How to Choose a Brow Lift Surgeon in Turkey: Technique and Scars
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
When you choose a brow lift surgeon, look for three things: recognised training in plastic or facial surgery, the ability to explain why one technique suits your brow better than the others, and a plan that aims for a rested look rather than a raised one. The way a surgeon talks about technique and brow shape at the consultation tells you more than any advertising.
The three techniques used for a brow lift in Istanbul are the direct, the temporal (lateral) and the endoscopic brow lift, and each suits a different brow. The guidance below applies to any surgeon you are considering.
A technique chosen for your brow
No single technique suits every brow. A direct brow lift corrects height and asymmetry precisely but leaves a scar along the upper edge of the brow. A temporal lift raises only the outer part of the brow through incisions in the temple hair. An endoscopic lift raises the whole brow and forehead from behind the hairline with the help of a camera. Whatever range a surgeon offers, the technique should be chosen to fit your brow rather than your brow fitted to the method, and a surgeon whose usual technique does not suit you should say so. A receding hairline is a good example: incisions behind it are harder to hide, so ask whether a direct lift would suit you better.
Ask which technique is recommended for you and, just as important, why not the others. A good answer mentions the thickness of your brows, how far and where they have dropped, your hairline and forehead height, and the skin of your upper eyelids.
Check whether the concern is the brow or the hairline
A forehead that looks wide or tall does not automatically need a brow lift. The surgeon first assesses the brow's position in relation to the underlying anatomy. If the brow is already in a normal position, the appearance may instead come from the distance between the brow and the hairline.
Dr. Semih Yıldız offers forehead reduction when measurements show that the hairline sits too far back and the concern is centred on the forehead. The aim is to address that forehead–hairline relationship rather than raise a normally positioned brow.
Hair transplantation may be useful for a limited local concern at the front hairline, such as recession at the corners or edges, particularly when the patient is concerned about a surgical scar. When the entire front hairline sits far back, however, the density that can be achieved and how well the grafts take may limit the desired outline. In that setting, forehead reduction can be considered after assessment. Neither approach promises a particular density, a scar-free result or suitability for every patient.
Can microblading hide a genuinely low brow?
Microblading or drawing a brow higher with a pencil does not lift the real brow. The skin at the higher drawn position is thin, while the original brow tissue below can remain fuller, piled up and prominent. A patient may mistake this low, bulky brow tissue for excess upper-eyelid skin. This does not mean that microblading thins the skin or turns brow tissue into eyelid skin.
Dr. Yıldız advises against microblading before a planned temporal lift or brow lift: a brow already drawn at the desired height may look excessively high after surgical lifting. If microblading is already present, one option after examination is a lift followed, if possible, by reversing or correcting the drawn brow. If correction is difficult, a limited temporal lift with upper-eyelid skin removal may be a restricted compromise, not the equivalent of a full brow lift. Removing eyelid skin does not correct the underlying low brow.
Internal brow fixation and the sub-brow approach
Internal browpexy uses the upper-eyelid incision to suspend the brow and move it slightly further onto the bone. Dr. Yıldız mainly regards it as a way to maintain the existing brow position, with limited lifting. Puckering behind the brow and the persistence of excess tissue, muscle tension and tissue weight are important limitations in his assessment. He does not routinely use a sub-brow approach to upper-eyelid skin, but may consider it in suitable patients. These approaches are not the same operation as a direct or temporal lift.
Eyebrow transplantation, microblading and lifting have different goals
Dr. Yıldız offers eyebrow transplantation and considers its appearance more natural than microblading; this is his assessment, not a guarantee of a better result in every patient. Transplantation concerns eyebrow hair, whereas a brow lift raises the position of the existing brow. The appearance of the hair and the height of the brow are therefore separate treatment goals.
What planning for a natural result involves
A brow lift can be technically sound and still look wrong, because small changes in brow height and shape change how other people read your expression. Ask how the new height is decided: careful planning starts from photos with your forehead relaxed, marks the new position while you sit upright and treats the inner brow, which carries much of your expression, with restraint.
