As we age it is normal to experience changes to some degree in our skin and muscles. While signs of aging can appear anywhere, the delicate skin around your eyes and eyebrows is often the first area to show wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin contributing to an aged and tired expression. If you’ve noticed these signs of aging, you may be considering upper eyelid surgery or a brow lift as possible treatment options. Though these procedures can produce similar results, they are designed to tackle different concerns. Our goal is to assist you in finding the right treatment option for your needs so that you can look and feel your best.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper eyelid surgery, also known as upper blepharoplasty, is a procedure that addresses heavy, sagging eyelids that can result in a tired and aged expression and alter a patient’s field of vision. During this procedure, a small incision is made along a natural crease in your eyelid to remove excess skin and fatty deposits and tighten underlying muscle tissue. This procedure can eliminate hooding and improve the look and functionality of your eyelids allowing you to achieve a more youthful appearance, restore sightlines, and reduce fine lines and puffiness in the eyes.

Generally, ideal candidates for upper eyelid surgery experience the following symptoms:

• Hooding that impedes their field of vision
• Sagging excess skin in the upper eyelid
• Significant bags under the eyes

Upper eyelid surgeries often require light sedation and a short recovery period. Minimal swelling, bruising, and tenderness are common side effects of the procedure. One of the benefits of this procedure is that the incision is virtually unnoticeable as it is made in a natural crease of your eye.

Brow Lift Surgery

A brow lift procedure addresses signs of aging by repositioning the eyebrows while smoothing the skin in the forehead and between the eyes for a more relaxed and youthful appearance with lines. This procedure can be accomplished several ways, though the most common is a form of endoscopic surgery where a tiny camera assists in making small incisions in the scalp above the hairline to lift and raise the eyebrows into a more favorable location.The results include a more awake and refreshed appearance by treating forehead wrinkles and sagging eyebrows.

Ideal candidates for a brow lift surgery commonly experience the following symptoms:

• Flat or low eyebrow shapes
• Overhanging or hooding that extends beyond the corner of your eyes and impedes vision
• Severe wrinkles in the brow and forehead area

The type of brow lift you undergo will be based on your facial features and aesthetic preferences. Our staff will assist you in achieving beautiful and natural-looking results by selecting the best treatment option for your needs. Regardless of the method, light sedation and a short recovery period is common practice for brow lifts. Minimal swelling, bruising, and tenderness are common side effects of the procedure. As the incisions are generally placed behind the hairline or within a deep forehead crease, the incisions are often well concealed.

Which is right for you?

To determine which treatment option is right for you, consider whether the problem lies within your eyebrows or eyelids. Before your consultation you can perform a simple test at home to help you make your decision:

Place your fingers on your eyebrows and raise them into a more favorable position. If this corrects a majority of your concerns, including the excess skin along the upper eyelid, a brow lift may be the right choice. However, if the excess tissue remains after raising your eyebrows, or if there are still some noticeable concerns, eyelid surgery may be best.

If you perform this test and still can’t decide, we are here to help you. During your consultation, we will discuss your medical history, concerns, and conduct a thorough evaluation before selecting the right treatment option for your needs. In some cases, we may even recommend a combination of both procedures.

For more information on brow lifts, upper eyelid surgery, or to schedule a consultation, contact Eastlake Cosmetic Surgery today.