Sub-Brow Lift (Under-Brow Incision): Downtime
- Downtime at a glance
- Recovery timeline: treatment day to final result
- Common symptoms
- When can I do what? (Daily-life restrictions)
- Pain and anesthesia
- Tips for a smoother recovery
- Risks and side effects (the honest version)
- Spacing and combining with other procedures
- Who it may suit / who should be cautious
- Frequently asked questions
Downtime at a glance
Swelling and bruising typically last 1–2 weeks, with stitches removed around days 5–7. The scar tends to hide along the lower edge of the brow — an area that is relatively easy to cover with brow makeup, bangs, or glasses (individual results vary).
Typical downtime is 1–2 weeks (the strongest swelling and bruising are mostly within the first 3–5 days; redness of the scar can take several months to settle), and most people feel comfortable being seen in public after Many people return to desk work within 1–2 days. Because bruising can appear in this area, allowing about a week — until after the stitches come out — tends to feel safer for jobs that involve serving customers or being seen in public. Some people return sooner if they can cover the area with brow makeup, glasses, or bangs. How much swelling and bruising appears varies from person to person, so we recommend building extra room into your schedule.. How much swelling or bruising appears varies from person to person, depending on constitution and the extent of treatment.
Recovery timeline: treatment day to final result
You will notice puffiness from the anesthetic and some discomfort at the incision. The brow area may feel heavy and tight. The wound is protected with tape or gauze. After returning home, apply cold as instructed and rest with your upper body slightly raised, which tends to help keep swelling down. Avoid alcohol, strenuous exercise, and long baths on the day of surgery.
Swelling approaches its peak. If bruising is going to appear, the color may start to show around this time. Showering from the neck down is often possible, but take care not to get the wound wet. Some people can return to desk work, but do not push yourself.
For many people, the strongest swelling begins to subside around now. Bruising may shift from purple toward yellow. Do not decide on your own whether it is time to switch from cold care to warm care — check with your doctor.
This is the typical time for stitch removal. Afterward, eye makeup and makeup over the incision are often allowed, making the area easier to cover. Swelling becomes less noticeable, but some redness and stiffness in the scar may remain.
Swelling and bruising have mostly settled, and more people find the area hard to notice even without makeup. The scar remains as a reddish line, and the pulling sensation often begins to ease. Resume exercise and saunas only after your doctor gives the go-ahead.
Residual puffiness fades and the area looks closer to natural. Some redness in the scar may still remain, but it becomes easier to cover with makeup. Around this time, the direction of the final result starts to become visible. Recovery varies from person to person.
For many people, the scar's redness gradually turns whitish and less noticeable, and the result settles in around this time. Scar maturation can take six months or longer, and both the course and the final appearance vary from person to person. Raise any concerns with your doctor at follow-up visits.
Bars show approximate swelling levels (individual results vary).
Common symptoms
| Symptom | Likelihood | When it appears | How long it lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swelling (eyelids and brow area) | High | Day of surgery to the next day | Strong swelling for 3–5 days; settles to a natural-looking range in 1–2 weeks | Sleeping with your head slightly elevated and applying cold tend to help ease it. How much appears varies from person to person. |
| Bruising (purple or yellowish discoloration) | Medium | 1–3 days after surgery | Roughly 1–2 weeks (it may turn yellow before it disappears) | Gravity can cause it to drift down toward the eyelids or under the eyes. Whether it appears at all varies greatly from person to person. |
| Scar redness and tightness | High | From the day of surgery | Redness tends to fade gradually over several weeks to several months | The scar is a fine line along the lower edge of the brow hair. How it settles varies from person to person. |
| Difficulty closing the eyes / a pulling sensation | Medium | Day of surgery to a few days after | A few days to about 2 weeks | Because the skin is lifted, this can occur temporarily. If it concerns you, consult your doctor. |
| Numbness or itching around the scar | Medium | From a few days after surgery | May last several weeks to several months | You may feel itching or tingling as the nerves recover. |
| Asymmetry (temporary, caused by swelling) | Medium | From the day of surgery | Until the swelling goes down | Differences in how the swelling subsides can cause this. The final result is assessed once things have settled. |
When can I do what? (Daily-life restrictions)
| Activity | Typically OK from | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Eye makeup / makeup over the incision | After stitch removal (days 5–7) as a guide | Wearing makeup before the wound has closed carries a risk of infection, so hold off. Makeup on areas away from the eyes, such as the cheeks, may be possible sooner. Follow your clinic's instructions. |
| Brow makeup (to cover the scar) | After stitch removal as a guide | Until the stitches come out, take care not to touch the wound. Afterward, shaping your brows can make the scar easier to disguise. |
| Face washing | From the next day, avoiding the wound; back to normal after stitch removal as a guide | Until stitch removal, avoid rubbing and try not to get the wound too wet. Follow your clinic's specific instructions. |
| Shower (neck down) | From the next day as a guide (as long as the face and wound stay dry) | Showering from the neck down is often possible from the next day. Follow instructions for the face area. |
| Hair washing / bathing (tub) | Hair washing is safer after stitch removal; tub baths from about 1 week as a guide | Increased circulation can intensify swelling and bruising, so keeping soaks short for about 2 weeks is the safer choice. |
| Alcohol | From 3–7 days as a guide (once swelling and bruising have settled) | Alcohol can prolong swelling and bruising. Be especially careful for the first few days. |
| Light exercise | From about 1 week as a guide (with your doctor's approval) | A raised heart rate can bring swelling back. Resume gradually while watching how you feel. |
| Strenuous exercise / weight training | From 2–3 weeks as a guide | Straining and exercise that raises blood pressure can put stress on the wound. |
| Sauna / hot stone spa | From 2–3 weeks as a guide | Heavy sweating and heat can strain both the swelling and the wound, so resume only after things have fully settled. |
| Contact lenses | From a few days after surgery as a guide (if there is no discomfort) | Take care not to pull hard on the eyelid when putting them in. Glasses are the safer option while swelling remains. |
| Eyelash extensions / lash perm | From stitch removal to 2 weeks as a guide | These treatments involve some contact around the eyes, so it is safer to wait until the wound has settled. |
| Sleeping face-down or on your side | From about 1 week as a guide | Pressure on the face makes swelling more likely, so for the first few days sleeping on your back with your head slightly elevated is recommended. |
Pain and anesthesia
The typical pain level is Mild. Performed under local anesthesia (nitrous oxide sedation or similar may be added depending on your wishes and condition). Pain during surgery is controlled with the anesthetic. You may feel a brief sting when the anesthetic is injected, but during surgery the anesthesia is generally said to keep strong pain at bay. For a few days afterward, you may have a dull, throbbing, or pulling ache, which is usually manageable with the prescribed pain medication. If pain is severe or lingers, contact a medical institution promptly.
