Brow Lift

Brow ptosis

Brow features and contour give a face its distinctive expressions, and a dropped brow can produce a permanently sad, angry or surprised appearance that has nothing to do with mood.

When drooping occurs, the brow and the subcutaneous brow fat pad add weight and heaviness to the upper eyelids. In severe cases the brow sits all the way down on the eyelid. Hereditary features contribute as well, particularly where there is natural hooding of the lid folds. Drooping of the brow and brow fat pad below the orbital rim is called brow ptosis.

Lifting without the surprised look

The brows can be raised without producing a startled appearance. The desired shape and position should be discussed before surgery, because the aesthetic target varies enormously between faces and between individual preferences.

Approaches range from a direct lift, in which the incision sits at the brow itself, to lateral and endoscopic techniques placed further back. Each has different trade-offs in scar position, degree of lift and how the lift is maintained over time.

Why it is assessed before eyelid surgery

Removing eyelid skin while ignoring a dropped brow can pull the brow lower still. Assessing brow position first is what determines whether a brow procedure should be done instead of, or alongside, a blepharoplasty.

In practice, a modest brow lift often allows a better eyelid result, because the surgeon can contour the lid skin and subcutaneous tissue properly once the weight from above has been addressed.