Brow lift injection points for Botox usually sit just under the brow tail and between the brows, where muscles pull the brow down. Relaxing them lets the forehead muscle lift the brow slightly. The effect lasts about three to four months. Too much toxin in the forehead can drop the brow instead.
This guide belongs to our brow lift overview. It explains how injectables lift the brow and how they compare with other non-surgical options.
| Option | Lift | Lasts | Main risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox or other toxin | Mild, mainly outer brow | About 3 to 4 months | Brow or lid droop, asymmetry, headache |
| Filler | Supports the brow with volume | Months | Not FDA-approved for the forehead; rare vessel blockage |
| Threads | Mechanical lift of brow tail | Temporary | Swelling, dimpling, visible threads |
| Focused ultrasound (e.g. Ultherapy) | About 0.5 to 1.7 mm in studies | Up to about a year | Pain during treatment, redness |
| Surgical brow lift | Significant | Years | Scars, numbness, hair loss at incisions |
How Botox lifts brows
Toxin relaxes the muscles that pull the brow down, so the forehead muscle that lifts it meets less resistance and the brow rises slightly.
An American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS, US) article explains that Botox relaxes the depressor muscles, letting the elevator muscles work with less opposition and producing a mild lift. It can smooth frown lines and open the eye area, but it can’t reposition sagging tissue. It suits younger people or those with mild drooping, and is often used to maintain results after surgery.
Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines and neck bands. Using it specifically to lift the brow is an off-label technique based on those approvals. In frown-line trials, the effect lasted about three to four months.
Brow lift injection points
Common brow lift injection sites are just below the outer brow, between the brows and sparingly in the forehead, adjusted to your muscles.
- Below the brow tail: a small dose into the outer part of the circular eye muscle, which pulls the tail down.
- Between the brows: the frown muscles, which pull the inner brows down and together.
- Forehead: light, high doses only. The forehead muscle is the only one that lifts the brow, so heavy or low injections here can make the brow drop.
Eyelid drooping occurred in 3% of people treated for frown lines and 2% of those treated for forehead lines in Botox Cosmetic trials, compared with none on placebo. In my practice, I watch each patient raise and lower their brows before marking points, because brow muscles vary a lot between people.
Dysport vs Xeomin
Dysport, Xeomin and Botox are all botulinum toxin type A, but their units differ and they aren’t interchangeable dose for dose.
The FDA approved Dysport in April 2009 for moderate to severe frown lines in adults under 65, and its labelling states its units aren’t interchangeable with other toxin products. A 2014 review in Biologics: Targets and Therapy concluded that type A toxin products differ in manufacturing, formulation and potency testing, which can affect dosing, effect, duration and safety.
A Dysport brow lift before and after or a Xeomin brow lift result looks much like a Botox one when dosed by an experienced injector. All carry a boxed warning about the rare spread of toxin effects. Choose the injector rather than the brand.
Filler, threads & Ultherapy
Brow lift filler adds support, a forehead thread lift pulls tissue up and Ultherapy tightens slightly; each has limits and risks.
Filler: placing filler under the brow tail can support it. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists the forehead and the area around the eyes among places where dermal fillers aren’t approved, and warns that injection into a blood vessel can rarely cause blindness.
Threads: a 2021 systematic review of 26 facial thread-lift studies found swelling in 35% of patients, dimpling in 10% and altered sensation in 6%. See our fox eye thread lift guide for brow-tail threads.
Ultherapy brow lift: a 2023 systematic review of focused ultrasound found brow lifts of about 0.47 to 1.7 mm, lasting up to about a year, with less effect in people with more laxity. For more options, see our non-surgical brow lift guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Answers on brow lifting Botox, how to lift the forehead with Botox, brow lifting threads and how long results last.
How much does brow lifting Botox raise the brow?
Usually only a little, mainly at the outer brow. It works by relaxing the muscles that pull the brow down. An ASPS article describes it as a mild lift that can’t reposition sagging tissue, so heavy drooping usually needs surgery.
Can you lift the forehead with Botox?
Botox smooths forehead lines but can’t lift the forehead itself. Because the forehead muscle is what raises the brows, too much toxin there can make the brows drop. An experienced injector balances forehead and brow injections to soften lines without lowering the brows.
Do brow lifting threads work?
They can give a temporary lift to the brow tail. A 2021 review of facial thread lifts found high satisfaction straight after treatment that fell somewhat over time, with swelling and dimpling common. Evidence for brow-specific threads is limited.
How long does a Botox brow lift last?
About three to four months for most people, based on trials of Botox for frown lines. Results fade gradually as muscle activity returns. Regular treatments are needed to maintain the effect, and timing varies from person to person.
If you’d like to know whether injectables or surgery suit your brows, you can book a consultation with Metropole Clinic by ABmedi. For surgical options and costs, return to the brow lift hub.
This article is for general education and does not replace a personal medical consultation.
References
Show sources
- Willson A. Brow lifts vs Botox: Do you need one or both? ASPS. 2025. plasticsurgery.org
- BOTOX Cosmetic prescribing information. AbbVie. Accessed 2026. rxabbvie.com
- FDA approves Dysport for therapeutic and aesthetic uses. FierceBiotech. 2009. fiercebiotech.com
- Brin MF, James C, Maltman J. Botulinum toxin type A products are not interchangeable: a review of the evidence. Biologics. 2014;8:227-241. doaj.org
- Dermal fillers (soft tissue fillers). US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Accessed 2026. fda.gov
- Niu Z, et al. A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Incidences of Complications Following Facial Thread-Lifting. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2021;45(5):2148-2158. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Contini M, et al. A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(2):1522. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
