Brow Lift or Eyelid Surgery: How to Refresh Aging Eyes

Dr. Philip Miller

September 29, 2021

When you look in the mirror, you want to look fresh and alert. Unfortunately, as we age, our skin loses its natural elasticity and the muscles that support our brows and eyelids start to weaken. This can lead to droopy eyelids and wrinkles that make us look older than we are. Blepharoplasty and a brow lift are two facial plastic surgery procedures that can take years off of your appearance by rejuvenating your eyes. But which treatment is right for you?

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, has nearly 30 years of experience in cosmetic surgery. As a pioneer in the field of facial plastic surgery, he understands the unique complexities of blepharoplasty and brow lift procedures. Dr. Miller’s skilled precision and artistic eye make him uniquely qualified to recommend the right procedure for you at his state-of-the-art plastic surgery clinic in Manhattan, NY.

With Dr. Miller’s collaborative Natralook® process, you can take part in designing your own treatment plan to determine which procedure will best help you achieve your desired results.

What You Need to Know about a Brow Lift

A brow lift primarily addresses excess skin on the forehead that droops down toward the eyes. As the skin above the brow sags, it causes the eyelids to slouch downward as well. The skin only loses elasticity with age, so the problem tends to worsen in aging adults. For some, the resulting look can resemble perpetual anger or sadness. Others can experience drooping to the point that their eyesight becomes hindered.

For a more youthful look, Dr. Miller makes a small incision in the hairline and carefully lifts the skin, removing any excess. During this procedure, he also removes portions of weakened muscle near the eyelids. The entire process lifts the brow to smooth forehead lines and minimize sagging over the eyes. To learn more about brow lifts, please click here. 

Benefits of a Brow Lift

A brow lift can transform your appearance by softening deep creases and lines while lifting your brow. Other important benefits of a brow lift include that it can:

• Remove excess skin from above the brow
• Reduce deep forehead lines
• Minimize crow’s feet
• Lift saggy eyelids
• Soften crow’s feet

If you have excess skin partially blocking your vision, a naturally low eyebrow arch, or deep forehead lines, consider an eyebrow lift.

What a Brow Lift Can’t Do

A brow lift cannot remove excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids like a blepharoplasty can. If you have droopy eyelids that stem from loss of elasticity in the eyelids themselves, then a brow lift may not be the appropriate treatment. Brow lifts specifically treat sagging caused by excess skin above the brow.

One way to tell if you need a blepharoplasty over a brow lift is by raising your eyebrows. If the skin continues to sag with no noticeable change, then a brow lift won’t deliver the results you’re looking for.

What you Need to Know about an Eyelid Lift

An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and tissue from your eyelids. Dr. Miller can perform this procedure on your upper lids, lower lids, or both for a fully rejuvenated appearance.

During an eyelid lift, Dr. Miller makes a small incision in the natural eyelid crease and removes any excess tissue. For the best results, he redistributes some of your excess skin, fat, and underlying muscle before tightening your surrounding skin. This technique generates a lifting effect that instantly refreshes your appearance. Since the incision blends in with your natural crease, there’s very minimal visible scarring.

Droopy eyelids can significantly age your appearance and may even impact your vision. While skin laxity is a normal consequence of the aging process, eyelid surgery can make your eyes look younger, fresher, and more alert.  

Benefits of an Eyelid Lift

Upper eyelid surgery is an excellent anti-aging procedure for patients with droopy eyelids caused by loss of elasticity. An eyelid lift may be right for you if you suffer from:

• Puffy upper eyelids
• Impaired vision from saggy upper eyelid skin
• Extra skin in the natural eyelid crease
• Poor eyelid contours
• Forehead discomfort from muscle straining
• Skin irritation from chafing eyelid folds

Depending on whether you combine your treatment with a lower eyelid, blepharoplasty typically takes about 1-2 hours. Most patients recover within 7-10 days of treatment.

What an Eyelid Lift Can’t Do

An eyelid lift is ideal for patients who have droopy eyelids with excess fat and tissue. However, blepharoplasty cannot treat deep forehead wrinkles like a brow lift can. If your saggy eyelids are the result of a low brow arch and skin laxity above the brow line, then a brow lift is likely a more appropriate treatment.

When a Combination Approach at Our Plastic Surgery Clinic May be Best

Since brow and eyelid lifts address different aging symptoms, a combination approach can dramatically enhance your appearance. If you have deep forehead creases and excess eyelid skin, ask Dr. Miller about a combination approach during your initial consultation.

To schedule a face-to-face consultation with Dr. Miller at his Manhattan plastic surgery clinic, call or book an appointment online today.

Dr. Philip Miller

Focusing exclusively on the face for more than two decades, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller blends art and science with innovation and skill to provide thousands of patients with impeccable results. He is known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and other cosmetic procedures for the face.