Eyebrow lift with botox in Amsterdam
Drooping eyebrows can make you look gloomy or tired, even when you feel rested. At Cosmopolitan Clinic in Amsterdam, we subtly lift the eyebrows with a wrinkle relaxer (botulinum toxin), without surgery and without recovery time. Below, our cosmetic doctors explain exactly how such a lift works, how many millimeters you can realistically expect, and when a wrinkle relaxer is not the right solution.
Table of contents
- What is a non-surgical eyebrow lift?
- Why eyebrows sag with age
- How does a brow lift with a wrinkle relaxer work?
- How much lift can you expect?
- The treatment step by step
- Result and how long it lasts
- Recovery and aftercare
- Risks and side effects
- Eyebrow lift and forehead: pay attention to the order
- When a wrinkle relaxer is not enough
- Who is a brow lift suitable for?
- How much does a brow lift cost in Amsterdam?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Personal advice in Amsterdam
What is a non-surgical eyebrow lift?
With a brow lift using a wrinkle relaxer, we do not lift the eyebrow. We take the brakes off.
Around your eyebrow are muscles that pull it up and muscles that pull it down. These two groups work against each other all day long. By temporarily relaxing the downward-pulling muscles with a few small injections, the upward-pulling muscle gets more room and the eyebrow sits slightly higher. In the professional literature, this is called a chemical brow lift.
The result is subtle and temporary. Nothing is removed, nothing is fixed, and no scalpel is involved. You walk out the door after fifteen minutes.
Why eyebrows sag with age
Over time, the position of our eyebrows tends to droop more and more. The sides of the eyebrows, in particular, start to sag, sometimes giving us a somber or tired appearance.
It is no coincidence that the outer edge sags first. The muscle that raises the eyebrow runs across your forehead and has the least grip at the outer edge. That is why the downward pull has won most easily there. Add to that the fact that the skin gradually contains less collagen and elastin and therefore becomes heavier, and the outer half of the eyebrow sags the fastest.
Many people don't notice it in their eyebrow, but in their eyelid. The upper eyelid appears heavier and the eyes look smaller, even though there is nothing wrong with the eyelid itself. The eyebrow above it pushes it down.
How does a brow lift with a wrinkle relaxer work?
There is exactly one muscle that pulls your eyebrow up: the musculus frontalis, the muscle across your forehead. Opposite that stands a whole group of depressors.
On the inside are the frown muscle (musculus corrugator supercilii), which moves the eyebrow downward and towards the center, the musculus procerus between the eyebrows, and the musculus depressor supercilii. On the outside, the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye acts as a downtrigger, the same muscle that causes your crow's feet.
Which of these downward-pulling muscles is treated depends on your face. If it is mainly the outer part that sags, the emphasis lies there. If you also pull your eyebrows towards the center when frowning, the inner part is included. The doctor assesses this first while moving and at rest, and only then determines the injection points. Precision matters more here than in most other areas, because an injection that is just slightly too high or too far outwards can have a counterproductive effect.
How much lift can you expect?
This is the question that remains unanswered on most websites. You read "subtle" and "a slight lift" everywhere, but rarely a number.
In a cohort study of 230 people, eyebrow height was measured after treatment with a wrinkle relaxer. Fifteen days after the treatment, the eyebrow was on average 1.35 millimeters higher. The greatest effect was on the outside, at the level of the outer edge of the iris: 2.1 millimeters was measured there. On the inside, the effect was small, approximately 0.2 millimeters.
Those are millimeters. Yet that is precisely enough to make a gaze appear open, because the eye reacts strongly to small differences around the eye socket. But it is not a facelift, and anyone expecting a difference of half a centimeter will be disappointed. We prefer to mention this number beforehand rather than afterwards.
The treatment step by step
An eyebrow lift is quick and requires no preparation.
- We begin with a consultation in which the doctor assesses the position of your eyebrows, left and right separately, in motion and at rest.
- You frown and raise your eyebrows a few times so that it becomes visible which muscles are pulling the hardest.
- The doctor marks the injection points and deliberately keeps a distance from the rim of the eye socket.
- A few small punctures are made around the eyebrow with a very thin needle. Anesthesia is usually not necessary.
- The treatment takes about ten to fifteen minutes.
Almost no one has exactly the same eyebrow position on the left and right. The doctor takes this into account so that the difference does not become larger, but actually smaller.
Result and how long it lasts
The effect typically begins 24 to 48 hours after treatment. The maximum effect is usually visible after three to ten days. Therefore, do not assess the result on day two.
On average, the effect lasts three to five months. After that, the eyebrow gradually returns to its original position, and you can repeat the treatment. For people who repeat the treatment regularly, the duration of effect appears to extend over time.
Recovery and aftercare
You can go home or return to work immediately after the treatment. For the best results, we provide a few simple tips:
- Stay upright for the first four hours and do not lie flat.
- Do not rub or massage the injection sites, so that the product stays in place.
- Avoid intensive sports, saunas, and tanning beds that day.
A small bruise or some redness at the injection sites usually disappears on its own within a few days. The skin around the eye socket is thin, so a bruise is slightly more likely here than on the forehead.
Risks and side effects
An eyebrow lift with a wrinkle relaxer is considered safe when performed by an experienced, BIG-registered physician. Most side effects are mild and temporary: bruising, slight redness, or swelling at the injection sites.
Two side effects are specific to this area, and we prefer to mention them simply.
