Brow & Forehead Lift in Puebla

What is a brow and forehead lift?

A brow and forehead lift —also called a forehead lift or browlift— is the surgery that raises descended eyebrows and smooths the creases of the forehead, correcting the sagging of the upper third of the face. It acts on the position of the brow and on the muscles that furrow the forehead and glabella, not on the eyelid itself.

With age the forehead skin loses elasticity and the brows drop; the descended brow pushes down on the upper eyelid and creates the impression of a hooded, heavy or tired eye. Many people believe they have excess eyelid skin when in fact it is the brow that has fallen — telling one from the other is what defines the correct operation.

The upper third of the face —forehead, brows and temples— is the frame of the gaze, and it is the first thing another person reads unconsciously. That is why a brow that has dropped only a few millimetres completely changes the perceived expression: it projects anger, fatigue or sadness where there is none.

The goal is not a frozen forehead or a startled, over-raised brow, but to reposition the brow to its natural height and relax the look of tension. A good result shows in a rested face, not in people guessing that you had surgery. The operation is planned by measuring the exact elevation that suits your anatomy, not a single pattern for everyone.

Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano

Not every forehead is lifted the same way. The technique is defined at the consultation according to brow height, the position of the hairline, the depth of the wrinkles and skin quality:

• Endoscopic brow lift: through small incisions hidden in the scalp a camera is introduced and the tissue is repositioned with internal fixation. It is the least invasive technique, with minimal scars and faster recovery; indicated when the distance between brow and hairline is suitable.
• Temporal (tail-of-brow) lift: selectively raises the outer portion of the brow through incisions at the temple, within the hair. It corrects the lateral droop that gives a sad look without touching the central forehead.
• Pretrichial or trichophytic lift: the incision sits right at the hairline. Preferred when the forehead is tall or the hairline is receding, because it lifts the brow without raising the hairline further.
• Coronal lift: an incision across the scalp, ear to ear. The classic technique, reserved today for selected cases with marked sagging; it offers the greatest control in exchange for a longer scar (hidden in the hair).
• Direct or transpalpebral browpexy: in selected patients the brow is stabilised through the blepharoplasty incision, with no additional scars, when the desired effect is subtle.

How is it performed?

A brow and forehead lift is performed under general anaesthesia or deep sedation, on an outpatient basis or with one night of observation, and lasts 1 to 2 hours depending on the technique and whether it is combined with other procedures.

Through the incisions —hidden in the scalp or at the hairline depending on the technique— the plane beneath skin and muscle is released, the descended tissue is repositioned upward and fixed at its new height with internal sutures or absorbable fixation devices. When indicated, the muscles that furrow the glabella are measuredly weakened, which softens the frown durably.

The incision design spares the hair follicles and adapts to your hairline, so that the scars stay concealed by the hair. A soft dressing may be applied at the end; most patients go home the same day or after one night of observation.

It is frequently done together with an upper-eyelid blepharoplasty or within a facelift, because the upper third, the eyelids and the midface age in a coordinated way; operating them together avoids a disharmonious result. What to combine, and what not to, is decided at the consultation.

All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.

Who is a good candidate?

A good candidate has descended brows, horizontal forehead wrinkles or a marked frown that gives a permanently tired or angry look, in good general health and with realistic expectations. The consultation distinguishes what belongs to the brow from what belongs to the eyelid:

• Fallen or asymmetric brows that make the gaze look tired, stern or sad, especially at the outer tail of the brow.
• Horizontal forehead wrinkles or a deep glabellar frown that persist at rest, not only on expression.
• A sense of heavy eyelid actually caused by the descended brow; in these cases lifting the eyelid alone does not correct the problem.
• Patients who already had a blepharoplasty and still look tired because the origin was the brow, not the eyelid.
• It is not the best option for someone seeking a completely frozen forehead, for someone expecting "a different face", or for someone who cannot pause certain habits or medications that impair healing; this is reviewed at the consultation.

Recommended post-surgical treatments

To support a more comfortable recovery and reduce swelling and bruising around the eyes and forehead, Dr. Arístides may recommend, case by case, manual lymphatic drainage and hyperbaric chamber sessions. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.

Before and after

Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.

Approximate price

The reference price starts at approximately $40,000 MXN, depending on the complexity of the case and the indicated technique. The price is all-inclusive: it covers use of the operating theatre and facilities, pre-operative laboratory work and the post-surgical recovery treatments. It is not the surgeon’s fee alone. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.

About Dr. Arístides Arellano

Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.

Related patient guide

Before deciding who should operate on you, it is worth getting informed: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the series of informational guides reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.

Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.

Recovery · step by step

• Days 1–3Swelling of forehead and eyelids and a feeling of tightness; a dressing may be applied. Head elevated and local cold. Mild discomfort, controlled with analgesics.
• Days 4–7Bruising appears around the eyes and gradually subsides. Removal of scalp sutures or clips as indicated, around day 7 to 10.
• Weeks 1–2Most patients resume social life and office work between day 7 and 14, once bruising can be covered with make-up.
• Weeks 3–6Visible swelling subsides. Exercise resumes gradually. Scalp numbness or itching may persist, both transitory.
• Months 3–6Definitive result: the brow settles into its new position and the scars mature, hidden in the hair.

Frequently asked questions

Every figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.

Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.