We have developed clinically useful measurements to assist the surgeon in deciding when to do the forehead lift and where to place the incision. Also, we have reviewed our experience over the past decade and discuss the four categories and applications of forehead lifts. We use three indications for forehead lift: ptosis, creases, and previous facelift (PCP). There are four basic surgical techniques applicable to the upper face: (1) direct browlift, (2) midforehead crease incision, (3) prehairline incision, and (4) posthairline incision. We determined more accurate guidelines from measurements taken on 50 volunteers, as well as patients seeking a facelift. The line of measurement in a vertical plane extends from the midpupil to the top of the eyebrow and up to the hairline. We have found that the normal distance from the midpupil to the upper edge of the eyebrow on average is 2.5 cm and that the distance from the upper edge of the eyebrow to the hairline is approximately 5 cm on average. If the distance from pupil to brow is less than 2.5 cm, then the patient may benefit from a forehead lift. If the distance from brow to hairline is less than 5 cm, then we use a posthairline incision in females. If this same distance is greater than 5 cm in females, we advise the prehairline incision. In male patients we strongly consider direct crease incision. The direct browlift is reserved for minimal ptosis, asymmetry, or patients who wish a minimal procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)