BonBoz Clinic

Short-Incision Brow Lift

A short-incision brow lift is a surgical procedure that restores a sagging brow to its position above the orbital rim through a minimal incision along the upper border of the eyebrow, excising excess skin and securing the underlying tissue to the periosteum. The result is a lighter feel around the eyes, elimination of excess skin at the outer corners, and a refreshed, less tired facial appearance.

Medically reviewed by BS.Ths.CKII Nguyễn Xuân Vũ — BonBoz Clinic

Mechanism

Brow ptosis occurs when age-related laxity in the frontotemporal soft tissues causes the eyebrows to drop below the supraorbital rim, crowding the upper eyelid skin. A short-incision brow lift approaches directly at the brow line: an incision is made along the upper border of the eyebrow to excise a precisely measured strip of excess skin and tissue. The underlying soft tissue is then elevated and anchored to the frontal periosteum in its new position. The incision is largely concealed by the brow hairs. Certain techniques may also utilize collagen threads to support fixation and tissue healing.

Why perform this before or alongside upper blepharoplasty?

If upper eyelid skin is excised while the brow is still ptotic, closing the incision pulls the brow down even further. This shortens the lid-to-brow distance, resulting in a heavier, more crowded appearance once swelling subsides. The correct sequence is to restore the brow to its proper anatomical position first, and only then excise the truly redundant eyelid skin—which is often less than initially anticipated.

Indications

Mild-to-moderate brow ptosis (especially lateral hooding); skin laxity at the outer corners of the eyes; compensatory brow elevation causing deep horizontal forehead wrinkles; or heavy upper eyelids where a manual brow elevation test significantly reduces apparent excess lid skin. Severe, full-brow ptosis accompanied by pronounced forehead laxity may require a trichophytic or endoscopic brow lift, which will be evaluated during your consultation.

Potential Risks

A pinkish scar along the brow margin for 1–3 months (more visible in individuals with sparse eyebrows), temporary numbness or itching of the forehead skin, overcorrected brow height in the initial weeks, asymmetry, recurrent brow descent due to ongoing natural aging, hematoma, infection (rare), and very rarely, injury to the temporal branch of the facial nerve.

At BonBoz

Our plastic surgeons measure the brow position relative to the orbital rim, perform a manual brow elevation test to distinguish brow-related hooding from true eyelid skin excess, and evaluate levator muscle function. Treatment plans include an isolated short-incision brow lift or a combined procedure with upper blepharoplasty in a single session. Your consulting physician is your operating surgeon; the incision placement is customized based on your brow hair density, the degree of elevation is designed to look natural and avoid a "surprised" appearance, and our doctors clearly advise on potential long-term tissue relaxation over time.

Technique variants

1

Mini 5D Brow Lift

Features a short incision along the tail of the eyebrow to address mild-to-moderate skin laxity and brow ptosis.

2

BonBoz Brow Lift

Features a short incision along the brow margin, using collagen sutures to support fixation and wound healing; suitable for mild skin laxity.

3

Perfect Brow

Combines a brow lift, fat removal/repositioning, and intradermal suturing; designed for more comprehensive brow aging.

When should you see a doctor?

  • Vấn đề nằm ở da mí chứ không phải cung mày sa — cần phân biệt trước, nếu không sẽ chỉnh sai chỗ.
  • Trán đã có nếp nhăn sâu, da trán mỏng.
  • Từng tiêm chất làm đầy hoặc botox vùng trán gần đây.
  • Bạn kỳ vọng nâng cung mày nhiều hơn giới hạn của đường mổ ngắn.

How is it performed?

Local anesthesia (with optional mild sedation). The surgeon marks the incision line along the upper border of the eyebrow and the strip of excess skin to be excised based on the measured lift level, makes the incision, dissects the soft tissue of the brow superiorly, lifts and anchors the tissue to the frontal periosteum at the new position (collagen threads may be used for additional support), removes the excess skin strip, performs intradermal suturing, and closes the skin with fine sutures. The procedure takes 60–90 minutes for both sides; it can be combined with blepharoplasty during the same session if indicated.

Before the procedure

Measure eyebrow position, perform the brow stabilization test, evaluate levator muscle function, and take standardized clinical photographs; discontinue anticoagulants, alcohol, and smoking as instructed; do not trim or pluck eyebrows prior to surgery to allow the surgeon to accurately align the incision line.

