13 Mar Why Brow Lifts + Blepharoplasty are the Perfect Pairing
Contrary to what the name suggests, a facelift does not address drooping and sagging of the entire face—in fact, it strictly lifts the lower half of the face and neck. If you want to fix laxity on the upper half of the face, including around the eyes, a brow lift and blepharoplasty are in order. All of these facial plastic surgeries are available at RefinedMD and often are performed during the same procedure. Although a facelift is often the first kind of facial plastic surgery many people think of and consider, it’s actually the upper part of the face (and around the eyes in particular) where we first see signs of aging. Is a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or both what you need to turn back time? Let’s find out.
Blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both. The skin around the eyes is very thin, very mobile, and usually where we first notice lines, wrinkles, and laxity on the face. This can occur as early as your late teens in some cases. Upper eyelid lifts work by removing a small amount of excess skin via tiny incisions made along the eyelid crease for easy camouflage. It addresses “ptosis,” the technical term for droopy eyelids, to help you look younger, more refreshed, and better rested.
Lower eyelid surgery can often include fat removal if laxity is paired with puffiness caused by unwanted fat pockets. In some cases, no skin needs to be removed at all. When this is the case, the extra fat is removed using an incision made on the inside of the lower lid. However, when skin removal is necessary, incisions are made along the lower lashline. This can make the lower lashes temporarily fall out but don’t worry, they will grow back with the next cycle. A lower blepharoplasty doesn’t only drastically reduce wrinkles, crinkles, and sagging, but also lower eye circles if they are being caused by shadows. Sometimes dermal fillers are also recommended post-lower blepharoplasty to avoid hollowness.
Brow Lift Matters
A brow lift is what you need if you have excessive sagging and droopiness along the browline. In the early stages of the aging process, you may be able to tackle such drooping and lines with a neuromodulator like Botox. In fact, Botox can be injected above the eyebrows to provide a slight and natural lift with no need for surgery. However, this will only work for so long. If you have developed a heavy brow or always look like you’re furrowing, then it might be time for a brow lift.
A brow lift is a popular add-on to a facelift, using very small incisions typically hidden in the hairline. During a brow lift, excess skin is removed and the forehead is lifted to achieve a softer, more natural look without laxity or severe lines. With both a brow lift and blepharoplasty, it is paramount that you only work with a board-certified surgeon who specializes in facial plastic surgery. Overcorrecting can be very difficult to fix and lead you to having an unnatural appearance. The eyes and brows are a delicate area that require surgery that is just right.
Getting Ready for Surgery
Thanks to the high vascularity of the eye region, both types of blepharoplasty heal very quickly. There will be some swelling and bruising post-surgery, but most of that will go away after two weeks. Plus, hiding blepharoplasty surgery is easy if you do need to go out in public during those two weeks—simply slip on some sunglasses. Do keep in mind that in many cases, lower blepharoplasty will require thread to “hold up” the lower lid skin for a few days. It isn’t painful, but does render most people unwilling to be seen in public or on video calls for a few days.
Brow lifts also heal somewhat quickly though, again, swelling and bruising is common. Technically it can take several weeks for all of these procedures to fully heal, but most people look like better, younger versions of themselves in 3 – 4 weeks and are ready to show off results at that time. To learn more about all facial surgeries available at RefinedMD, contact us today. Call the office or complete the online contact form now.