Temporal Lift: What It Does to the Tail of the Brow and the Outer Eye

15 hours ago

5 min read

The outer third of the eyebrow drops earlier and faster than the rest of the brow. As it falls it pushes skin over the outer upper eyelid, shortens the visible eye opening and turns the outer corner downwards. A temporal lift is the operation aimed specifically at that area.

Fox eyes lift before and after
Fox eyes lift before and after
Deep plane facelift before and after

Quick answer

A temporal lift raises the tail of the eyebrow and the soft tissue at the side of the eye through a small incision inside the temporal hairline. It takes 30 to 45 minutes per side, is often done together with eyelid surgery or a facelift, and most people are presentable within seven to ten days.

What the operation actually moves

The temple is covered by a strong layer called the temporoparietal fascia, which is continuous with the muscle sheet of the forehead and with the SMAS layer of the cheek. A temporal lift releases this layer, repositions it upwards and backwards and fixes it to the deep fascia over the temporalis muscle.

Because the fixation is to a firm deep structure rather than to skin, the lift does not depend on skin tension. That is the main difference between a surgical temporal lift and a thread lift, which anchors to soft tissue and loosens over months.

What changes and what does not

Changes. The height of the outer third of the brow. The amount of skin resting on the outer upper eyelid. The angle of the outer corner of the eye. Crow’s feet soften slightly because the skin is redraped.
Does not change. The inner brow, which is controlled by different muscles. Fat pads inside the eyelid. Dark circles or hollows under the eye. The position of the lower lid.

If the whole brow is low, including the inner end, a full endoscopic brow lift is the better operation. A temporal lift applied to a brow that has fallen evenly produces an outer brow that sits higher than the inner one.

Who it suits

People whose outer brow sits at or below the bony rim while the inner brow is still in position.
People who feel their eyes look smaller or more tired at the outer corner.
People with hair in the temporal region, since the incision is hidden there.
People having upper eyelid surgery in whom the surgeon finds that much of the “excess lid skin” is in fact brow descent.

How it differs from the alternatives

Thread lift. No incision and a short recovery, but the anchor is soft tissue, so the effect fades over six to twelve months and repeated threads can leave scarring that complicates later surgery.
Botulinum toxin to the outer orbicularis. Relaxes the muscle that pulls the brow tail down, producing one to three millimetres of lift for three to four months. A useful test of whether the shape suits you before committing to surgery.
Endoscopic brow lift. Lifts the whole brow and the forehead through several small incisions. The right choice for an evenly low brow or deep forehead lines.
Deep plane facelift. Addresses the cheek and jawline. A deep plane facelift does not lift the brow, which is why the two are often combined in one session.

Recovery

Swelling and bruising are concentrated around the temple and outer eye and are usually at their worst on the second or third day. Sutures or staples in the hairline come out at around a week. Most people return to desk work after seven days and to the gym at three weeks. Numbness of the scalp behind the incision is normal for several weeks and recovers gradually.

Risks worth knowing about

The frontal branch of the facial nerve runs through this area, which is why the dissection stays in a defined plane under direct vision. Temporary weakness of the brow is uncommon and usually recovers. Other risks are hairline elevation, asymmetry between the two sides, and widening of the scar if tension is placed on the skin rather than on the deep layer.

What to ask at the consultation

Is my whole brow low, or only the outer third?
Will the incision be inside the hairline or at its edge, and why?
How much of my upper eyelid skin is brow descent?
Will my temporal hairline move?
Should this be combined with eyelid surgery or a facelift in one session?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a temporal lift the same as a fox eye lift?

They overlap. A fox eye lift is a marketing term for any treatment that raises the outer corner of the eye, including thread lifts and canthopexy. A temporal lift is a specific surgical operation that lifts the tissue of the temple through an incision in the hairline. Our fox eye lift page explains the different techniques.

Where is the scar?

In the temporal hairline, about four to five centimetres behind the hairline edge, so it is hidden by hair. The hair is not shaved. Patients who are bald or who have a receding temporal hairline need a different plan.

Will it change my hairline?

A temporal lift moves the scalp, so it can raise the temporal hairline by a few millimetres. In patients whose hairline is already high this is avoided by using a pretrichial incision at the hairline edge instead, which does not move the hairline but leaves a fine visible scar.

How long does it last?

The lift itself is structural, so the change does not simply reverse. The face continues to age afterwards and the brow gradually descends again, so most patients see a meaningful effect for several years rather than permanently.

Can it replace upper eyelid surgery?

Sometimes. Excess skin at the outer upper lid is often brow descent rather than eyelid skin. Lifting the brow first shows how much eyelid skin is truly excess, and removing eyelid skin without correcting a low brow can pull the brow further down.

Can it be combined with other operations?

Yes. It is commonly done in the same session as upper blepharoplasty, a facelift or fat transfer to the temple, because the hollow temple and the heavy outer brow are usually part of the same ageing pattern.

About the Author

This article was written and medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in Istanbul with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of Rhinoplasty in Practice (CRC Press, 2020), has more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications and five patents, and teaches facelift and rhinoplasty techniques to surgeons at international courses. Read more about Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.

Individual results vary. Before and after photos and videos are shared with patient consent. This article is for general information and does not replace a personal medical consultation.

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