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Sagging skin near the eyebrows and temples can change the way you express yourself—causing a tired, stern, or even sad appearance that doesn’t reflect how you actually feel.
As the brow begins to descend and skin in the temple area loosens, patients often find their eyes look heavier and their face feels less vibrant overall. In many cases, this aging process occurs earlier in the outer third of the brow and temple, making the upper face look weighed down even when the central forehead is still relatively smooth.
At Cruise Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, Dr. Joseph T. Cruise offers tailored brow lift and temple lift procedures to restore balance and lift to the upper face. By precisely repositioning the tissue, these surgeries refresh the eyes and forehead while preserving your natural appearance. The result is a more open, alert expression—and a more confident version of yourself.
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Joseph T Cruise, MD, believes it is critical to distinguish the difference between a brow lift and a temple lift so patients are clear on the difference:
A brow lift elevates the portion of the brow directly over the pupil. In comparison, the temple lift elevates the outer portion of the brow over the crow’s feet area.
This woman shows the dramatic difference between a temple lift and a brow lift.
On her left side, the temple is sagging, but on her right side, both the temple and the brow sag. To correct this, Joseph T Cruise, MD, performed only a temple lift on her left and both a temple lift and brow lift on her right. This not only rejuvenated her face, but it was also a customized correction to the asymmetrical appearance of these two areas.
Temple sag is far more common than a person’s brow sagging. Therefore, Joseph T Cruise, MD, routinely performs temple lifts on facial rejuvenation patients instead of brow lifts. The temple lift does a remarkable job of brightening the eyes and giving a youthful, elegant shape to the brow. When a person’s brow sags over the crow’s feet area, the person’s face can appear tired or sad. The elevation of the temple, brow, and eye area that results from a temple lift can immediately take years off a person’s face.
Some surgeons perform a brow lift when a temple lift would have better addressed the patient’s concerns. When this happens, some patients have a wide-eyed, unnatural expression. As one of the top brow lift surgeons in Orange County, Joseph T Cruise, MD, is experienced in how to best address patients’ facial concerns, which translates into patients receiving natural, youthful-looking results.
Joseph T Cruise, MD, has done extensive research and training and has years of experience performing facial procedures. As such, he has become a sought-after specialist in facial rejuvenation including brow lift, upper eyelid surgery, and fat transfer, which can all dramatically affect the eye area. He has found that many people cannot achieve all the results they want in one procedure because of the interconnected effects of facial aging.
Although Joseph T Cruise, MD, is experienced in all techniques relating to brow and temple lift procedures, he performs the Open Brow Lift only when a patient has a significant amount of loose skin on the upper forehead. Joseph T Cruise, MD, believes that because each face is different, it is important that he consult with every patient so that, together, they can discuss and agree on the best procedures for the patient’s facial rejuvenation.
There are four types of temple lifts that plastic surgeons perform:
An effective way to obtain an elevation of the lateral brow and crow’s feet area, this technique uses only a small incision in or just above the hairline.
Very similar to the minimal incision brow lift, this technique uses an endoscope inserted through a small incision in the scalp to help Joseph T Cruise, MD, visualize the surgery.
While having an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), many patients also have this type of temple lift performed in order to elevate the brow, the fat, and the muscles all at the same time. Joseph T Cruise, MD’s unique technique allows him to effectively elevate the brow without having to make an additional incision.
Although this is an effective way to perform a brow lift, it requires a long incision along the hairline within the scalp. When there is a significant amount of loose skin on the forehead, this technique can be useful, but Joseph T Cruise, MD, can normally achieve the same results using smaller incisions.
Both brow and temple lifts are typically performed as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your preferences and whether other procedures are being combined. Dr. Cruise places incisions discreetly along the hairline or within the hair to ensure scars are minimal and well hidden.
Through these incisions, the soft tissues of the brow and temples are gently lifted and secured into a more youthful position. This releases heaviness over the eyes, reduces forehead lines, and restores the lifted contours that often fade with age. The entire procedure usually takes about 1–2 hours, and patients return home the same day with a personalized aftercare plan.
