To lift the skin on the upper face, an eyelid lift or brow lift can be a suitable choice. When it comes to deciding between the two procedures, understanding the differences between each procedure can help you select the procedure that most aligns with your needs.
In this blog, we’ll examine these two surgeries in more detail to help you understand their similarities and differences and which option might be more suitable for you.
If you’re not sure which procedure to choose, a consultation with plastic surgeon Dr Hunt in Sydney will help. Dr Hunt can assess both your eyelids and the brow area, looking at factors like skin laxity and considering which procedure would be suitable for your features.
What is an eyelid lift?
An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is designed to target the upper and lower eyelids specifically. The surgery typically involves removing excess skin and sometimes a bit of muscle or fat and can be tailored to address one or both eyelids.
Generally, if you’re deciding between an eyelid lift or brow lift, you’ll likely be considering an upper eyelid lift as opposed to a lower blepharoplasty.
Over time, it’s common for the skin around the eyes to stretch, which can make the upper eyelids sit lower and even partially obstruct vision for some people. For some people, there can be a heaviness in the upper eyelid region that can affect their ability to see properly, especially when driving or reading.
An upper eyelid lift can address this, removing excess tissue if needed and lifting the position of the eyelids. Lower eyelid surgery, on the other hand, is often performed to address puffiness beneath the eyes, typically by removing excess tissue – this typically does not relate to the position of the upper eyelids or brow area.
What is a brow lift?
A brow lift focuses on raising the tissue on the forehead and brow region. Depending on the level of excess skin, it can involve removing tissue as well as lifting or just lifting alone.
As with the upper eyelids, the skin in this area can stretch over time, as the skin loses its elasticity. It can cause heaviness on the brows and make them sit lower on the face.
There are a few variations of brow lift techniques, and the type of procedure that you would undergo will need to align with the condition of the area and the results you want to achieve.
Should you have an eyelid lift or brow lift – or both?
Choosing between an eyelid lift and a brow lift ultimately comes down to how each procedure fits into your goals. While both surgeries can be effective, they are each designed to address different aspects of the eye and forehead area.
Now that we’ve outlined what each procedure involves, let’s go over the differences between the two procedures in further detail to help you decide.
The actual process for each surgery will vary in terms of incision placement, the specific tissue addressed, and the surgical technique used. For an eyelid lift, the incisions are made directly on the eyelids, typically along the natural creases. Through these incisions, your surgeon can remove excess skin, adjust muscle, and sometimes remove or reposition fat.
A brow lift, however, can require incisions to be made just above the hairline, across the scalp, or hidden within the hair at the temples. These incision placements will allow your surgeon to lift and reposition the underlying muscles and tissues of the forehead, to lift the brow line. Sometimes, small amounts of skin may be removed, but the focus is typically on raising the tissue.
The decision between the two procedures can become a little trickier when it comes to the results each procedure can achieve. Sometimes, patients may think that they need an eyelid lift, only to find that their brow position is actually causing the appearance or vision interference that they want to address.
If your main concern is excess skin directly on the upper eyelids, an eyelid lift may be a more straightforward answer. However, if you feel like your entire forehead or brow region is starting to lower in position, possibly contributing to a general heaviness above your eyes, a brow lift may be more effective.
If it would be ideal to address both areas, as they both may have a significant level of excess tissue, there’s also the option to combine both procedures, performing an eyelid lift and brow lift at the same time. Combining procedures can sometimes help to achieve more balanced results.
Even while knowing the difference between the two surgeries, sometimes having a surgeon closely assess your features will be the most helpful when choosing the right procedure. Your surgeon can make recommendations during your consultation and create a suitable surgery plan for your chosen approach.
What to consider before having an eyelid lift or brow lift
When weighing your options between an eyelid lift or brow lift, there are some personal factors that you should consider.
First, your general health plays a key role in your suitability for either procedure. For example, if you have a medical condition like dry eyes, an eyelid lift may require some additional precautions to ensure that the surgery doesn’t potentially worsen the issue.
Your surgeon will also want to consider any past surgeries, especially around the eyes or forehead, as these could affect the most suitable approach for your procedure.
When you see your surgeon for your first consultation, you should discuss any concerns and seek advice on whether or not surgery is suitable.
Book your consultation for an eyelid lift or brow lift with Dr Hunt in Sydney
Whether an eyelid lift, brow lift or a combination of the procedures will be the most suitable choice, plastic surgeon Dr Jeremy Hunt has the thorough experience and training needed to perform both procedures to a high standard.
Your consultation will provide you with more information on how each procedure is performed, the results that they can achieve, and which option is right for you.
To learn how to book your consultation, you are welcome to get in touch with our team!