Surgery · Forehead Comparison

Brow Lift vs Botulinum Toxin

Moving the forehead, or quieting the muscle that creases it

Apgujeong, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Surgical and injectable options weighed at one consultation · KHIDI-registered

Brow Lift vs Botulinum Toxin Brow Lift vs Botulinum Toxin Brow Lift vs Botulinum Toxin Brow Lift vs Botulinum Toxin 
Choose

Brow lift or injection

Should a heavy forehead be treated with a brow lift or botulinum toxin?

The comparison, in one paragraph

The choice turns on whether the problem is position or movement. Rewind's forehead lift raises a brow and forehead that have descended, working at the fascial layer, and draws the drooping upper-lid skin up with them; the clinic records the result as usually lasting more than five years. Botulinum toxin relaxes excessive muscle contraction to smooth expression lines, most people return to daily life straight away, and the effect usually lasts three to six months. A descended brow is a position problem. Lines that appear with expression are a movement problem.

Basis: Rewind's Korean-language pages on endoscopic forehead lifting and on botulinum toxin injection, together with the clinic's fee schedule.

How the forehead is mapped for injection is covered on the forehead line injection page, and a tall forehead with the brow in place is a hairline question answered by forehead reduction. This page sets the brow lift and the injection side by side for someone deciding between the two.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi examining a patient at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 01 — The examination that separates a brow problem from a line problem
Cases

Case photographs

Two surgical forehead cases at Rewind, for the brow lift side of the comparison

The photographs here show the surgical side only; no injection pairs are published for this comparison. Case 01 is a forehead lift alone, where the change is in brow position and in how much eyelid shows. Case 02 combined a partial facelift with the lift and under-eye fat repositioning, and the horizontal forehead lines are visibly softer afterwards.

Rewind patients — surgical cases only

Before a surgical brow lift performed alone at Rewind Plastic Surgery After a surgical brow lift performed alone at Rewind Plastic Surgery BEFOREAFTER
case 01
Forehead lift alone: brow position and lid exposure changed surgically
Individual results may vary.
Before a partial facelift combined with a surgical brow lift and under-eye fat repositioning After a partial facelift combined with a surgical brow lift and under-eye fat repositioning BEFOREAFTER
case 02
Partial facelift, forehead lift and under-eye fat repositioning in one session
Individual results may vary.

Both patients were treated surgically at Rewind and photographed front-on at the clinic; the images are unretouched and published with written consent. Backdrop and make-up vary between visits. Individual results may vary. Surgery here can bring bleeding, infection, bruising, swelling, uneven brows, altered scalp sensation and a hairline scar.

Contrast

Side by side

Four differences between a brow lift and forehead injections

Both treatments are on Rewind's list, and both are aimed at the upper third of the face. They differ on the four points that usually decide the matter.

point 01
What changes
The brow lift moves tissue: skin and the fascial layer are lifted and fixed with Endotine. The injection changes muscle activity, easing the contraction that folds the skin into expression lines.
point 02
How long it lasts
Rewind records more than five years for the forehead lift, varying with tissue elasticity and extent. For botulinum toxin the clinic records three to six months, depending on the muscle and on aftercare.
point 03
What recovery asks
Surgery means one to two days of compression and bruising that mostly settles within one to two weeks. After an injection most people return to daily life at once, avoiding massage, pressure, heavy drinking and hot, humid places for a day or two.
point 04
What it leaves
The lift leaves a line within the hairline that needs sun protection while it matures. The injection leaves no incision, though light bruising or swelling can appear.
Decide

Making the choice

How the choice between a brow lift and an injection is made at Rewind

The decision is made at an examination with Dr. Jonghwan Choi, who performs the surgery and also administers the injectable treatment. Five questions give it structure.

01Movement

Lines with movement, or heaviness at rest, set the first branch between brow lift and injection

Lines that appear only when the forehead moves point first toward the muscle and the injectable option. Heaviness and creasing that remain with the face still point toward tissue that has descended.

02Position

Where the brow sits against the upper lid

If the brow has descended and pushes the lid skin down, the lift addresses that position, and Rewind lists drooping upper lids among its reasons for the operation. The injection's listed uses are expression lines and muscle-driven contour; a low brow does not appear among them.

03Hairline

How tall the forehead is

A tall forehead with the brows in position is neither a brow lift case nor an injection case. That is forehead reduction, which can be combined with a lift when both are needed.

04Time

How much recovery time the trip allows

An injection fits into a short visit with little interruption. A forehead lift needs the dressing days close to the clinic and a fortnight for bruising to settle, which shapes the whole travel plan.

