A brow lift raises the eyebrow and the forehead. Upper eyelid surgery removes skin from the lid itself. Patients arrive asking for one and are examined for the other, because a heavy brow pushes lid skin down and the lid is where they see the problem. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes an average cost of a brow lift (forehead lift) of $5,460 and, separately, an upper blepharoplasty at $3,359, both surgeon fees excluding anesthesia, operating room facilities and other related expenses.
Ask providers for a written price
Why the examination decides which operation you are buying
If the brow has descended, removing lid skin alone lowers the brow further and can make the result worse. If the brow is where it should be and the lid skin is redundant, a brow lift lifts something that did not need lifting. The two published averages are $2,101 apart on the surgeon line, but choosing the cheaper operation for the wrong anatomy is not a saving. This is a clinical judgement made on examination and this record does not make it.
The combination, and what it costs
Brow lift with upper eyelid surgery is a common pairing and is performed in one sitting. That means one anesthetic and one facility booking rather than two, so the combined quote lands well below $5,460 plus $3,359 while sitting above either alone. No national average exists for the combination, so the number that matters is the practice's written combined quote.
Technique, and why quotes differ
Endoscopic, temporal, direct and coronal approaches differ in incision, in how much lift they deliver and in theatre time. ASPS names the type of procedure used as one of three drivers of the surgeon fee alongside experience and geographic location. Two quotes that differ by thousands usually reflect two different approaches, and a written description of the proposed technique is what makes them comparable.
Questions people ask about brow lift
How much does a brow lift cost in the US?
The ASPS average cost of a brow lift (forehead lift) is $5,460, a surgeon fee excluding anesthesia, operating room facilities and other related expenses.
Is it the same as upper eyelid surgery?
No. ASPS publishes upper blepharoplasty separately at $3,359. A brow lift raises the brow; eyelid surgery removes skin from the lid.
What if I need both?
They are commonly combined in one operation, which is quoted below the two averages added together because one anesthetic and one facility cover both.
Does insurance pay for a brow lift?
Not as a cosmetic operation. ASPS notes an exception for eyelid surgery where redundant skin covers the eyelashes, which is a different procedure.