The Botox Brow Lift Is the Secret Behind Some of Your Favorite Celebs’ Faces. What Is It?

It’s hard to scroll through Instagram these days without seeing what’s colloquially known as “Instagram face”: plump lips, impossibly high cheekbones and feline-esque eyes that look almost cartoonish. Think Bella Hadid, Ariana Grande and just about everyone in the Kardashian-Jenner cinematic universe. But lest you think these famous ladies were all born with said features, meet the Botox brow lift. While none of these celebs have actually owned up to having the procedure, it’s widely accepted that they probably have. Here’s what you need to know about this very 2020 beauty trend.

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What Is a Botox Brow Lift?

Botulinum toxin, or Botox, is a drug that weakens or paralyzes muscles. In a Botox brow lift, shots of Botox are injected into the underlying muscles in your forehead, smoothing the skin and relaxing the muscles between the brows. This allows the forehead muscles to pull the muscles between the brows upward, which lifts them and opens up the eyes.

How Is it Different From a Traditional Brow Lift?

Where to begin? A traditional brow lift is an invasive surgery that requires an anesthetic, an incision along the hairline from ear to ear, and lifting the skin and adjusting the muscles. A less invasive option is the endoscopic brow lift, which requires smaller incisions (but is still a surgery). A Botox brow lift involves little to no downtime, and takes just ten to 20 minutes per treatment. There may be slight bleeding or redness at the injection sites, but these should resolve within a few hours.

Are There Any Downsides?

It can be a blessing or a curse, but Botox isn’t permanent. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one Botox treatment should last three to four months, meaning most patients require three or four treatments per year to maintain a continual effect. It’s also not cheap. Depending on where you live, a single treatment can run $500 to $1,000 out of pocket, since medical insurance doesn’t typically cover cosmetic procedures. (And remember, it’s not a one-time cost; you’ll have to pay that amount every few months if you want to keep seeing results.)

But still, if you covet Bella Hadid’s otherworldly visage and can afford it—and are fully aware that you won’t actually look like Bella Hadid—a Botox brow lift could give you the results you’re after.

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