A brow lift is generally a safe operation when carried out by an appropriately trained surgeon in a regulated hospital, but like all surgery it carries risks. The main brow-specific concerns are numbness or itching of the scalp, temporary weakness in raising the eyebrow, hair loss around incisions, asymmetry, and the brow settling higher or lower than planned. Understanding these helps you weigh the benefits realistically.
General surgical risks
- Bleeding and haematoma: a collection of blood under the skin, which may need a return to theatre. Stopping certain supplements and blood-thinning medicines beforehand, as agreed with your doctors, and controlling blood pressure reduce the risk.
- Infection: uncommon on the well-supplied scalp and forehead, and reduced by sterile technique, antibiotics where indicated and good wound care.
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE): blood clots in the leg or lung are less common after facial surgery than body surgery, but risk is assessed for everyone. Early walking, hydration and, where appropriate, compression stockings help.
- Anaesthetic risks: a consultant anaesthetist assesses you beforehand; sickness, sore throat and drowsiness are the most common effects of general anaesthesia.
Numbness, tingling and itching
The supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves carry sensation from the forehead and front of the scalp. During brow lifting they are protected but inevitably stretched or disturbed, so numbness behind the incisions is expected. As feeling returns over weeks to months, many people experience tingling, ‘crawling’ sensations or itching. Persistent reduced sensation in a small area is possible. Techniques that preserve these nerves carefully, and avoiding hot hair tools while sensation is reduced, help protect you.
Facial nerve weakness
The frontal branch of the facial nerve controls the muscle that raises the eyebrow. It runs through the temple, where temporal and endoscopic brow lift dissections are carried out in a specific tissue plane to keep clear of it. Temporary weakness, where one brow does not lift as well as the other, is possible and usually recovers over weeks to months. Permanent weakness is rare. Knowledge of the anatomy and careful dissection are the main protective factors.
Hair and hairline changes
Some thinning or hair loss around the incisions can occur, often temporary and recovering over three to six months as follicles recover from the stress of surgery. Incisions are made parallel to hair follicles and tension on the closure is minimised to reduce this. A traditional coronal lift can raise the hairline, which is why people with a high forehead may be offered a hairline incision instead. Direct brow lifts leave a scar just above the eyebrow, usually reserved for selected patients such as men with thinning hair.
Aesthetic risks
Asymmetry between the two brows is common before surgery and can persist or change afterwards. Over-elevation can produce a surprised or startled look, while under-correction or gradual relapse can leave the brow lower than hoped. Brow position also continues to change with age. Careful measurement, marking with you sitting upright, and conservative planning reduce these risks, and minor adjustments are occasionally needed once healing is complete.
Risks when combined with eyelid surgery
A brow lift is often performed alongside upper blepharoplasty. When both are done, the amount of eyelid skin removed must allow for the lift, otherwise the eyes may not close fully, leading to dryness or irritation. Temporary dry or gritty eyes are common and usually managed with lubricating drops. Planning both procedures together is safer than treating them separately without considering how they interact.
What is normal versus a concern
Normal: swelling and bruising that spread to the eyelids and cheeks, a tight forehead, numbness, itching, mild headache and a little oozing from incisions in the first day or two.
Contact the team the same day for fever, increasing redness, warmth or discharge from a wound, or pain that worsens after the first few days. Contact the surgical team urgently if one side of the forehead or one eye swells rapidly and becomes tense or very painful, or if your vision changes. Sudden one-sided calf pain or leg swelling needs same-day assessment through your GP or NHS 111, and chest pain or breathlessness needs a 999 call.
Reducing your own risk
Stop smoking and nicotine products for at least six weeks before and after surgery, as nicotine impairs blood supply to healing skin and hair follicles. Share a full list of medicines and supplements, keep your head elevated, follow wound and hair-care advice, and attend follow-up appointments. The brow lift recovery guide sets out what to expect each week, and the brow lift page describes the procedure in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a brow lift a safe operation?
For healthy adults treated by a qualified plastic surgeon in a regulated hospital, serious complications are uncommon. Mr Nassab will discuss your individual risk profile at consultation.
Can a brow lift cause hair loss?
Temporary thinning around incisions can occur and usually recovers within a few months. Permanent hair loss in a small area along the scar is possible but uncommon.
Will you be able to move your eyebrows afterwards?
Movement usually returns fully. Temporary weakness on one side can happen if the nerve is stretched, and it typically recovers over weeks to months.
How long does scalp numbness last?
It varies, but most sensation returns over several months. A small area of reduced feeling can persist long term.
Could my brows end up uneven?
Some asymmetry can persist because most faces are not perfectly symmetrical. Careful planning minimises this, and any concerns are reviewed once swelling has settled.