The eyelids belong to the same assessment. If the upper lids also carry excess skin, combining the brow lift with eyelid surgery means the brow does not need to be lifted as far, which helps keep the result natural.
Training and how to check it
A brow lift is facial plastic surgery. Check that the surgeon holds a recognised specialist title in plastic surgery, or in a related specialty with formal training in facial or eyelid surgery, and ask how often they perform brow lifts and with which techniques. Specialist registers and national societies can confirm a title; how regularly someone performs a particular operation is something you need to ask directly.
Ask too whether the surgeon who examines you is the one who operates, and whether eyelid surgery is part of their practice, since a heavy upper face often improves fully only when brow and eyelids are planned together.
Nerves, scars and hairline: safety questions to raise
Each technique has its own trade-offs, and a good consultation covers them openly:
Where exactly will my scars be, and how visible will they be with my usual hairstyle?
Can this technique change my hairline, and by how much?
How do you protect the nerve branches that move the forehead?
Which areas may feel numb afterwards, and for how long?
How is the brow held in its new position while it heals?
What happens if one brow ends up higher than the other?
Temporary weakness of brow movement is a known effect of the operation, while permanent weakness is rare. Numbness of the forehead or scalp is common and usually improves over weeks to months. Visible scars or hair loss along the incisions are listed risks too, so the placement and closure of incisions in the hair deserve a question of their own. Fixation matters most in the endoscopic technique, because the lifted forehead tissues need time to reattach in their new position; ask how long this takes and what you should avoid in the meantime.
Mention previous Botox, threads or forehead procedures, and all medicines and supplements: blood thinners, aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and some herbal products may need to be paused. Smoking and nicotine should be stopped at least 4 weeks before and after surgery.
After the operation: check-ups and corrections
A brow lift is usually a same-day operation under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia. The stitches are removed around day 7, so about 7 days in Istanbul is the usual plan. Ask who sees you at the check-ups, how you reach the team at night and how follow-up continues once you are home.
Brows settle over months: they usually look natural by month 1, and the final position appears at 3–6 months. Over-correction, under-correction and asymmetry are recognised risks, and a careful surgeon judges them only once the brows have settled. Ask how a revision would be decided and arranged. For reference, at Dr. Semih Yıldız’s practice the new brow position is marked while you sit upright, after pre-operative tests and a face-to-face consultation, and follow-up continues through photos and video calls after you return home.
Signs that you should keep looking
one technique offered to everyone, whatever their brow
a promise of an exact brow height or of an unchanged expression in every case
thread lifts presented as equivalent to a surgical lift, although threads give a temporary, limited lift
a brow lift recommended without examining the eyelids, or eyelid surgery planned without checking the brows
no discussion of scars, hairline or numbness
pressure to decide or book quickly
The techniques, recovery milestones and listed risks are described in full on our brow lift page.
Frequently asked questions
Is an endoscopic brow lift always the right choice?
No. It lifts the whole brow and forehead through small incisions behind the hairline, which suits a brow that has dropped along its full length. When only the outer brow has dropped, a temporal lift may be enough, and when thick brows need precise correction of height or asymmetry, a direct lift can fit better. The right technique depends on your anatomy.
Should I stop Botox before a brow lift consultation?
You do not need to stop on your own, but tell the surgeon when and where you were last treated. Botox can raise or lower the brows slightly for a few months, so photos taken while it is active may not show their usual position. The surgeon may suggest a final assessment once the effect has worn off.
Can a brow lift be done under local anaesthesia?
Yes. A brow lift can be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, and it usually takes 1–2 hours. The choice depends on the technique, the extent of surgery, your health and your preference, and it is agreed with you and the anaesthesia team before the day of surgery.
If you would like to know which technique would suit your brows, you can send front and side photos of your face with your forehead relaxed for a free online assessment.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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