Fine lines, wrinkles, and drooping or sagging skin around the eyes are often some of the first visible signs of aging. If you’re uncomfortable or self-conscious about one or all of these issues, you may be considering cosmetic surgery to minimize or even eliminate these concerns. The most common and effective procedures performed around the eyes to reduce the signs of aging are upper lid blepharoplasty or a brow lift, but which one is right for you? To help you better understand the concerns these procedures address, Dr. Ortiz, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Raleigh, is sharing the difference between the two and the results both procedures offer.
Understanding Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, also called eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure in which excess skin and fat are removed from the upper or lower eyelid. On the upper eyelid, Dr. Ortiz will place a small incision along the crease in your eyelid where he can remove the excess skin and fat while tightening muscle tissue. The skin is then redraped over the area and allowed to heal.
When performed on the upper eyelid, this removes the drooping or sagging skin that can give the eye a hooded appearance, instead making the eye look brighter and more open. While this is primarily performed on people who would like to reduce the signs of aging, it can also improve the look of someone who is younger but has heavier lids and would like a more open-eyed appearance.
Lower lid blepharoplasty is very similar, though the incision can be made along the inside of the eyelid but sometimes the incision is made on the outside if there is too much excess skin just under the eyelashes. When blepharoplasty is performed on the lower lid, this removes the excess skin and fat that causes undereye bags, sagging, and wrinkles to give the undereye area a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Understanding Brow Lifts
A brow lift, or a forehead lift, smoothes the skin on the forehead and between the brows and can also restructure the eyebrow line. This procedure can be performed in three different ways:
- An open brow lift removes excess skin and fat, creating a smoother, more lifted appearance.
- The endoscopic brow lift requires a camera to be inserted through a small incision allowing Dr. Ortiz to restructure the forehead.
- A limited incision brow lift blends both the open and endoscopic procedures for a combination of restructuring and smoothing the area.
This procedure is specifically designed to eliminate the wrinkles and lines along the forehead as well as sagging and drooping around the brow line. While it smoothes and lifts the area, it specifically targets the area above the brow line.
Choosing Blepharoplasty or a Brow Lift
Whether you choose blepharoplasty or a brow lift depends on your goals and what you want your outcome to be.
Blepharoplasty is ideal for:
- Minimizing bags, puffiness, and sagging under the eye.
- Reducing sagging, heaviness, or drooping excess skin on the upper eyelid.
- Improve vision if the hooding over the eye is impairing vision.
- Create a more open-eyed look or enhance symmetry.
A brow lift is better to meet the following goals:
- Reducing or eliminating wrinkles and creases around the brow and forehead.
- Minimizing drooping or overhanging skin around the eyebrows.
- Correcting a low or flat eyebrow shape.
Basically, if your area of concern is the eyelid area, eyelid surgery would be the likely solution, whereas if your concern is around the forehead, eyebrows, and between the eyes, a brow lift may be the better option. Also, many of our patients choose to have both procedures completed concurrently for a significantly more rejuvenated appearance.
Schedule a Consultation with our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Today
If you would like to learn more about your options and get personalized information for the right procedures to meet your goals, we can help. Dr. Ortiz will sit down with you to discuss your concerns and how he can help you achieve a more youthful appearance. Schedule a consultation today by calling 919-532-2270 or send us a message using our easy-to-use contact form below.
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