Eyelid Surgery vs Browlift – What’s the difference?

When you begin to look at cosmetic surgery, it is often confusing as to what procedure you should actually undertake. Sometimes you may think you need one procedure, when in fact another one is far more suitable. This can often happen when considering surgery on your face. Because your face is such a prominent feature, you want to make sure you are undergoing the best procedure for you and your needs.

If you’re wanting surgery around your eyes, there are a few options. These include blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and browlift surgery. So what are the two procedures, and what are the differences between the two?

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, otherwise known as eyelid surgery, is often a desirable procedure for those who have:

• Loose skin
• Droopy eyelids
• Eye bags
• Heavy, droopy eyes

This is often a procedure that is preferred by older patients, as these clients have looser skin and can have a tired look around their eyes.

Centre For Surgery offers both upper and lower blepharoplasty.

• Upper blepharoplasty: involves removing loose skin which creates hooding on the eyes. Excess skin is removed at the crease of the eye, as well as a small portion of muscle and, if necessary, any extra pockets of fat. The incision is then stitched back together.
• Lower blepharoplasty: this is surgery on the lower eyelid. An incision is made to expose the fat, which is then generally repositioned into hollowed areas such as in the cheeks, or removed. Skin and muscle layers are then lifted and re-draped, with any excess skin being removed, before stitches are applied.

Browlift

Brow lift surgery can also be known as a forehead lift. This will reposition droopy eyebrows and remove frown lines, which will give patients a more youthful appearance.

Browlifts are suitable for those who:

• Wish to have a more youthful appearance
• Have thick-set or low-set brows
• Have asymmetric brows
• Want to reduce wrinkles on the forehead and frown lines between the eyebrows

There are numerous types of browlifts that patients can undertake. These include:

• Traditional browlift: this involves having an incision above the hairline and lifting the forehead area, hairline and brow upwards. This procedure is generally preferred for females.
• Minimally invasive browlift: this procedure is aimed at men who have highly visible forehead creases. In this instance, the incision is made in the forehead crease, and the eyebrows are lifted to an ideal position. This incision is much smaller than that of a traditional browlift, and sometimes only requires a local anaesthetic.
• Male browlift: as the name suggests, this procedure works particularly well with men. The incision is made which follows the length of the eyebrows and is able to smooth and tighten the forehead. This procedure brings the hairline forward, so is a preferred procedure for those who have male pattern baldness.
• Endoscopic browlift: this involves having three small incisions made above the hairline. While this procedure is minimally invasive, there is a high risk of nerve injury, and results are not as significant. As a result, Centre For Surgery does not offer the endoscopic browlift.

So what are the differences between the two procedures?

The ageing process affects all areas of the face, however, the eyes often show ageing features most prominently. A browlift procedure and eyelid surgery can be performed at the same time or separately.

Tackling each of the many individual components of the human ageing process is a highly complex and delicate activity. The soft tissues of the brow interact with the soft tissue of the eyelid as one harmonious unit. The lifting of the brow often has an impact on the looseness of the eyelid skin. The surgical refinement the upper eyelid region may, in addition, pull the eyebrows to a lower than preferred position. In expert hands, Browlift and blepharoplasty surgery are entirely complementary procedures.

The two procedures of browlift and blepharoplasty can address different issues associated with the facial ageing process:

1. A Browlift will lift the eyebrows to their former elevated position based on patient preference, creating a rejuvenated look.
2. Vertical frown musculature can also be surgically treated at the time of Browlift, minimising the vertical lines between the eyebrows.
3. Redundant upper eyelid skin and prominent fat pads can be addressed with blepharoplasty at the same time as a browlift procedure.
4. Loose skin and dropping of the upper eyelid regions can be treated with upper blepharoplasty as an isolated procedure or may require a browlift.

At Centre for Surgery, the needs and preferences of each patient are always determined and a personalised treatment plan is formulated. Depending on the patient, the treatment required may be Upper Eyelid Surgery, Browlift, or possibly both procedures.

Interested in a browlift or forehead lift? Contact Centre For Surgery for more details, a quote or consultation.