Non-Surgical Brow Lift Before and After: What to Expect

After a non-surgical brow lift at Desert Bloom, your brows sit higher as soon as the threads are placed. Swelling and bruising can hide part of the change for the first week or two, and most people see the new brow position clearly by about day 14. Support keeps building over the next few months as your skin makes new collagen.

A thread brow lift is a non-surgical procedure that uses dissolvable threads placed under the skin to lift a brow that has dropped and hold it higher. Dr. Natalya Borakowski uses it to treat brow ptosis, which means a brow that has sagged with age. It is designed for that age-related drop, not for changing the shape or arch of a young patient’s brows.

How does a thread brow lift work at Desert Bloom?

The procedure is done in the clinic under local anesthesia and takes about 60 minutes. Dr. Borakowski makes small openings in the skin and uses a cannula to place barbed threads. When the threads are tightened, the sagging skin is lifted straight away.

Most people need 2–4 threads on each side of the face. Dr. Borakowski chooses the type of thread based on your age and how loose the tissue has become. No sedation is used, so you can drive yourself home.

The threads dissolve over time, and while they are in place they stimulate collagen that strengthens the skin for months. You can read about other thread treatments on the PDO thread lift page.

Why do you need a wrinkle relaxer before the brow lift?

Desert Bloom requires a wrinkle relaxer such as Botox two weeks before a thread brow lift. It relaxes the forehead muscle and the muscles that pull the brow down. Active muscles can work against the threads while the tissue heals. At the same appointment, you talk through your goals for the brow lift.

A wrinkle relaxer can also lift the brow a little on its own. At Desert Bloom, 4–8 units of Botox placed at the tail of the brow can create a subtle lift, which can suit early brow heaviness. Correct placement of Botox in the forehead and between the eyebrows can also improve the position of the eyebrows and create a slight lift. Botox results start to show in 3–7 days, reach full effect by day 14 and usually last 3–4 months. When the brow has clearly dropped, a thread brow lift is usually the better option. You can read more on the Botox treatment page.

What do brow lift results look like over time?

This is the usual pattern after a thread brow lift at Desert Bloom, although everyone heals a little differently.

• Treatment day. The brow is lifted as soon as the threads are tightened. The brows are often overcorrected at the time of treatment and drop slightly as the tissue heals. Bruising and swelling in the brow and forehead are expected.
• Days 2–7. Swelling and tenderness along the thread paths usually peak around days 2–3 and then settle. Slight dimpling or puckering near the outer brow from overcorrection is expected while the tissue settles.
• Day 14. Entry marks have mostly healed and the new brow position is easier to see. Most people feel ready to be seen socially.
• Months 1–3. The threads blend into the surrounding tissue and collagen starts to form along them. The wrinkle relaxer is still working and supports the lift.
• Month 12 and beyond. The threads have dissolved, but the collagen they stimulated keeps giving some support. This is when you and Dr. Borakowski talk about maintenance.

How much swelling and bruising should you expect?

The brow area has many small blood vessels, so bruising is common and expected. Your forehead will likely feel sore for a few days. You may also notice tightness when you raise your brows. Any dimpling or puckering near the outer brow usually fades as the tissue settles.

Many people return to desk work within 48–72 hours. To help healing and protect the result, Desert Bloom advises you to:

• avoid heavy exercise, saunas and swimming for 2–4 weeks;
• avoid pressing or rubbing the area, and do not sleep face down for 2–3 weeks;
• avoid sleeping on your side, wearing makeup, drinking alcohol and making extreme facial expressions after the procedure;
• skip facials and facial massages for a month after the treatment.

Contact the clinic the same day if you have severe or worsening pain, signs of infection such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling after day 3 or fever, or a thread showing through the skin.

Not sure whether your brow has dropped? Book a consultation with Dr. Natalya Borakowski or call (480) 567-8180.

How long does a non-surgical brow lift last?

Desert Bloom puts the lifting effect at up to 2 years, and most thread lifts last 18 months or longer. In carefully selected patients, results can last from 12 months to several years. Maintenance is usually considered about every 24 months.

How long your lift lasts depends on your age, how loose the tissue is, your skin quality and your general health. Very expressive foreheads and heavy sun damage can make the lift soften sooner. The result is not permanent, and you can repeat the procedure when it wears off.

Who is a good candidate for a non-surgical brow lift?

The treatment is designed for brows that have dropped with age. Patients over 40 benefit most, and it is not suitable for young patients who want to change the shape of their brows. A thread brow lift may suit you if you have:

• heavy, low brows;
• a sad, tired or angry look that does not match how you feel;
• lines across the forehead or between the brows;
• heavy upper eyelids, as long as the eyelid itself has not dropped significantly;
• a wish to avoid surgery.

Heavy upper eyelids can come from a dropped brow or from extra skin on the eyelid itself, and the two look almost the same in the mirror. Threads can lift a brow, but they cannot remove eyelid skin. If extra eyelid skin is the main problem, upper eyelid surgery is the right route, and Dr. Borakowski will tell you so. The droopy eyelid page explains more.

A thread brow lift is not suitable if you are pregnant or nursing. It is also not advised if you have very loose or sagging skin, a large loss of fat in the face, an infection or inflammation in the area, an autoimmune disease, or recent chemotherapy or other treatment that weakens the immune system.

What did Desert Bloom’s brow case study show?

Desert Bloom published a non-surgical brow repositioning case study about a 65-year-old woman who came in with heavy upper eyelids and a drooping outer brow. A careful assessment showed that the dropped brow, and not extra eyelid skin, was the main cause.

After reviewing four options, including surgery, Dr. Borakowski chose a thread lift. The patient had a wrinkle relaxer first, and absorbable PLLA/PCL threads were then placed under local anesthetic to lift the outer brow. These threads were chosen for their extra strength, which suited the laxity at her age. The case shows why the diagnosis matters as much as the technique.

How much does a thread brow lift cost at Desert Bloom?

A thread brow lift at Desert Bloom starts at $1,800. Botox for the wrinkle relaxer step is $11.50 per unit, or $10.50 per unit for members. Dr. Borakowski confirms your treatment plan and the exact price at your consultation, which is complimentary. You can see all current prices on the price list.

An in-person assessment is the best way to know whether a thread brow lift will help. Dr. Borakowski will check your brow, eyelids and skin and explain what a lift can do for you. Book a consultation at Desert Bloom or call (480) 567-8180.