Brow Lift vs. Eyelid Surgery: Which Is Right for You?

Between Zoom meetings and wearing masks for the last 14 months, many of us have become more aware of our appearance, specifically around our eyes and forehead. Crow’s feet, sagging eyelids, and furrowed brows are some of the more common areas of concern that we’ve been hearing about at MidAmerica Plastic Surgery and The Spa at MidAmerica. Neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport may help when these areas have fine lines that are beginning to show. Once deep wrinkles have set in or eyelids become too droopy, surgery tends to become a better option.

Patients are often concerned with the appearance of their eyelids but on occasion, the eyelids are actually not the root of the issue. Sometimes, the brows have become droopy to the extent that they are causing the eyelids to settle more than usual. During a comprehensive face consultation, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Ryan Diederich, takes a “top-down” approach similar to the way gravity operates.

He will begin by asking the patient which areas concern them. Then he will assess the natural position of the brow in relation to the ideal placement. This measurement is different in men and women. This will allow Dr. Diederich to know if a brow lift would be beneficial to the patient.

After this is determined, Dr. Diederich then looks at the eyelid. There are several options available for each patient. If a brow lift takes care of the drooping eyelid, then an upper blepharoplasty would not be necessary. If there is still some upper eyelid droopiness, the upper blepharoplasty can typically be completed at the same time as the brow lift. If the brow is in a good position and the concerns with the upper eyelid are still present, then the upper blepharoplasty can be completed without a brow lift.

The upper blepharoplasty can be completed in the office with a local numbing injection. The patient can also choose to add Pro-Nox if they would like. This is similar to laughing gas at the dentist; the patient is still awake but less worried about the procedure happening. There are several ways to complete a brow lift depending on patient anatomy and preference. Some can be completed in the office and others may need to go to the operating room at Anderson Hospital or Anderson Surgery Center.

All options will be explained in detail during a consultation and once the ideal treatment path is determined, our office staff will walk the patient through the next steps. To schedule a consultation, call 618-288-7855 or fill out this form.