These procedures are ideal for patients who want to correct:
Patients often choose a brow or temple lift when they feel their upper face has started to show signs of aging before the midface or lower face. By focusing only on the areas that need adjustment, Dr. Cruise ensures a subtle and natural-looking improvement.
Aging affects the entire face, but some areas show signs of aging more than others. During the private consultation in his Newport Beach office, patients often tell Joseph T Cruise, MD, that they are concerned with wrinkles or droopiness around their eyes. Descending eyebrows, temple drooping, and “hoods” on the eyelids make people think they need a facelift or eyelid surgery in order to correct their concerns.
A youthful face, especially in women, has an eyebrow above the bony rim of the eye socket. However, with time, the eyebrow can fall to the rim of the eye socket, or even below it, and this creates an aged look. You can check the level of this droopiness by using your fingers to elevate the outer part of your eyebrow. If you feel this creates an elegant, youthful look, you may want to speak with Joseph T Cruise, MD, about how a brow lift will affect your face.
Recovery from brow and temple lift surgery is typically smooth. You may experience mild swelling, bruising, or a sensation of tightness in the forehead for the first few days.
Keeping your head elevated, using cold compresses, and following your customized recovery plan will support optimal healing. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work or social events in about 7–10 days, with continued improvement over the following weeks. Scars are well-hidden and typically fade significantly over time.
Within the first two weeks, most patients notice a lighter, more open eye area and a smoother brow. Full refinement takes several weeks to months, but early results are often enough to make patients feel more alert and confident.
When performed with Dr. Cruise’s precise technique, brow and temple lifts offer long-lasting results that complement your natural features. With proper skin care and sun protection, many patients enjoy their refreshed appearance for years.
One of the most important things that Newport Beach facial rejuvenation plastic surgeon, Dr. Joseph T. Cruise, has learned from his patients is: Everyone wants to look as young as they feel. He has performed a number of facial rejuvenation procedures on patients of all ages, who come to him with many different concerns and goals.
It is important to Joseph T Cruise, MD, that patients have all the information they need to make decisions about their cosmetic surgery. He consults with each patient in his Orange County practice to figure out which procedure/s will best address the patient’s concerns. Sometimes, in order to achieve youthful facial features, patients may need to have more than one procedure, such as a brow lift and an upper eyelid surgery, performed together. Fortunately, Joseph T Cruise, MD’s vast surgical experience means patients have minimal incisions, recovery time, and scarring. For more information, contact us today!
Recovering after Blepharoplasty Surgery
"70% of results is done during surgery, 30% of your results is aftercare"
When performed correctly, a brow lift should never result in a surprised or overly arched appearance. Dr. Cruise focuses on subtle elevation and natural repositioning of the brow to restore your relaxed, youthful expression—not change it.
Yes. A brow or temple lift is often combined with upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to address heaviness or drooping in the upper eye area. This combination helps create a smoother, more open appearance around the eyes for a brighter and more youthful look.
Incisions for a brow or temple lift are carefully hidden within the hairline or natural creases. Over time, scars fade and become barely noticeable. Dr. Cruise takes special care to minimize visibility and preserve your hair growth.
Results can last for many years, especially when combined with good skincare, healthy lifestyle habits, and sun protection. While aging continues, the improvements from your brow or temple lift will age naturally with you.
Most patients feel comfortable returning to work or social settings in about 7 to 10 days. Swelling and bruising may still be slightly visible, but can often be concealed with makeup after the first week.
No. Dr. Cruise uses techniques that avoid shaving hair. Incisions are placed in or near the hairline and are designed to be hidden without altering your hairstyle.
Botox can temporarily improve the look of forehead lines or subtly lift the brows, but it can’t address loose skin or long-term drooping. If the outer brows or temples have visibly descended, a brow or temple lift may offer a longer-lasting and more structural solution.
Both local anesthesia and general anesthesia are available. If you are combining multiple procedures into one surgery, general anesthesia will be required. There are other factors which will determine which anesthesia is best suited for you. This will be discussed at your consultation.