05Horizon

The time horizon of the brow lift or injection result

An injection is repeated as its effect wears off, recorded by the clinic at three to six months. A lift is a single operation with a result recorded at more than five years. Some patients begin with injections and consider surgery later.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi operating at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 02 — The surgical side of the comparison
Rewind

Why here

Why a plastic surgeon weighs the brow lift against injections at Rewind

Rewind's list includes both the endoscopic forehead lift and botulinum toxin injection, so the examination can begin from the forehead itself and end with whichever option it supports.

01Both

Brow lift and injection on the same list

The clinic performs the endoscopic forehead lift with Endotine fixation and also injects expression areas, including the forehead, the frown region and the eye area. A patient whose lines are purely dynamic can be told so at the first visit.

02One surgeon

One board-certified plastic surgeon for both options

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, the medical director, examines, injects, operates and reviews. The person who judges whether your forehead needs surgery is the same person who would carry it out.

03Access

Hours that suit a short visit to Seoul

Rewind sees patients Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00, closed Thursday and Sunday, by appointment and under KHIDI registration for international patients.

Consultation room at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong
Fig. 03 — The consultation room where both options are discussed
Visit

The visit

What a forehead consultation covering both options involves

Surgical team in the operating theatre at Rewind Plastic Surgery

Fig. 04 — The theatre used if surgery is chosen

Reception at Rewind Plastic Surgery in the Richro Building

Fig. 05 — Reception at the Richro Building, Apgujeong

The consultation takes place on the fourth or fifth floor of the Richro Building in Apgujeong, Gangnam. The forehead is examined at rest and in motion, the brow is assessed against the upper lid, and the height of the hairline is noted. If injection is chosen and suitable, it is a short visit; if the lift is chosen, the operation date, the dressing days and the review schedule are planned together. Interpreter support is arranged for patients from abroad.

Forehead lift: endoscopic, Endotine fixation, hairline incision
Forehead lift durability: more than five years, per the clinic
Injection: listed per area, the forehead counted as one area
Injection durability: three to six months, per the clinic
Both assessed by Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon
KHIDI registration: M-2025-01-08-09288
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi is certified in Korea as a plastic surgery specialist, has ten peer-reviewed publications, and both performs the forehead lift and administers injections at Rewind. Its KHIDI registration for treating patients from abroad reads M-2025-01-08-09288.

Cost

Pricing

Brow lift and forehead injection prices at Rewind, side by side

The two are priced on different logic: the lift once, the injection per area and per session. Set side by side, the listed figures show the shape of that difference.

Endoscopic forehead lift with EndotineOne operation; the clinic records a result lasting more than five years
₩4,500,000
Botulinum toxin for expression lines, per areaPer session; the forehead, frown region and eye area each count as one area
₩50,000
Forehead lift combined with forehead reductionFor a brow that is low on a forehead that is also tall
₩8,500,000

Figures are list prices excluding VAT, and the surgical figures include the anaesthetic fee. An injection plan is repeated whenever the effect wears off, recorded by the clinic at three to six months, so the comparison is between a single fee and a recurring one over the same years.

Fit

Suitability

When the brow lift is worth weighing, and when injections come first

A brow lift is worth weighing when

  • The brow has descended and the upper-lid skin is being pushed down with it
  • Forehead and frown lines stay visible with the face at rest
  • The face looks tired or stern even when you feel neither
  • One operation appeals more than a repeating schedule, and the recovery time is available

Injections are the place to start when

  • Lines appear mainly with expression, and the brow sits at a normal height
  • A short trip leaves no room for a dressing and two weeks of bruising
  • You want to see the forehead with less muscle pull before thinking about surgery
  • Heavy lids come from the lid skin itself, in which case the sub-brow lift or upper blepharoplasty enters the comparison
  • Either option waits during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or while an infection is active in the area
After

Recovery compared

Recovery after a brow lift compared with recovery after forehead injections

The recovery gap between the two options is wide, and for patients travelling to Seoul it is often what settles the choice.

Same day
Home, or in a dressing
After an injection most people return to daily life at once. After a forehead lift a compression dressing goes on and the head is kept raised.
First two days
Two short rule lists
Injection: no massage or pressure on the area, no heavy drinking and no hot, humid places for a day or two. Lift: the dressing stays on for one to two days.
Two weeks
Bruising, if any
Mild bruising or swelling can follow an injection. After a lift, bruising and swelling mostly settle within one to two weeks.
Months and years
When to think again
The injection effect usually lasts three to six months. The lift is recorded as usually lasting more than five years, with ageing continuing throughout.

