Blepharoplasty + Brow Lift: Why Evaluating the Brow Matters
When patients consult about tired-looking eyes or heavy upper eyelids, many assume eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) alone will solve the problem. However, drooping eyebrows often contribute to, or even cause, the appearance of excess eyelid skin. Without evaluating brow position, eyelid lift surgery may address only part of the problem, leaving you with incomplete results.
Here, Fort Worth Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby explains why a comprehensive assessment of both the eyelids and brows is essential for optimal eye rejuvenation.
The brow-eyelid connection: Why they work together
Your eyebrows and eyelids function as an interconnected aesthetic unit. The position of your brows directly affects how your upper eyelids look, and vice versa. As you age, both areas change:
- Brows gradually descend due to weakening of the forehead tissues and loss of skin elasticity
- Upper eyelid skin stretches and becomes loose
- Fat pads in the eyelids may bulge or shift
- The combined effect creates a heavy, tired appearance that ages the entire upper face
When drooping brows push down on the upper eyelids, they create or worsen the appearance of excess eyelid skin. This means what looks like an eyelid problem may actually be (at least partially) a brow problem.
What happens when brow position is not evaluated?
Treating the eyelids without addressing significant brow descent can lead to several issues:
Incomplete improvement
If your upper eyelid heaviness stems largely from low-sitting brows, removing eyelid skin alone will not restore a refreshed, open appearance. Your eyes may still look hooded or tired because the underlying problem, the descended brow, remains untreated.
Unnatural appearance
Removing excessive amounts of upper eyelid skin to compensate for drooping brows can create an overly operated look. The eyelids may appear hollow or “scooped out,” and you may have difficulty closing your eyes fully. This approach trades one aesthetic problem for another.
Brow descent continues
Brow descent is a progressive process. If blepharoplasty is performed without addressing the brows, continued brow lowering over the following years will push more tissue onto the eyelids and cause the heavy appearance to return sooner than it would have with combined treatment.
How Dr. Kirby evaluates brow position
During your Fort Worth eyelid lift consultation, Dr. Kirby carefully assesses both your eyelids and your brow position to determine the true source of your concerns:
Brow height and shape
Dr. Kirby evaluates where your brows sit in relation to the orbital rim (the bony ridge above your eye). In women and men, the ideal position is different.
If your brows have descended below the appropriate landmarks, a brow lift or brow pexy may be recommended to restore proper position and create an open, refreshed look.
The “brow lift test”
Dr. Kirby gently lifts your brows to their ideal position to reveal:
- How much of your upper eyelid heaviness is caused by brow descent versus excess eyelid skin
- Whether lifting the brows alone would sufficiently open the eyes
- Whether excess eyelid skin would remain even with optimal brow position
She uses this maneuver to help explain the best surgical plan for your anatomy, so you feel informed and confident moving forward.
Forehead function
Dr. Kirby observes how you use your forehead muscles. Many people unconsciously raise their eyebrows to lift drooping brows and improve their field of vision. If you constantly elevate your brows to compensate for descent, you likely have deepened horizontal forehead lines, and eyelid surgery alone will not address the underlying problem. If brows are not addressed, once the surgical swelling subsides, you will resume raising your brows, and the eyelid heaviness will persist.
“Dr. Kirby is very thorough and professional in her assessments and explanations. She does amazing work and I would choose her again any day of the week! Delaney and Shannon and the entire staff are on the ball with everything! They are very caring, thoughtful and so quick to answer any and all questions either by phone, email or text. The facility is amazing and very private! I highly recommend KPS to anyone!”
When blepharoplasty alone is appropriate
Not everyone needs a brow lift. Upper blepharoplasty alone works well when:
- Your brows sit at or near their ideal position
- The primary concern is excess upper eyelid skin and fat
- The “brow lift test” shows that lifting the brows adds minimal improvement
In these cases, removing excess eyelid skin and addressing fat deposits achieves the refreshed, open appearance you want without additional surgery.
When a brow lift is necessary
A Fort Worth brow lift becomes essential when:
- Your brows have descended significantly below the orbital rim
- You constantly raise your brows to improve your vision or appearance
- Deep horizontal forehead lines have developed from chronic brow elevation
- The “brow lift test” demonstrates that most of your eyelid heaviness results from brow drooping
Brow lift techniques vary based on your anatomy and goals. Dr. Kirby offers several approaches to personalize your procedure and results.
The benefits of combining blepharoplasty and brow lift
When your consultation reveals that both procedures are needed, treating the eyelids and brows as a unified aesthetic unit ensures your entire upper face looks refreshed and proportionate. This approach allows Dr. Kirby to remove the appropriate amount of eyelid skin based on your optimal brow position for ideal, long-lasting results.
Related: Why Eyelid Lifts + Brow Lifts Are Hot in Hollywood Right Now
Expert eye rejuvenation in Fort Worth
Dr. Kirby takes time to assess your unique anatomy and recommend the treatment, or combination of treatments, that will help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Call or text our Fort Worth plastic surgery office at 817-292-4200 to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Emily Kirby to learn more about the right approach for you.
