Comparing Brow Lift and Blepharoplasty

It is not surprising that so many patients seek surgical procedures to restore vitality, buoyancy and youthfulness to the face. After all, our facial image is what we show to the world in social situations, and the way we share emotions with others.

It’s also not surprising that lines around the eyes and across the forehead are a particular concern. In cases where patients are seeking effective remedies for lines and wrinkles on the upper face, the question often becomes: Should I choose brow lift or blepharoplasty? Here, experienced Albany plastic surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha compares the procedures, and outlines when each may be appropriate.

Brow Lift

Brow lift targets sagging brows and forehead wrinkles. During the procedure, Dr. Kayastha lifts forehead skin and the brow area to smooth out lines and eliminate the tired or even angry look that sagging skin may have produced. If “hooding” of your upper eyelids was caused by loose skin in this area, brow lift will also improve the appearance of skin around the eyes.

Brow lift will also improve the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines and deep lines on the forehead, but not completely erase them. With your brow newly elevated and the skin tightened, you will find yourself raising your brows less often, which is what causes forehead lines. Removing excess skin from the upper lids (blepharoplasty) will also very often improve transverse forehead lines for similar reasons.

With a brow lift procedure, it is important for the surgeon to pay attention to symmetry in the brow area. If the inner brow is raised more than the outer brow, the look will be unnatural. The key to attaining the precise elevation and symmetry of the brow is the skill, artistry and judgment of your plastic surgeon. Always look for a surgeon who has performed a procedure many times, and keeps abreast of the latest techniques and medical best practices. An experienced plastic surgeon will take a comprehensive approach; not simply stretching the skin, but also paying attention to the muscles and ligaments under the skin, and how each surgical change affects overall balance and proportion.

Eye Lift

When the main concern is loose skin and an accumulation of fat in the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty, or eye lift, is often the best choice. Blepharoplasty removes excess skin, fat and sometimes muscle between the eyebrow and eyelash, but does not change the position of the eyebrow. If you are satisfied with the shape and placement of your brow, but have excess skin below the brow, an eye lift may be all you need. Brow lift may be a better choice when your brow is within the eye socket, has lost its natural shape, or you have a pocket of fat or loose skin that involves more than just the upper eyelid. That being said, a low brow position is often youthful and browlift surgery is a relative rarity in our practice, whereas blepharoplasty is a weekly event!

To learn more about brow lift or eye lift, we invite you to schedule an appointment by contacting Dr. Kayastha’s Albany practice today.