What’s The Difference Between A Brow Lift & An Eyelid Lift

eyelid liftYour eyes, brows, and forehead play a large role in conveying your emotions and state of well-being. If you have a sagging, heavy forehead or eyebrows, you’re likely to appear more tired, unhappy, or even angry than you actually are. Likewise, if you have heavy, drooping, or puffy eyelids you may appear sad, angry, or tired, even if you aren’t.

Worse yet, well-meaning friends may comment that you look tired, sad, or like you’re feeling down, when you’re actually feeling just fine. The upper portion of your face, however, is suggesting a different story.

Two solutions for concerns about aging of the forehead and eyelids are brow lifts and eyelid lifts—or blepharoplasty. It can be hard to determine if you would benefit most from a brow lift or eyelid lift because the position of your brow can also affect the appearance of your eyelids.

You may think you think you need a brow lift when actually an eyelid lift would rejuvenate your appearance more, or vice versa. And other times, both surgeries are called for. Here are the main differences between brow lifts and eyelid lifts:

Benefits Of Brow Lifts

The position of your eyebrows conveys a wide range of facial expression. If your forehead is creased with deep wrinkles and sagging skin, this may also cause your brows to sag or droop, causing you to appear tired or sad.

Brow lifts smooth the forehead area and improve the positioning of your brows. During a brow lift, the surgeon removes excess sagging skin and repositions the underlying muscles and tissues to restore a more youthful, wide-eyed appearance to the upper third of your face.

Benefits Of Eyelid Lifts

While a brow lift can lift your eyebrows and smooth your forehead area, an eyelid lift focuses solely on your eyelids. During an eyelid lift, the surgeon removes excess skin and fat from the lids, making them less droopy and puffy. Eyelid lifts can be performed on your upper lids, lower lids, or both.

By removing sagging skin and excess fatty deposits, a skilled upper eyelid lift will reveal the natural contour of your eyelid, giving you a younger, more “awake” and bright-eyed appearance.
Eyelid lifts are often considered cosmetic, but in many cases heavy, drooping upper eyelids also impair vision, whether you realize it or not. In those cases, surgery is considered “functional,” or medically necessary, and insurance typically covers the procedure.

Is A Brow Lift, Eyelid Lift, Or Both Best For You?

Dr. Andrew Anzeljc, Baptist Eye’s oculoplastic surgeon, says, “It is extremely common for people to have both droopy lids and droopy brows to some degree. Whether or not both of them are functionally or medically bothersome is another story and is more complicated. Sometimes people need a functional eyelid surgery and brow surgery, or functional eyelid surgery with optional brow cosmetic surgery. Others may benefit most from a functional brow surgery and cosmetic lid surgery, or both cosmetic lid and brow surgery.

“Each patient is different, of course, and the most effective, natural-looking results depend on many considerations, including genetics, bone structure, sun damage, and other factors. I’m always happy to consult with patients to talk about their concerns, desired goals, and how brow lifts or eyelid lifts might rejuvenate a more youthful appearance.”

In addition, there are also nonsurgical procedures that can improve the appearance of the brow, forehead, and heavy upper eyelids or sagging lower eyelids. Injections such as Botox and hyaluronic acid fillers can help tighten sagging skin and smooth out wrinkles around the eyes and forehead area.

At Baptist Eye Surgeons, Dr. Andrew Anzeljc is an oculoplastic surgeon specializing in both functional, or corrective, and cosmetic procedures such as brow lifts and eyelid procedures. To request an appointment or get directions to our Knoxville and Morristown locations, visit our website. Call us at 865-579-3920 for more information or visit us online to schedule an appointment.

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