After the procedure

**Post-Operative Care Instructions:** * **Cold & Warm Compresses:** Apply a cold compress for the first 48–72 hours (days 1–2: 10–15 minutes per session, every hour), then switch to a warm compress starting on day 3. * **Daily Care & Recovery:** Keep your head elevated while resting, and take all medications exactly as prescribed. Cleanse the eye area with sterile saline. Use proper sun protection and apply scar gel as directed. * **Expected Symptoms:** Mild swelling and bruising may persist for 1–2 weeks. The eyebrow arch may appear slightly elevated for the first few weeks before settling into its natural shape. * **Activities & Dietary Restrictions (1 Month):** Avoid rubbing your eyes, wearing eye makeup, and using contact lenses. Abstain from alcohol, stimulants, seafood, beef, sticky rice, and morning glory for 1 month. * **Follow-Up Schedule:** Suture removal at the clinic on day 7. Routine follow-up visits are scheduled at day 7, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. * **Warning Signs:** Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe abnormal swelling, purulent discharge, heavy bleeding, a fever over 38.5°C, spreading redness/inflammation, or an inability to close your eyes completely after 1 week.

Possible risks — your doctor explains them before treatment

  • Incision scar along the brow margin remains pink for 1–3 months, more visible with sparse eyebrows
  • Temporary numbness and itching of the forehead skin
  • Brow arch positioned higher than expected in the first few weeks
  • Asymmetry
  • Recurrent sagging due to natural aging
  • Hematoma, infection (rare)
  • Frontal nerve branch injury (very rare)

Who should NOT have this?

  • The eyebrow is in a normal position with only excess eyelid skin (blepharoplasty is sufficient)
  • Severe ptosis/sagging of the entire brow combined with significant forehead laxity (requires a different technique)
  • Overly sparse eyebrows that cannot conceal the incision line, in cases where visible scarring is not acceptable
  • A clear history/predisposition to keloid scarring
  • Uncontrolled systemic medical conditions or coagulation disorders

How BonBoz uses it

Cắt da dư mí dưới

Cắt da dư mí dưới xử lý phần da chùng, nhăn dưới mắt do lão hoá qua đường rạch sát bờ mi dưới, có thể kèm xử lý túi mỡ. Dành cho người da dư là vấn đề chính, thường 45–70 tuổi.

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Cắt mí toàn phần xử lý da và mỡ thừa

Cắt mí toàn phần dùng đường rạch theo chiều dài nếp mí để lấy da thừa, xử lý mỡ và tạo nếp ổn định. Là kỹ thuật nền cho mí trên lão hoá và mí bụp — không phải kỹ thuật 'làm mắt to'.

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Cắt mí đường rạch ngắn (Mini Line)

Cắt mí Mini Line dùng đường rạch khoảng 2/3 chiều dài mí, lấy phần da chùng vừa phải và cố định nếp. Nằm giữa nhấn mí và cắt mí toàn phần: bền hơn nhấn, ít xâm lấn hơn cắt toàn phần.

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Dịch vụ vùng mắt: treo cung may mini 5d

Trang dịch vụ: bác sỹ chuyên khoa thăm khám, chọn phương án phù hợp và báo chi phí trước khi bạn quyết định.

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Cost guidance

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The final price follows the doctor’s recommendation after an in-person exam. A confirmed quote has no hidden extras.

Inside the BonBoz clinic

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Frequently asked questions

Will the brow lift scar be visible?

The incision is placed right along the upper border of the eyebrow, mostly concealed by the brow hairs; it remains pink for 1–3 months before fading. For sparse eyebrows, you should consult with your doctor regarding the optimal incision placement.

How long do the results last?

Several years; however, as the natural aging process continues, the eyebrows may gradually descend again. The doctor does not guarantee a fixed timeframe.

Will my eyes look overly wide or startled after surgery?

During the first few weeks, the eyebrows may appear higher than expected due to swelling and surgical fixation, but they will settle into a natural position; the degree of lift is precisely designed to avoid a "surprised" look.

Will forehead numbness after surgery resolve?

Mild numbness in the forehead and scalp region is common for a few weeks to several months and will gradually resolve.

Can Botox replace a surgical brow lift?

Botox relaxes the brow depressor muscles to provide a subtle lift to the tail of the brow, lasting temporarily for 3–4 months, but it cannot remove excess skin. Evident sagging requires surgical lifting.

Is an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) needed at the same time?

Only if true excess upper eyelid skin remains after the brow has been repositioned—preoperative clinical assessment tests will help determine this.

When can I return to work?

You can resume office work after 7–10 days; avoid bending over and strenuous exercise for 3 weeks.

Can asymmetrical eyebrows be corrected?

Yes; the doctor can lift each side to a different degree to restore balance, based on precise measurements and standardized photography.

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