Eyelid surgery and brow lifts are some of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures available. The reason that they are so popular is because they can help eliminate deep forehead wrinkles and furrows and the sagging tissue above the eyes – all characteristics that can make a person appear tired, angry, sad or older than they should. The results of these procedures can help patients look younger, more alert, vibrant and energetic. In extreme cases, an eyelid lift can also help patients with considerable eyelid sagging to see more clearly.

So, what factors should you consider when deciding if you are good candidate for eyelid surgery, a brow lift or both? Dr. Robert V. Mandraccia, a successful plastic surgeon whose practice resides in Bonita Springs, Florida, helps explain the difference between the two procedures and when they are most beneficial.

“If you have wrinkles or furrows in the forehead region, but have relatively few signs of aging on the lower half of your face, then a brow lift is a cosmetic surgery option to consider,” says Mandraccia. “During a brow lift excess skin of your forehead is removed and the muscles are tightened. Oftentimes a brow lift can also help lift sagging skin above your eyes if that sagging is relatively minimal. But, if you have a good deal of fatty tissue and sagging skin on your eyelids, a brow lift may not be able an effective solution.

For patients who do have excessive eyelid fat and skin, a blepharoplasty , or eyelid surgery is usually recommended. During a blepharolplasty, surgeon like Dr. Mandraccia will remove the excess skin and fatty tissue through a small incision placed on a natural crease in your eyelid. The results of eyelid surgery can be very dramatic, making the eyes appear much more youthful without any noticeable scarring.

If a patient has moderate signs of aging in the forehead and eye region as well as noticeable sign of aging on the lower half of the face, Dr. Mandraccia may recommend that a patient undergo a facelift at the same time as an eyelift or brow lift.

“The danger in performing a brow or eye lift on a patient with sagging jowls or wrinkles on the lower half of the face and neck is that the face will not look consistent after surgery,” says Dr. Mandraccia. “This can be a telltale sign that a patient has had cosmetic surgery and the overall results are not usually as desirable. If this is the case, I would recommend a facelift or facial liposculpture to be done at the same time so the entire face and neck region is uniform.”