이마 거상술 (ima geosangsul — forehead lift) spans three distinct surgical approaches in Korea, each with a different price point, scar location, and candidate profile. This page covers what each technique costs and when the price difference is justified.
Brow Lift Price by Technique — Korea 2026
| Technique | KRW Range | USD Range | AUD Range | GBP Range | Typical Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endoscopic Brow Lift | ₩2,000,000–4,000,000 | $1,449–2,899 | $2,198–4,396 | £1,176–2,353 | Mild-moderate brow descent, no visible scarring preferred |
| Direct Brow Lift | ₩1,500,000–3,000,000 | $1,087–2,174 | $1,648–3,297 | £882–1,765 | Heavy lateral hooding, existing brow hair for scar concealment |
| Hairline (Trichophytic) Brow Lift | ₩2,500,000–5,000,000 | $1,812–3,623 | $2,747–5,495 | £1,471–2,941 | High or long forehead, simultaneous forehead shortening desired |
| Brow Lift + Upper Blepharoplasty Combo | ₩3,500,000–7,000,000 | $2,536–5,072 | $3,846–7,692 | £2,059–4,118 | Combined upper-face rejuvenation, 20–30% saving on secondary procedure |
Which Technique — and Why It Affects the Price
The price of a brow lift in Korea tracks almost exactly with operative complexity and theatre time rather than with clinic prestige alone.
Endoscopic brow lift (₩2M–4M) is the most commonly performed approach at Korean aesthetic clinics. It requires a surgeon trained in endoscopic dissection, a dedicated camera and monitor set-up, and 60–90 minutes of theatre time under IV sedation or light general anaesthesia. Three to five small incisions in the scalp allow access for the endoscope and dissection instruments, with no visible scar resulting. The technique achieves brow elevation and fixation by releasing the periosteum and suturing or stapling the elevated brow position to the scalp. Most candidates in their 30s to early 50s with mild-to-moderate brow descent are appropriate candidates.
Direct brow lift (₩1.5M–3M) is the lowest-cost approach because it is the technically simplest: a crescent of skin is excised immediately above the brow, and the tissue is advanced upward before closure. Theatre time is 30–45 minutes. The trade-off is a scar at the superior brow margin that, while concealable in the brow hair when carefully placed, is visible for 6–12 months and permanent. It is best suited to patients with very heavy lateral brow hooding, prior facial nerve palsy causing asymmetric brow position, or older patients in whom scar visibility is less of a concern.
Hairline brow lift (₩2.5M–5M) uses a trichophytic incision at the frontal hairline — the scar is buried in the hair margin and blends well within 6–12 months. The upper end of the price range reflects the more complex undermining required across the entire forehead and the longer operative time (90–120 minutes). The unique advantage of this technique is that it simultaneously shortens the vertical height of the forehead while lifting the brow — something neither endoscopic nor direct approaches can achieve. It is the appropriate choice for patients whose forehead height exceeds 6.5–7 cm.
Combining with Upper Blepharoplasty: What You Save
Performing brow lift and upper blepharoplasty simultaneously is one of the most common procedure combinations at Korean upper-face clinics. The combined price (₩3.5M–7M) is typically 20–30% less than the sum of the two procedures quoted independently, because anaesthesia is shared (one induction rather than two), theatre set-up and recovery room time overlap, and the coordination of both procedures avoids over-correction of the upper eyelid position relative to the raised brow — a technical consideration that benefits from planning both together.
The minimum combined stay in Korea is typically 9–12 nights, as suture removal for the eyelid occurs at day 5–7 and brow staples or sutures at day 7–10. Both procedures share the same peak swelling window (days 3–5), making combined recovery more time-efficient than staging the procedures on separate trips.
What Korean Clinics Include in the Quoted Price
Most Gangnam-area clinic quotes for brow lift are presented as all-inclusive figures covering the surgeon’s fee, anaesthesia (usually IV sedation for endoscopic; light general anaesthesia for hairline approach), and operating theatre. Items that occasionally appear as separate line items include pre-operative blood tests (₩50,000–120,000), post-op ointments and medications (₩30,000–80,000), and compression bandaging (₩20,000–50,000, often complimentary). Clinics quoting below ₩1.5M for endoscopic brow lift should be asked specifically whether anaesthesia is included, as some quotes at this price point represent the surgical fee only.
Why is endoscopic brow lift more expensive than direct brow lift in Korea?
Endoscopic brow lift requires specialised camera equipment, longer theatre set-up time, and a surgeon trained in endoscopic tissue dissection. The direct brow lift is simpler technically — skin excision above the brow — and takes 30–45 minutes vs 60–90 minutes for endoscopic. However, the direct approach leaves a more visible scar, which is why most patients under 60 in Korea pay the premium for the endoscopic technique.
Are there additional costs beyond the quoted surgical price?
Most Korean clinic quotes for brow lift include surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, and the operating theatre. Additional charges that sometimes appear separately include: pre-operative blood tests (₩50,000–120,000), post-op medications and ointments (₩30,000–80,000), and compression bandaging. If combining procedures, confirm whether the secondary procedure is fully inclusive or carries a separate anaesthesia surcharge.
Is a hairline brow lift worth the extra cost over endoscopic?
For patients with a forehead height over 6.5–7 cm, the hairline brow lift justifies its higher cost (₩2.5M–5M vs ₩2M–4M) because it simultaneously shortens the forehead while lifting the brow — a dual result the endoscopic approach cannot achieve. For patients with a normal or low hairline, the endoscopic approach delivers equivalent lift without the hairline scar, making the extra cost unnecessary.