At JanigaMDs, we offer the brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, to elevate and smooth frown lines and forehead wrinkles, correct sagging or uneven eyebrows, and restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance. This cosmetic surgery option is often considered by people seeking facial rejuvenation who want to address visible signs of aging and sun damage on the upper face, including the lines that form between the eyebrows and the horizontal creases caused by repeated expressions, like raising the brows.
The brow lift procedure has been carefully designed to return a sagging brow to a more natural position, lift drooping eyebrows that can cover the upper eyelids, and improve overall upper-face balance. Below, you’ll learn what a brow lift is, the techniques we offer including the mini brow lift, how consultation and preparation work, what surgery and recovery involve, and answers to common questions so you can decide whether this option fits your goals. It can also be combined with other cosmetic procedures including upper eyelid surgery, neck lift, or face lift for even more rejuvenating results.
Dr. Janiga offers several types of brow lift procedures, and the right one for you depends on your anatomy, the areas of the brow that concern you most, and how much correction you’re hoping to achieve. The primary differences in these options relate to how the forehead tissues are handled and the placement of the incision sites.
With an endoscopic brow lift, small incisions are discreetly placed in the hairline, and a thin camera-equipped device is inserted to reposition the brow muscles and tighten the forehead soft tissues. The endoscopic lift is generally better for patients who have more moderate signs of aging in the brow or who have a high hairline and want to avoid visible scarring.
During the traditional, otherwise known as coronal or open brow lift approach, a longer incision is placed across the scalp near the frontal hairline to elevate the brow. In selected cases, a direct brow lift uses a direct brow incision placed just above the eyebrows to address marked asymmetry, severe sagging, or prior unsuccessful surgery. This technique requires a longer incision but can more effectively lift significantly sagging eyebrows and remove excess skin, making it well suited to more pronounced brow drooping.
A mid forehead brow lift, or pretrichial brow lift, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that can be used to lift sagging eyebrows and uses existing forehead lines to blend the scars. This aesthetic plastic surgery option is particularly good for those who have high or receding hairlines, as the scars can be more easily hidden for a youthful appearance.
For patients whose main concern is drooping at the outer corners of the brow rather than across the whole forehead, Dr. Janiga also offers a mini brow lift, otherwise known as a temporal or lateral brow lift. This outpatient procedure is a more limited technique using one or two small incisions hidden in the temple hairline to lift only the lateral brow and outer brow area. Because it treats a smaller area, it’s a lighter procedure than the endoscopic or coronal approach; the sections below go into more detail on how it’s performed and what recovery looks like.
Before scheduling your forehead lift procedure, you’ll meet with Dr. Janiga for a consultation to discuss your concerns, review facial anatomy especially around the brow bone, including how brow position relates to the superior orbital rim—typically at or just above it in men and above it in women—and determine which brow lift surgery is the best fit for your goals. Dr. Janiga will also review your medical history, discuss any medications or supplements you’re currently taking, and let you know if any need to be paused before surgery.
This is also the right time to ask questions: what results are realistic for your anatomy and desired position, how the incision and scarring will look and where it will be placed, what type of anesthesia and surgical setting your procedure will involve, and what your specific recovery timeline is likely to look like. To support healing, you’ll be asked to avoid certain medications and supplements, stop smoking several weeks in advance, and follow any additional pre-operative instructions Dr. Janiga provides.
If you’re having a standard endoscopic or coronal brow lift under general anesthesia, you’ll also want to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you afterward, and set up a comfortable recovery space in advance. Dr. Janiga and his team will walk you through exactly what to expect the night before and day of your procedure.
Brow lift surgery is performed in our Reno outpatient surgical facility by award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy Janiga. During your brow lift consultation, you and Dr. Janiga will carefully choose the brow lift technique that will most help you achieve a more refreshed, younger appearance and better self-confidence.