Tips for a smoother recovery
- Applying cold regularly for the first 48–72 hours and sleeping with your head slightly elevated tend to help limit swelling and bruising (follow your doctor's instructions on how and for how long to apply cold).
- For the first few days, avoiding alcohol, strenuous exercise, long baths, saunas, and anything else that strongly boosts circulation tends to help swelling and bruising subside.
- Go easy on salt, and get plenty of fluids and sleep to keep fluid retention down.
- If bruising appears, switching to warm care once your doctor approves may help the color fade sooner. Do not decide the timing of the switch on your own.
- Taking prescribed medications as directed, and not touching or rubbing the wound unnecessarily, are important for helping the incision heal well.
- While the scar is still red, being mindful of sun protection (sunscreen, a hat) may help prevent pigmentation.
Risks and side effects (the honest version)
- Swelling and bruising may be stronger or last longer than expected (this area varies greatly from person to person).
- A scar may remain. Most tend to become less noticeable over time, but depending on your constitution, redness, thickening (raised scarring), or keloids can develop.
- Some asymmetry may remain. It can be temporary (caused by swelling) or a difference in the final result — both are possible.
- Depending on how much skin is lifted, the distance between the brow and eye, or the overall impression of your expression, may differ from what you envisioned.
- Infection, wound separation, or hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin) can occur, in which case additional treatment may be needed.
- Numbness or itching around the scar can last several months.
- Rarely, changes affecting expression can occur, such as difficulty closing the eyelid or a difference in how the two brows move.
- Results vary from person to person, and depending on the cause of the eyelid heaviness, the change you hope for may not be achieved. If you have any concerns, existing conditions, or medications, be sure to consult a doctor before the procedure.
Spacing and combining with other procedures
If you have an important event such as a wedding or photo shoot, having the procedure at least 1 month — and ideally 2–3 months — beforehand tends to feel safer, so that swelling and bruising have settled and the scar's redness is easy to cover with makeup. Recovery varies from person to person. A repeat or revision surgery on the same area is typically considered only after the tissue has fully recovered (roughly 3–6 months or more). The decision is made after waiting for the scar and the result to settle. The timing depends on a doctor's examination.
| Combined procedure | Timing | Wait time | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox Injection (Forehead & Brow Area) | Wait required | After the surgical swelling has gone down (2–4 weeks as a guide) | Injections in the forehead or brow area can affect the movement of the expression muscles and the position of the brows. Waiting until the surgical swelling has settled and the result can be assessed tends to make fine-tuning easier. For areas away from the brow, earlier treatment can sometimes be considered after discussing the timing. |
| Hyaluronic Acid Filler | Wait required | 2–4 weeks as a guide (for the same area, such as the brow or eye area) | For injections in the same eye and brow area, it is common to fine-tune after the surgical swelling has gone down. For injections in areas farther away, such as the cheeks or lips, discuss the timing with your doctor. |
| Double Eyelid Surgery (Buried Suture / Incision Method) | Wait required | Depends on a doctor's examination and judgment (sometimes combined on the same day) | Eyelid surgeries are sometimes combined on the same day, but swelling and physical strain can increase, so suitability and timing always require a doctor's examination and judgment. They may also be performed in stages on separate days. |
| HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) | Wait required | 1–3 months as a guide | Applying heat before the surgical site has healed is avoided. Wait until the wound and swelling have settled. For areas away from the brow, treatment can sometimes be considered after discussing the timing. |
| Laser Treatment (Pigment Spot Removal, etc.) | Wait required | After the wound has settled (1–3 months as a guide) | To avoid irritating the area around the scar and causing pigmentation, it is safer to wait until the scar has matured. For areas away from the brow, discuss the timing with your doctor. |
Who it may suit / who should be cautious
May suit you
- Those bothered by heavy eyelids, with skin that appears to hang over the eyes
- Those whose eyes look smaller or sleepy because of thick or sagging eyelids
- Those who want to lighten the heaviness of their eyelids without changing their double eyelid crease
- Those with a relatively short distance between the brow and eye who are bothered by eyelid hooding
- Those who want the scar hidden along the lower edge of the brow (suitability is determined by a doctor at an examination)
Consider carefully
- Those who cannot set aside any downtime (swelling, bruising, and a stitch-removal visit are involved)
- Those who would find it difficult to accept having a scar at all
- Those whose scars tend to become raised, such as a keloid-prone constitution (discuss thoroughly with a doctor beforehand)
- Those taking medication that makes bleeding harder to stop and who cannot pause it (a doctor's judgment is required)
- If the difficulty opening the eyes stems from something other than hooded skin (such as ptosis), a different treatment may be more suitable
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a doctor about the timing of the procedure