He has state of the art with all the latest technology in house operation theatre which is emergency equipped bringing costs to patients lower. The office is immaculately hygienic. Dr K and his staff – Jaina, Saranya and Janice are the entire team is top notch, so caring that I didn’t miss a family member. His facial plastic surgery skills are exquisite. He has amazing bed side manners. Very caring and considerate , putting patient care first. I highly recommend him for any facial plastic surgery without breaking your bank along with top notch care. He is the perfect package.

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Dr. Kolstad is truly gifted

I absolutely love Dr. Kolstads office! I’ve been going here for a few years now for lip filler and Botox. Everyone here is so welcoming and incredibly smart! Dr. Kolstad is truly gifted at what he does all while making sure you still maintain a natural look! Thank you to the team for an amazing experience!

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