Both the endoscopic and traditional (coronal) techniques allow for smoothing, tightening, and precise lifting of the underlying tissues to address deep furrows, vertical frown lines, and sagging brows. These procedures are performed under general anesthesia at Mountain West Surgical Center, our accredited outpatient surgery center. The type of procedure Dr. Janiga performs depends on your specific anatomy and desired outcome, and the surgery itself takes approximately one hour, with another hour for recovery before you can go home.
For patients who are primarily bothered by drooping at the outer corners of the brow rather than sagging across the whole forehead, Dr. Janiga also offers the mini or temporal brow lift as a more limited alternative to the standard endoscopic or coronal brow lift. This technique uses one or two small incisions hidden within the temple hairline to lift and secure only the lateral brow and outer eyelid area, rather than repositioning the central forehead. Because the incisions are smaller and the treatment area more contained, a mini brow lift can often be performed under local anesthesia, with or without light sedation, in our office procedure suite rather than under general anesthesia at Mountain West Surgical Center. It’s best suited to patients with mild to moderate outer brow drooping who want to avoid an overly lifted or “surprised” look; those with more significant sagging across the full forehead, deeper frown lines, or who want central brow elevation are typically better served by the standard endoscopic or coronal brow lift performed under general anesthesia.
Dr. Timothy Janiga is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over two decades of experience and countless patient success stories. His calm, expert, and meticulous approach has transformed the lives of both cosmetic and reconstruction patients, helping them feel good in their bodies. Dr. Janiga is an expert in all aspects of plastic surgery and specializes in cosmetic facial surgery, body contouring, and breast surgery.
Depending on your profession and need for personal discretion, you may need to allow five to seven days before returning to work after your cosmetic procedure. During your follow-up appointments with Dr. Timothy Janiga, you will determine your specific recovery time.
During your recovery, you’ll be prescribed pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications to help ease swelling and discomfort. For the first few weeks, you should avoid exercise and heavy lifting. Make sure to also sleep with your head elevated on some pillows. Dr. Janiga will provide detailed aftercare instructions on how to prepare for your brow lift surgery and recovery.
Recovery from a mini brow lift also tends to be lighter, at least in the first week or two: with fewer incisions and less tissue disruption, patients generally experience less bruising and swelling early on. That said, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that regardless of which brow lift technique is used, whether classic, endoscopic, or temporal, the overall recovery timeline is fairly similar, with continued refinement over eight to 12 weeks as swelling fully resolves. In practical terms, this means a mini brow lift may let you feel more presentable sooner, but the full, final result on either procedure unfolds on a similar schedule. During your consultation, Dr. Janiga will help you weigh the more contained correction and lighter early recovery of a mini brow lift against the more comprehensive lift a standard brow lift provides. A mini brow lift also tends to have more minimal scarring than even the other surgical brow lift options.
Full brow lift results are expected in eight to 12 weeks. Once fully recovered, you will notice that your forehead area is smoother, your frown lines are reduced, your eyebrows are lifted, your skin is tighter, and your eyes appear brighter for an overall more youthful and refreshed look.
If you’re considering a brow lift to rejuvenate your upper face and create a more refreshed, youthful appearance, choosing a surgeon with deep training and aesthetic insight is essential. JanigaMDs offers expert care led by Dr. Timothy Janiga, a board-certified plastic surgeon whose education, experience, and professional recognition make the practice a standout choice for facial rejuvenation.
Dr. Janiga completed an integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency at the University of Michigan, one of the nation’s most respected training programs. His expertise spans a variety of facial procedures where both precision and artistry are vital, including brow lifts, facelifts, and other facial contouring surgeries. Patients benefit from Dr. Janiga’s thoughtful approach, which blends meticulous surgical technique with individualized care tailored to each patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Dr. Janiga’s commitment to excellence is reflected in both his awards and professional affiliations. He has been recognized as Best of Reno Plastic Surgeon and repeatedly honored among the “10 Best Plastic Surgeons in Nevada” by the American Institute of Plastic Surgeons. His distinctions also include NAOPS Top 10 Plastic Surgeon and being listed in the American Registry’s Top 5% of Honored Professionals for sustained quality and patient satisfaction. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an elected member of the Aesthetic Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
At JanigaMDs, we offer the highest quality of care as the only practice in Northern Nevada with a dual-care model guided by both a board-certified plastic surgeon and a board-certified dermatologist. Patients experience a personalized approach backed by an award-winning, board-certified team and a collaborative environment that supports natural-looking, long-lasting results focused on safety and aesthetics.
