When you look in the mirror and see tired-looking eyes staring back, you might assume you need an eyelid lift. But if your eyebrows have started to droop, they could be the real culprit behind that heavy, fatigued appearance—and treating only your eyelids might not give you the refreshed look you’re after.
Eugene plastic surgeon Dr. Kiya Movassaghi carefully assesses each patient’s anatomy to determine whether an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), a brow lift, or some combination of both procedures will deliver the best results.
Understanding the Difference: Eyelids vs. Brows
Your upper face is a connected system where the position of your eyebrows directly impacts how your eyelids look. As we age, both areas experience changes that can contribute to a tired or sad appearance.
Eyelid concerns include excess skin that hoods over the upper lid, puffiness or bags beneath the eyes, and loss of definition in the natural eyelid crease. These issues stem from the eyelid tissue itself: sagging skin, herniated fat, or muscle laxity around the eyes.
Brow concerns, on the other hand, involve the position and appearance of your eyebrows and forehead. When your brows descend from their natural position, they push excess skin onto the upper eyelids. This can create what looks like an eyelid problem when the real issue is brow descent. In these cases, you might also notice deep furrows between your eyebrows or horizontal forehead lines that contribute to an angry, worried, or exhausted expression.
How to Tell What You Need: The Mirror Test
Here’s a simple way to determine whether your concerns stem from your eyelids, your brows, or both:
Step 1: Stand in front of a mirror, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Consciously relax your forehead muscles—many people unconsciously hold their eyebrows up to compensate for drooping, without even realizing they’re doing it.
Step 2: Open your eyes slowly without raising your forehead. Look at where your eyebrows naturally rest. If they seem lower than you expected, you might be subconsciously holding them up throughout the day.
Step 3: Place your index fingers along your brows and gently lift them to a more favorable position. If this raises most of the excess skin along your upper eyelids and makes a favorable change in your appearance, a brow lift may be your primary need. If excess skin remains on your eyelids even as you lift your brows, you likely need an eyelid lift as well—or possibly an eyelid lift alone.
This at-home assessment can give you some insight before your consultation, though only a board-certified plastic surgeon can provide a definitive treatment recommendation based on your individual anatomy and goals.
What an Eyelid Lift Can Do
Eyelid surgery addresses the skin, fat, and muscle tissue of the eyelids themselves. Through small, precisely placed incisions hidden in the natural creases of your eyelids, Dr. Movassaghi can remove excess skin, reposition or remove herniated fat, and tighten muscles to create a smoother, more youthful contour.
Upper eyelid surgery focuses on removing sagging skin that creates a hooded appearance or interferes with vision. This procedure restores definition to the upper eyelid crease and creates a more alert, rested look. If you’ve noticed that your field of vision has narrowed due to excess upper eyelid skin, this functional improvement can be life-changing—and may even be covered by insurance.
Lower eyelid surgery addresses puffy bags, dark circles, and sagging skin beneath the eyes. By repositioning fat and removing excess tissue, this procedure eliminates the tired, aged appearance that no amount of sleep seems to fix.
What a Brow Lift Can Do
A brow lift repositions sagging eyebrows to a more youthful position while smoothing forehead wrinkles and softening frown lines. The procedure addresses the underlying cause when low brows are crowding your upper eyelids and creating a heavy, tired look.
Dr. Movassaghi performs brow lifts using an endoscopic technique, which means he makes several small, slit-like incisions just behind the hairline rather than one long incision. Using a thin endoscope with a camera and specialized instruments, he can lift and reposition the forehead tissues with minimal scarring and a faster recovery compared to traditional brow lift techniques.
For patients with high foreheads, incisions can be placed strategically along the hairline to avoid lengthening the forehead further.
When You Need Both Procedures
In many cases, combining eyelid surgery with a brow lift delivers the most natural, comprehensive rejuvenation to the upper face. This is particularly true if:
- Your brows have descended significantly but you also have excess eyelid skin
- You want to address the entire upper third of your face for balanced, harmonious results
- Treating only one area would leave noticeable aging signs in the other
Dr. Movassaghi has developed a unique three-tiered facelift system that incorporates varying levels of brow lifts and eyelid surgery based on the extent of facial aging. This customized approach means your procedure is tailored to your specific anatomy and goals, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
“My mom used Dr. Movassaghi for a face lift, eyelid lift, and brow lift last year and she looks AMAZING at 60 years old. She absolutely loves her results and loves this office and everyone in it.”
What About Men’s Eyelid and Brow Concerns?
Men experience aging in the upper face differently than women, which is why treatment approaches must be tailored accordingly. Male patients typically have thicker upper eyelid skin and fuller brows, which are characteristically masculine features worth preserving.
For men, eyelid surgery often concentrates on the lower lids, with only minimal adjustments to the upper lids if sagging skin impairs vision. A heavier brow is naturally masculine, but when forehead skin begins to sag with age, it can result in a deeply furrowed, angry appearance that adds years to your look.
When performed together, eyelid surgery and brow lift can restore a naturally refreshed appearance for men that reflects health and vitality without appearing “done.”
Making the Right Decision for Your Goals
The relationship between your eyelids and eyebrows is delicate and interconnected. Removing eyelid skin that’s actually descended from the brow can lead to unnatural results and difficulty closing your eyes. This is why choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in upper facial rejuvenation is essential.
Dr. Movassaghi’s background as President of The Aesthetic Society, his dual training in both plastic surgery and maxillofacial surgery, and his 20+ years serving Eugene patients give him the expertise to accurately assess your anatomy and recommend the right approach. During your consultation, he’ll carefully evaluate your brow position, eyelid condition, and overall facial proportions to develop a personalized treatment plan that achieves your aesthetic goals while maintaining natural-looking results.
Dr. Kiya Movassaghi is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 20+ years of experience. He is nationally respected and has served as President of The Aesthetic Society. With his extensive surgical expertise and an exceptional aesthetic eye, he helps patients achieve stunning, natural-looking results.
Contact Movassaghi Plastic Surgery in Eugene at (541) 686-8700 or reach out online to schedule your in-person consultation with Dr. Movassaghi. Virtual consultations are also available, so you can meet with Dr. Movassaghi from the comfort of your own home. We welcome patients from the greater Eugene area, as well as those from out of town!