Each option carries its own risks. Injection: bruising, swelling and, for a period, an expression that feels unnatural. Forehead lift: bleeding, infection, swelling and bruising, uneven brows, numbness or altered scalp sensation, temporary weakness when raising the forehead and a scar within the hairline. Severe pain or a fever after surgery means returning to the clinic promptly.

Doctor

Professional

At Rewind, one board-certified plastic surgeon carries every case — from the first consultation to the final follow-up. Because a face is a story, and a story deserves a single author.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Dr. Jonghwan Choi presenting at an academic session
Fig. 06 — Academic presentation, lifting session

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

One surgeon, from the first
consultation to the last follow-up.

A board-certified plastic surgeon devoted to anti-aging lifting, with the precision and restraint built through years of craniofacial practice.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Ask

Questions

Brow lift or botulinum toxin: questions patients ask

Should I get a brow lift or botulinum toxin for a heavy forehead?
It depends on the cause. If the brow has descended and is pressing the upper-lid skin down, a forehead lift addresses that position. If the heaviness is mostly lines that come with expression and the brow sits normally, injection is the proportionate starting point. The examination decides which applies.
How long does each option last?
Rewind records that the forehead lift usually lasts more than five years, depending on tissue elasticity and how much was lifted. For botulinum toxin the clinic records three to six months, depending on the muscle and on aftercare. Ageing continues after either option.
Can botulinum toxin raise a brow that has dropped?
Rewind describes the injection as relaxing excessive muscle contraction to smooth expression lines and soften muscle-driven contours. Repositioning descended tissue is what the forehead lift is designed for: the brow and forehead are lifted at the fascial layer and held with Endotine while they heal.
Which option costs more over several years?
The forehead lift is listed once, at ₩4,500,000. Injection is listed per area per session at ₩50,000 and repeated as the effect fades, recorded at three to six months. The total depends on how many areas and sessions you would need. All figures exclude VAT.
Is there downtime after forehead injections?
Most people return to daily life straight away. Rewind asks patients to avoid strong massage or pressure on the treated area, heavy drinking and hot, humid places for a day or two afterwards. Mild bruising or swelling can occur.
Do injections help heavy, hooded upper eyelids?
Rewind lists drooping upper lids among the reasons for a forehead lift, because a descended brow drags the lid skin down. Hooded lids are not among the listed uses of the injection. When the brow is in position and the weight is in the lid, a sub-brow lift or upper blepharoplasty is compared.
Why would a plastic surgeon suggest injections over surgery?
The right option follows the cause. Where lines are driven by movement and the brow sits at a normal height, an operation would treat a problem that is not there. Rewind offers both, and the same surgeon examines, recommends and carries out either one.
What are the risks of each option?
After an injection: bruising, swelling and, for a period, an expression that feels unnatural. After a forehead lift: bleeding, infection, swelling and bruising, uneven brows, numbness or altered scalp sensation, temporary weakness when raising the forehead and a hairline scar. Each is discussed before either is booked.
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile
★★★★★

Came to REWIND to get my facial treatment and i'm absolutely obsessed about it💞 the doctor is so kind and is an expert! Everyone must visit!

YunHee Hong2 weeks ago
★★★★★

There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts…

J. S.5 months ago
★★★★★

I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the…

J. Siou5 months ago
★★★★★

Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))

Kristie Chu5 months ago
★★★★★

I received a thread lift at Rewind Plastic Surgery. The clinic was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable. The consultation was thorough, and I felt confident because they kindly explained everything tailored to my facial condition. They…

한주연2 weeks ago · Translated by Google
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Location
Apgujeong, Gangnam
4F & 5F, Richro Building,
812 Nonhyeon-ro,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours
Mon·Tue·Wed·Fri 10:00–19:00
Sat 10:00–16:00
Closed Sundays & Thursdays
Lunch 12:00–13:00
Consultation
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Interpreter-assisted
consultations available
Registration
KHIDI Registered
Registered institution for
international patients
Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288

Scientific evidence

Published research on toxin treatment of the upper face and on endoscopic brow fixation

Three papers concern botulinum toxin in the upper face: consensus recommendations on its aesthetic use, a series on expression lines in Korean patients, and a controlled trial in frown lines. The fourth reports on the efficacy and safety of Endotine fixation in endoscopic brow lifting. They describe each treatment in general, include no Rewind patients and cannot predict an individual result.