As we age and start losing collagen and elastin, our skin becomes wrinkled, tired, and sagging. Some aging signs are particularly unpleasant, such as droopy eyelids and vertical lines between the eyebrows that give us an angry look.
For years, surgical treatments have been the go-to solution for these aesthetic issues. Today, many patients prefer the Botox brow lift – a non-surgical procedure that provides similar results without downtime or potential scarring.
This article explains the Botox brow lift procedure, how to prepare for it, and what results to expect.
What Is a Botox Brow Lift?
The Botox brow lift is a non-surgical procedure that involves the use of Botox, the most popular neurotoxin injectable, to relax, or “freeze”, the muscles beneath the brow area. This stops the downward pull of these muscles, which creates folds in the skin. After a Botox brow lift, we stop making expressions that contribute to a tired or angry look, and the skin in the area becomes smooth.
How Does the Botox Brow Lift Work?
The Botox brow lift paralyzes the muscles that bring the brow down during contraction. The brow rises slightly, “lifting” the eyebrows and “opening” the eyelids and the eyes. Medical providers use different injection methods depending on the patient’s unique facial anatomy and the severity of their skin concern. In some cases, they only inject Botox laterally under each eyebrow, while other patients require injections along the eyebrows, in the forehead, and between the eyes.
The Botox brow lift fixes droopy eyelids and improves the appearance of existing wrinkles, but it can also be used preventatively to delay the formation of new ones.
Note: Learn how preventative Botox can help delay the onset of aging signs.
Botox Brow Lift Benefits
The benefits of the Botox brow lift include:
- A lifted and more youthful appearance.
- Reduced wrinkles in the forehead and brow area.
- Results comparable to those of the surgical brow lift.
- Minimally invasive treatment requiring no downtime.
- A quick procedure.
- Minimal or no pain.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Botox Brow Lift?
The Botox brow lift is suitable for any adult over 18 who wants to rejuvenate their skin in the upper facial area. Botox for men is gaining in popularity as the neurotoxin helps with aging signs affecting all genders.
The treatment mainly benefits patients with the following age-related or congenital cosmetic issues:
- Hooding or “drooping” upper eyelids – Droopy eyelids occur due to dermatochalasis, an age-related accumulation of droopy tissue. It can lead to a “tired” and “angry” appearance and possibly even obstruct a patient’s vision.
- Vertical glabellar lines – The lines between the eyes that form due to corrugator muscles contracting.
- Horizontal lines across the forehead – These lines form due to years of contracting the frontalis muscles when we raise our eyebrows.
Regardless of your age or gender, if you are dealing with droopy eyelids, lines between the eyes, or forehead wrinkles, ask your esthetician if a Botox brow lift is right for you.
Note: Find out more treatments and products to rejuvenate the skin.
How to Prepare for the Botox Brow Lift Treatment?
Your chosen Botox provider will explain how to prepare for the brow lift treatment during your initial consultation. They may suggest you follow these tips:
- Avoid alcoholic beverages for one week.
- Avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory, and blood-thinning medications for two weeks.
- Use gentle skincare products for several days.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and facial cosmetic procedures for two weeks.
- Drink plenty of water.
Note: Check out our in-depth guide on how to prepare for Botox.
What Can You Expect During the Botox Brow Lift Procedure?
The procedure for getting a Botox eyebrow lift is quick, simple, and painless. The Botox provider cleanses the patient’s skin and maps out the areas around the eyebrows where Botox will be injected. The procedure doesn’t require anesthesia because the needles are small, and most patients tolerate the injection well. More sensitive patients may request a topical numbing cream to be applied before the procedure.
The injection process takes several minutes, and the whole treatment usually lasts under half an hour. Patients can safely go about their day afterward.
Note: Read our article about common Botox areas to determine if the treatment can help with your specific skin concern.
Where Is the Best Place to Inject Botox for the Eyebrow Lift?
For a Botox brow lift, the injections are focused on the muscles surrounding the eyelids, specifically the orbicularis oculi and the corrugator muscles. The orbicularis oculi muscles go around the eyes and are responsible for contracting and depressing the brow. The corrugator muscles are positioned between the eyes, in the area where the eyebrows begin.
The provider injects Botox in multiple key places just above or below the eyebrows, between the eyes, and near the temple.
It is important to schedule the treatment with a skilled and experienced medical provider who has good knowledge of facial anatomy. This will ensure you get Botox in the proper location and at an adequate depth.
Botox Brow Lift Results
The Botox brow lift raises and reshapes the eyebrows, smooths the skin around the brows and on the forehead, and delivers a fresher, rejuvenated look.
How Many Botox Units for Brow Lift Are Needed?
The amount of Botox required for a brow lift depends on the patient’s unique physical features and desired results.
On average, women need 4-8 units of Botox along the brow, 20 units of Botox for glabellar (frown) lines between the eyebrows, and 10-24 units of Botox for horizontal forehead wrinkles.
Men typically require more Botox units than women because they have more prominent muscles.
Your Botox provider will determine the specific amount of Botox required for your individual use case during the consultation.
Does the Botox Brow Lift Make the Forehead Look Smaller?
A Botox brow lift can help reduce forehead wrinkles, but it can’t make the forehead look smaller. Forehead size depends on the patient’s bone structure and the amount of soft tissue. Botox only affects muscle activity, which contributes to sagging brows and wrinkle formation.
A surgical brow lift is a more effective solution for patients who want to change the size of their forehead.
Does the Botox Brow Lift Help Hooded Eyes?
Yes, a Botox brow lift can address hooded eyes. They occur when a drooping brow pushes downward onto the eyelids, resulting in a partially or fully obscured upper eyelid. Injecting Botox into specific muscles around the eyebrows subtly elevates the brows, creating a more open and refreshed appearance.
How Long Does a Botox Brow Lift Last?
The effects of the Botox eyebrow lift usually last about 3 to 4 months. Some patients enjoy the results for up to 6 months.
The first visible results should appear within the first week of the procedure.
Botox Brow Lift Aftercare
After your appointment, follow these aftercare recommendations to ensure Botox doesn’t spread to surrounding muscles, causing undesired effects:
- Be gentle with the skin around the injection sites for a few days. This helps avoid blemish flare-ups and encourages healing.
- Avoid makeup and skincare products for 12 hours after the injections.
- Avoid vigorous physical activity for two days after the procedure.
Note: Discover more Botox aftercare tips to increase the longevity of results.
Botox Brow Lift Side Effects
The Botox brow lift is a safe, painless procedure. Common side effects are usually mild and go away within one week. They include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Redness
- Numbness
- Headache
If you experience more severe complications, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, blurred vision, or muscle weakness, contact your medical provider immediately.
Note: Learn more about potential Botox side effects and how to manage them.
Botox Brow Lift Price
At Vibrant Skin Bar, one unit of Botox costs $13.50.
Since a Botox brow lift procedure usually requires 30 to 50 units, the total cost of the treatment ranges from $405 to $675.
Can a Botox Brow Lift Be Reversed?
The effects of the Botox brow lift can’t be reversed. They will, however, wear off after the neurotoxin breaks down, usually within six months of the procedure. Injectors may be able to correct certain undesired results, such as an asymmetrical lift or insufficient wrinkle reduction.
Conclusion
The Botox eyebrow lift effectively lifts the eyebrows, smooths the lines between them, and provides a rejuvenated look.
The price for such a subtle but game-changing intervention is worth it. Just make sure you are in the hands of a skilled professional with a proven record of successful Botox treatments.
If you are looking for a reliable injectables provider in Phoenix, contact our Vibrant Skin Bar team today!