07 Jul Why Brows Sag
It’s a process that is slow and steady. You wake up one day and notice a photo (or a glance in the mirror) where you look like you’re furrowing your brows. Eyebrow lifts are becoming one of the most requested procedures at RefinedMD as people are taking a closer and more comprehensive look at the aging process. For years, “facelift” was the go-to procedure for facial aging, but facelifts only address sagging in the lower half of the face and the neck—it’s a surgery that has nothing to do with the eye and brow region. However, the upper half of the face is typically where the first signs of facial aging appear.
Having droopy eyebrows is also known as ptosis. In severe cases, it can even interfere with your vision. In many cases, if you have a droopy brow you also have a droopy upper eyelid. People can look older than they are, angry all the time, and this is going to inherently affect your self-confidence. Most of the time, droopy brows and eyelids just happen with age. The muscles that used to lift them into a perky position get weaker, and over time the eyebrows get lower. In rare cases, droopy brows can be caused by issues such as nerve weakness, trauma, and diseases like cancer.
Getting to the Root of the Sag
It can be tough to tell if you’re dealing with a droopy brow, droopy eyelids, or both. A consultation with a reputable plastic surgeon will clear everything up. Regardless, you’re looking at either an eyebrow lift or an upper eyelid lift (perhaps both) if you really want to correct the issue. Non-surgical options, such as injecting Botox along the eyebrow, can help with very mild drooping. Of course, this solution is very short-term and isn’t addressing the real issue.
It’s very common to undergo a brow lift and eyelid lift at the same time. There are two kinds of eyelid lifts, also known as blepharoplasty. An upper “bleph” trims away excess skin while hiding the tiny incisions in the eyelid crease. This instantly lifts, opens, and brightens the eyes. If you “just” get a brow lift but also really need an upper eyelid lift, you’re not going to get optimal results and will probably opt for a second surgery. It’s always best to combine surgeries when possible and when approved by your surgeon. This will decrease surgical and recovery times.
A lot of the time, those who are a good fit for an upper bleph are also good candidates for lower eyelid surgery. Lower eyelids can have wrinkles, sagging, and bags. A lower bleph might remove uneven fat from this area, and if this is the only problem then the incision is hidden in the lower lid so it will never be seen. However, if excess skin in this area also needs to be removed, the incision is made along the lower lashline. Lashes may temporarily fall out after this surgery, but will grow back as good as new.
A Surprisingly Quick Surgery
Brow lifts are a lot less invasive than many people think. Eyelid lifts are even faster and more efficient. This area of the face is very vascular, which means healing is quick. The incisions for a brow lift are small and often hidden within the hairline. Bruising and swelling can be expected in the first 1 – 2 weeks post-procedure. With a brow lift, it can be easy to hide this initial healing with a loose cap or scarf approved by your doctor (only to be worn when you must be out and about).
Eyelid lifts can have temporary visible sutures to help encourage the skin to stat in position. These are removed within the first week of surgery. It is then easy to hide healing with sunglasses. Overall, most people feel comfortable enough to go out in public two weeks after their surgery—although it takes much longer for the body to fully heal. Still, you’ll get an idea of what results will look like within one month of your surgery.
So, is a brow lift or eyelid lift right for you? Find out and schedule a consultation at RefinedMD. Call the office during business hours or fill out the online contact form now.