The first is a drooping upper eyelid. The professional guideline of the Dutch Society for Dermatology and Venereology explicitly warns against this: injecting above the outer edge of the eyebrow carries a risk of eyelid ptosis. Therefore, the physician works at a distance from the orbital rim in this area.
The second is asymmetry or an eyebrow that spikes slightly too much. This occurs when the downdraft and updraft muscles are not treated in a balanced way. Both correct spontaneously as soon as the medication wears off, and adjustments are often possible during a check-up after two weeks. Serious side effects are rare.
Eyebrow lift and forehead: pay attention to the order
There is a connection here that you rarely read about elsewhere, and it is important if you want to have more than one area treated.
Your forehead muscle is the only muscle that lifts the eyebrow. If you relax that muscle to soften the horizontal lines on your forehead, the upward force decreases. You are therefore partially working against your own eyebrow lift. The reverse is also true: those who primarily want a lift actually need that forehead muscle.
That does not mean you have to choose. It means that the dosage and distribution across the areas must be coordinated, and that a doctor who treats your forehead and eyebrows separately without looking at them is not doing you a service. If you would also like to have your forehead wrinkles or frown lines treated, please discuss this during the same consultation.
When a wrinkle relaxer is not enough
Sometimes the honest answer is that a wrinkle relaxer won't deliver what you are looking for.
If there is a significant skin fold over the upper eyelid, or if the eyebrow droops so much that a few millimeters makes no difference, then eyelid correction is the treatment that truly addresses the problem. The same applies if you want a lasting result rather than just a few months.
Our doctors tell you that during the consultation, even if it means you won't be treated that day. Selling a two-millimeter lift to someone who needs twenty only results in a disappointed client.
Who is a brow lift suitable for?
An eyebrow lift with a wrinkle relaxer is suitable for adults whose outer eyebrows have sagged and who want a more open, fresher look without surgery. Those who see the first signs and want to subtly correct this are also in the right place.
The treatment is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, nor for neurodegenerative disorders or muscle diseases such as myasthenia gravis, ALS, and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. An active infection at the injection site or hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin also excludes the treatment. If you are unsure whether it is suitable for you, our doctors will review this with you during the consultation.
How much does a brow lift cost in Amsterdam?
An eyebrow lift at Cosmopolitan Clinic in Amsterdam starts from €160. This includes an assessment of your eyebrow alignment by a BIG-registered physician, rather than a standard procedure that is the same for everyone.
If you wish to combine the brow lift with a treatment for the frown lines, forehead, or crow's feet, we will assess this in conjunction. This is also more logical in terms of content, as these areas interact with each other. During the consultation, you will receive a price tailored to the areas being treated. You are under no obligation until you know what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a Botox brow lift?
A treatment in which the muscles pulling your eyebrow down are temporarily relaxed. This gives the forehead muscle more space, causing the eyebrow to sit slightly higher. No cutting is involved.
How much higher will my eyebrow be?
In a study of 230 people, an average of 1.35 millimeters was measured, with 2.1 millimeters on the outer edge of the eyebrow. So we are talking about millimeters. Around the eyes, that is enough for a visibly more open look, but it is not a substitute for surgery.
Where exactly is the blood drawn?
Around the eyebrow, in the muscles that pull it down. Which points these are depends on the position of your eyebrows and facial expressions. The doctor deliberately keeps a distance from the edge of the eye socket so as not to affect the eyelid.
How quickly will I see results?
The effect typically begins within 24 to 48 hours, and the full effect is usually visible after three to ten days.
How long does the result last?
On average three to five months. After that, the eyebrow gradually sinks back, and you can repeat the treatment.
Can my eyelid droop from a brow lift?
That is the best-known risk in this area and the reason the doctor keeps a distance from the rim of the eye socket. If it does happen, it is temporary and recovers as soon as the medication wears off.
Does a brow lift help with a drooping eyelid?
For a slightly heavy eyelid caused primarily by the eyebrow sagging above it, it can make a difference. If there is a pronounced skin fold across the eyelid, eyelid correction is the treatment to address it. The doctor will honestly tell you which category you fall into.
Personal advice in Amsterdam
Would you like to know how much lift you can achieve? Our cosmetic doctors, including Dr. Leanne Wong (Cosmetic Physician KNMG) and Dr. Melissa Gomez (BIG-registered, affiliated with the NVCG), assess the position of your eyebrows on the left and right separately and tell you in advance what is and isn't achievable. View all our wrinkle relaxers or schedule a consultation at Cosmopolitan Clinic in Amsterdam.
Source
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| The frontalis muscle is the only muscle that raises the eyebrows. | NVDV, Guideline on botulinum toxin therapy for cosmetic indications (professional guideline) |
| The corrugator supercilii muscle, the procerus muscle and the depressor supercilii muscle work as eyebrow retractors. | NVDV, Guideline for botulinum toxin therapy for cosmetic indications |
| Lifting the eyebrows with botulinum toxin is described as a chemical brow lift. | NVDV, Guideline for botulinum toxin therapy for cosmetic indications |
| Risk of eyelid ptosis with injection above the lateral eyebrow | NVDV, Guideline for botulinum toxin therapy for cosmetic indications |
| Action begins 24 to 48 hours after treatment, maximum effect after 3 to 10 days, duration of action 3 to 5 months. | NVDV, Guideline for botulinum toxin therapy for cosmetic indications |
Make an appointment
Would you like to know if the Radiesse treatment is suitable for your skin and wishes? During a personal consultation, you will receive honest and medically sound advice.
You are welcome for a no-obligation appointment at Cosmopolitan Clinic.
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