A Brow Lift or Eyelid Surgery: Which One is Right for You?

Often, one of the first places to show signs of aging is the upper part of the face. Wrinkles and creases form around the eyes, and the skin on the forehead loses some of its elasticity. The cumulative effect is to make you look tired, haggard, or sad. Certainly, it’s a far cry from the youthful appearance you might crave.

The good news is that there are cosmetic treatments that can rejuvenate your appearance, and help you mediate some of the visible effects of the aging process. Two of the most common options are to have a eyebrow lift or eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty). The question is, which procedure is best for you?

To a large extent, it depends on your specific needs and goals. Indeed, the best way to choose between a brow lift or eyelid surgery is to meet with a provider at Charlotte Plastic Surgery, where we can answer your questions and walk you through the different options. In the meantime, here are a few considerations to keep in mind.

Deciding Between A Eyebrow Lift Vs Eyelid Surgery

What is the Difference Between a Eyebrow Lift and an Eyelid Surgery?

First, let’s explore each of these procedures individually.

What is a Eyebrow Lift?

The eyebrows play a critical role in displaying emotion; they’re invaluable as you try to express your surprise, displeasure, or skepticism. The problem is, as we age, our brows can look increasingly low and furrowed, giving the impression of anger or sadness at all times. By raising your brow, you can achieve a more open and friendly countenance. In other words, if you worry that you look angry all the time, a brow lift may be the best remedy.

So how does it work? A surgeon will make small incisions, lifting and tightening the skin just above the eyes. While there are many ways of conducting this surgery, one of the most common is to do it endoscopically, making tiny incisions behind the hairline. This allows you to achieve the results you’re after, without having to deal with visible scars.

A number of our patients ask us if Botox® might help them achieve the same results as a brow lift. Sometimes, Botox® can be a viable option, but understand that Botox® is temporary, with each treatment lasting around three months. For those who want something more permanent, a brow lift might make more sense.

What is Eyelid Surgery?

By contrast, some patients come to us wanting us to work on their eyelids, specifically. The eyelid does a lot of work, blinking and moving thousands of times every single day, so with time and age, the skin may start to weaken and sag. Again, this can lead to an appearance that’s tired or haggard.

Blepharoplasty is a surgery that targets the upper eyelid, tightening the skin and preventing it from looking so thin and loose. While the overall effect of eyelid surgery can be subtler than a brow lift, it’s exactly what some patients need in order to regain their youthful appearance. (Also note that many women come to us lamenting that they can no longer apply makeup to their upper eyelid, which makes blepharoplasty a natural choice.)

Do I Need a Eyebrow Lift or Eyebrow Surgery?

Both of these procedures can help you reverse some of the visible effects of aging; both offer results that are natural-looking and subtle. They deliver what our surgeons like to call plausible deniability: People in your life will notice that you look refreshed and restored, but they won’t necessarily be able to tell that you’ve had work done.

It’s also worth noting that both of these procedures come with minimal postoperative recovery times. While it’s normal to have some swelling or bruising around the incision site, you won’t be sidelined for long. Additionally, our providers will ensure you have medication and other resources to ensure a comfortable recovery time during any facial rejuvenation procedure.

With all of that said, how do you decide which of these procedures is right for you? We’d recommend starting by making a consultation appointment at Charlotte Plastic Surgery. You’ll then have an opportunity to sit down in a private, relaxed setting with a provider. We’ll listen to your concerns, tell you more about each procedure, set the right expectations, and answer any questions you might have. After speaking with you one-on-one, we’ll be better able to recommend the procedure that we think will help you achieve your desired outcomes.

Finally, our providers are committed to patient safety above all else. While brow lifts and eyelid surgeries are not especially risky, it’s still important that potential patients be vetted for any health problems that might impede their recovery or put them at higher risk levels. That’s something we’ll discuss with you during the consultation.

The bottom line is that age can often manifest at the upper part of the face, but there are subtle and significant ways of reversing those unwanted effects. A good starting point is to make an appointment with us so that you can make an informed appraisal of the available options.

Learn More About Eyebrow Lifts and Eyelid Surgery

Charlotte Plastic Surgery is one of the area’s most trusted names in cosmetic surgery. For decades, we have provided men and women with excellent results through a range of interventions. We’d love to talk with you more about having a brow lift or eyelid surgery.

Schedule an appointment with us at your next opportunity. To do so, just reach out to Charlotte Plastic Surgery and ask to set up a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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