Because facial aging tends to affect the forehead, eyes, and lower face together rather than in isolation, many patients choose to pair a brow lift with one or more complementary treatments rather than addressing the brow on its own. Combining procedures in a single surgical session can also mean one anesthesia event and one overall recovery period, rather than staging separate surgeries months apart.
Brow lifts are frequently performed alongside upper eyelid surgery, or upper blepharoplasty, since the position of the brow and the appearance of the upper eyelid are closely connected: a drooping brow can push excess skin down onto the eyelid, making the eyes look heavier or more hooded than eyelid skin alone would explain. Addressing the brow position first, or at the same time as the eyelid, helps prevent over-removing eyelid skin to compensate for a brow that hasn’t been lifted. For patients with both brow descent and true excess upper eyelid skin, combining a brow lift with upper blepharoplasty in one procedure is a well-established way to refresh the entire upper face in a single visit. Eyelid surgery is a minimally invasive procedure as well, which reduces the chances of significant scarring.
A brow lift can also be combined with a neck lift, typically as part of a broader facial rejuvenation plan that may include a facelift as well. While the brow lift addresses the upper third of the face, a neck lift targets loose skin and muscle banding along the jawline and neck. Pairing the two allows the upper and lower face to be rejuvenated in proportion to one another rather than creating a mismatch, such as a smooth, lifted neck paired with a heavy, low-set brow, or vice versa. During your consultation, Dr. Janiga can help you determine whether a brow lift alone addresses your concerns, or whether combining it with a neck lift, or a full facelift, would create a more balanced, natural-looking result.
For patients who aren’t ready for surgery, or who have only mild brow drooping, a non surgical brow lift such as a non-surgical “Botox brow lift” using neuromodulator injections is a temporary alternative. By relaxing the small muscles that pull the brow downward, neuromodulators like Botox allow the muscles that lift the brow to work with less resistance, producing a subtle elevation of roughly one to three millimeters, most noticeable at the outer, or lateral, brow. Results typically last three to four months and require ongoing treatment to maintain. This approach works best for patients with early, mild brow descent and minimal excess skin; a nonsurgical brow lift is noninvasive and best for mild to moderate brow drooping or wrinkle reduction, but it isn’t a substitute for surgery in patients with more significant brow ptosis or heavy upper eyelid skin, since injections can adjust muscle tension but can’t remove excess tissue or meaningfully reposition sagging skin the way a surgical brow lift can. JanigaMDs offers neuromodulator treatments, along with dermal fillers, as options to discuss at your consultation if you’re weighing a non-surgical approach against surgical brow rejuvenation.
When considering facial plastic surgery like a brow lift, it’s important to consider several factors, particularly your surgeon and the types of brow lift options available to you. Whether the endoscopic brow lift, temporal brow lift, or any of the other lift procedures, the best way to ensure your desired results is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your needs and determine how your goals can be brought to life for a more youthful appearance.
To discover whether a brow lift — or a mini brow lift — is right for you, we suggest a consultation with Dr. Janiga to go over your goals and expectations. For more information, or to set up a consultation, email us or call us today.
JanigaMDs is the only practice in Reno where patients can consult with both a board-certified dermatologist and a board-certified plastic surgeon in one visit.
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Dr. Timothy Janiga is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over two decades experience serving the Northern Nevada community. He has been awarded multiple "Top Doctor in Nevada" and patient satisfaction awards. He is a member of several organizations, including American Institute of Plastic Surgeons (AIOPS), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), as well associated with establishments such as the Nevada State and Washoe County Medical Societies.
Founded in 2010, the team at JanigaMDs has been proven to provide the utmost care for all patients. With an almost 5 star rating over almost 700 reviews, JanigaMDs is the premier aesthetic practice in Northern Nevada.
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