Eyebrow lift

A Botox brow lift is a non-surgical treatment that uses botulinum toxin to reduce the activity of selected muscles that pull the eyebrows down. Changing this muscle balance may allow the brow to sit slightly higher, particularly towards the outer part of the eyebrow.

The change is usually subtle. A botulinum toxin brow lift does not physically remove excess skin or reposition tissue in the way surgery can.

“Botox” is a brand name for a botulinum toxin type A medicine, although other botulinum toxin products may be used. If you are researching the treatment more broadly, see our guide to Botox treatment.

What is a Botox brow lift?

A Botox brow lift is an injection technique intended to create a small change in eyebrow position without adding volume or surgically lifting the skin.

Your brow position is controlled by several muscles working against each other. The frontalis muscle can raise the brows, while muscles around the eyes and between the eyebrows can contribute to downward pull.

A practitioner may place botulinum toxin into selected brow-depressor muscles to reduce some of that downward force. The untreated lifting muscles can then have relatively more influence on the position of the eyebrow.

The exact injection pattern depends on your anatomy and muscle activity. There is no single brow-lift injection pattern that is appropriate for everyone.

How does a Botox eyebrow lift work?

Botulinum toxin temporarily reduces signalling between nerves and the muscles being treated. Those muscles then contract less strongly.

For a brow lift, treatment is planned around the balance between the muscles that elevate the brow and those that pull parts of it down. Treatment may involve selected areas around the outer brow or glabella, depending on the person's anatomy.

The aim is not to “freeze” the entire forehead. Excessive weakening of muscles that help raise the eyebrows can potentially make the brow feel or appear heavier instead of creating the intended lift.

This is why assessment of your brow position at rest and during facial movement matters before treatment.

What result can a Botox brow lift realistically achieve?

A Botox brow lift may produce a small elevation or change in the shape of the eyebrow, rather than a dramatic lift.

For some people, reducing downward muscle activity may make the outer brow sit slightly higher or make the area around the eyes appear more open. Results depend on your existing brow position, muscle activity, forehead anatomy and treatment plan.

A Botox brow lift cannot remove loose skin, reposition significant amounts of tissue or reproduce the effect of surgery.

It is therefore important to compare the proposed result with what you actually want to change. If your main concern is excess upper-eyelid skin or substantial brow descent, a practitioner should explain whether botulinum toxin is likely to address that concern at all.

When does a Botox brow lift start working?

The effect develops gradually rather than immediately. Changes in muscle activity may start becoming noticeable during the first few days, but the final balance of the brows is better assessed once the botulinum toxin has had more time to take effect.

A follow-up assessment is therefore more meaningful than judging eyebrow position immediately after the injections.

How long does a Botox brow lift last?

The effect is temporary. Botulinum toxin treatment of the upper face commonly lasts for several months, but the duration and the visible brow-lift effect vary between individuals.

Factors can include the botulinum toxin product, dose, injection pattern, muscle activity and your individual response.

As muscle activity gradually returns, the eyebrow position also moves back towards its pretreatment state.

What are the risks of a Botox brow lift?

Most reactions around the injection sites are temporary, but a brow lift can also produce an unwanted change in the balance of the upper face.

Possible problems can include:

• bruising, tenderness or swelling around injection points;

• temporary asymmetry;

• an eyebrow position that looks higher or lower than intended;

• excessive elevation of part of the brow;

• brow heaviness or brow ptosis;

• temporary eyelid drooping;

• unintended weakness of nearby muscles.

The precise risk profile depends on the product, injection sites, dose, anatomy and other individual factors.

For a more detailed explanation of adverse outcomes rather than brow-lift technique, see our guide to Botox complications.

Important safety information

Who might consider a Botox brow lift?

Someone may consider a Botox brow lift when they want to discuss a subtle, temporary change in eyebrow position and prefer to explore a non-surgical option.

Whether this is achievable depends on why the brow appears low in the first place. Muscle activity, brow anatomy, skin position and eyelid anatomy can all affect what botulinum toxin can realistically change.

A practitioner should assess your face both at rest and during movement before deciding whether the treatment is appropriate.

When might a Botox brow lift not be appropriate?

Treatment may not be appropriate in some circumstances, including particular medical conditions, infection at an intended injection site, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or situations involving medicines or conditions that affect neuromuscular function.

Tell the prescriber about your medical history, medicines and previous botulinum toxin treatment before treatment is planned.

How much Botox is needed for an eyebrow lift?

There is no universal number of units for a Botox brow lift.

The dose depends on factors including:

• the specific botulinum toxin product;

• which muscles are being treated;

• the strength and pattern of your muscle activity;

• your existing brow position;

• the intended degree and shape of change.

Importantly, units from different botulinum toxin products are not directly interchangeable. Comparing clinics purely by the advertised number of units can therefore be misleading.

A consultation should focus on the proposed treatment plan and product being used rather than assuming that more units automatically mean a better result.

What should you do after a Botox brow lift?

Follow the instructions provided by the treating clinic because aftercare can depend on the product and treatment plan.

Avoid rubbing or deliberately manipulating the treated area immediately after the injections. If you experience an unexpected reaction or significant change in brow or eyelid position, contact the clinic that treated you.

For fuller guidance rather than duplicating it here, see Botox aftercare.

How much does a Botox brow lift cost in the UK?

The price of a Botox brow lift varies between clinics and treatment plans. Differences can reflect how the clinic structures its botulinum toxin pricing, the product used, the assessment required and whether the brow lift forms part of another upper-face treatment plan.

Do not compare price alone. Check what treatment the quoted price actually covers and whether consultation or follow-up arrangements are included.

You can also review the wider factors affecting Botox costs.

How do you compare clinics for a Botox brow lift?

A brow lift requires more than simply placing injections around the eyebrow. The practitioner needs to understand how the brow elevators and depressors interact and how changing one area may affect another.

When comparing providers, look at:

• who carries out the initial assessment;

• who prescribes the botulinum toxin;

• who performs the injections;

• relevant training and experience with upper-face treatment;

• how your brow movement is assessed;

• which botulinum toxin product is proposed;

• how limitations and risks are explained;

• what follow-up is available if the result is uneven or unexpected.

Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so the prescribing process should be clear before treatment.

For more detail on evaluating the person carrying out treatment, see our guide to choosing a Botox practitioner.

Frequently asked questions about Botox brow lifts