Feeling like you always look tired, no matter how much sleep you get? If hooded eyelids or a heavy brow are the culprits, you’re likely wondering about your options. Two of the most effective solutions are blepharoplasty and a brow lift. But how do you choose?
This guide will walk you through the key differences from the procedures and aesthetic benefits to recovery times and risks. We’ll also help you understand when combining both might be the key to achieving the balanced, refreshed look you’re after.
What Are the Key Differences Between Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift?
At their core, these procedures target different areas. Blepharoplasty is all about the eyelids themselves, while a brow lift focuses on elevating the forehead and brow complex.
Quick Comparison Table
| Factor | Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) | Brow Lift (Forehead Lift) |
| Main Concern Treated | Excess eyelid skin, eye bags, hooding directly on the upper or lower eyelids | Drooping or low-positioned eyebrows, forehead heaviness |
| Best For | Tired, heavy, or sagging eyelids / under-eye bags | Brow dropping over time |
| Incision Location | In eyelid crease (upper) or inside eyelid (lower, scarless) | Within hairline or at the brow, depending on technique |
| Typical Goal | Sharper, younger-looking eyes | More open, lifted, refreshed upper face |
| Visible Scarring | Usually hidden in natural fold or completely internal | Hidden in hairline or follows brow line |
How Do the Procedures Differ?
Blepharoplasty is a procedure that involves the precise removal or repositioning of excess skin, muscle, and fat from the eyelids. An upper blepharoplasty focuses on the hooded skin of the upper lid, while a lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags and puffiness.
Learn more about how to treat hooded eyelids.
Brow Lift is a surgery that aims to reposition a sagging brow to a more youthful height. This can be done through several approaches, including an endoscopic brow lift (using small incisions and a camera for minimal scarring) or a more traditional open approach. The goal is to lift the entire brow structure, which can improve the appearance of the upper eyelid when brow descent contributes to heaviness.
Which Delivers the Look You Want?
This is where your specific concerns come into play.
Choose Blepharoplasty if Your main issues are hooded lids that make your eyes look small or heavy, puffy under-eye bags, or excess skin that actually obstructs your peripheral vision. It’s the gold standard for creating a more open, alert, and rested appearance by dealing with the eyelid tissue directly.
Choose a Brow Lift if You are more concerned with a descended brow that makes you look tired or stern, deep horizontal forehead lines, or significant lateral (outer) hooding that seems to be pulled down by the tail of your brow. A successful brow lift creates a more open, approachable, and rejuvenated expression.
It’s important to also understand that both procedures target specific tissues, skin, fat, and the brow position. However, if the core issue is a weakness in the muscle that lifts the eyelid itself then you may be dealing with a condition called ptosis.
This condition isn’t about excess skin, it’s about a malfunctioning muscle. True ptosis requires a distinct surgical procedure. You can learn more about ptosis and its specialised surgery here.
What Are the Recovery Times and Risks for Each Option?
Recovery & Risks for Blepharoplasty:
- Timeline: Bruising and swelling are most noticeable for the first 7-10 days. Most people feel comfortable with social and work activities after 10-14 days.
- Risks: Includes temporary dry eyes, asymmetry, and visible (though well-concealed) scarring along the eyelid crease. Serious complications are rare.
Recovery & Risks for Brow Lift:
- Timeline: Swelling and bruising can be more pronounced initially, often lasting 2-3 weeks. Numbness or altered sensation in the forehead and scalp is common and can take several months to fully resolve.
- Risks: Includes potential for hair loss around incision sites, nerve injury affecting forehead movement (usually temporary), and asymmetry.
How Do You Decide Between Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift?
If you are deciding between eyelid correction surgery and a brow lift, your anatomy is your best guide. Here are some candidacy cues:
Your Brow Position: Is the highest point of your brow below or at your orbital bone (eye socket rim)? If so, a brow lift may be beneficial.
Skin Redundancy: Pinch the skin of your upper eyelid. If there’s a significant fold, blepharoplasty can remove it.
The Photograph Test: Look at a photo of yourself from 10-15 years ago. Where was your brow? How much eyelid did you see?
The Manual Brow Elevation Test: This is the most telling. Hold a mirror and gently lift your brow skin with your fingers. If the hooding improves dramatically, a brow lift might be your solution. If the droopiness persists even with your brow elevated, the problem likely lies in the eyelid itself and may require blepharoplasty or even an assessment for ptosis.
Your own observations are a great starting point, but the only way to be sure is with a professional diagnosis from a qualified surgeon.
Can You Do Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift Together?
Yes, many patients have blepharoplasty and a brow lift together. Eyelid surgery removes excess skin/fat, while a brow lift repositions a low brow. Treating both can refresh the whole eye area so results look balanced.
Your surgeon checks brow position, eyelid skin, and true lid height to decide if a combo suits you. Typically the brow is lifted first, then eyelid skin is tailored precisely. Approaches may be endoscopic (small hidden incisions) or limited-incision, with the lid crease hiding scars.
Recovery is usually straightforward: swelling peaks in week one, most feel public-ready by week two, and refinements continue over weeks. One anaesthetic and one downtime can also be more cost-efficient than two separate surgeries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Blepharoplasty results are long-lasting, often a decade or more, though natural ageing continues. Brow lift results typically last 8–10+ years, depending on skin quality, lifestyle, and sun care. Good skincare, SPF, and not smoking help maintain outcomes.
You may not be a candidate if you have uncontrolled medical conditions, severe dry-eye disease, active eye infections, or you’re unable to pause smoking. Poor wound-healing history or unrealistic expectations can also rule it out. Your surgeon will assess safety and suitability at consultation.
Neither is universally “better”, it depends on the problem. If the brow sits low, a brow lift restores position. If excess eyelid skin/fat is the issue, blepharoplasty is the fix. Many patients benefit from a tailored combination.
A brow lift can reduce heaviness caused by a low or sagging eyebrow, which may indirectly improve the appearance of droopy upper eyelids. However, if the excess skin is on the eyelid itself, only an upper blepharoplasty can remove it.
Potential downsides include temporary forehead tightness, numbness, swelling and, in rare cases, visible scarring or over-elevation of the brows leading to a “surprised” appearance. Most risks are minimised with a conservative, experienced surgeon.
Blepharoplasty is considered a low-risk procedure when performed by a qualified surgeon. Common side effects include bruising and swelling, while serious complications such as infection or vision issues are extremely rare.
