15 Jun 2026 | by Akshay Sanan, MD, FACS
The skin around the eyes is incredibly delicate which can make it more vulnerable to the ravages of time. Furthermore, the eyes are one of the primary vehicles for expressing your emotions. Every time that you laugh, scowl, frown or smile, the skin and tissues in this area get a workout. Add in lifestyle choices, such as sun exposure, and it’s easy to understand why the eyes tend to be where patients first notice the earliest signs of aging. The good news is that rejuvenating the eyes can make your entire face look more rested, vital and youthful. But if you’ve gone online to investigate options, you may find yourself confused as to whether you have heavy eyelids or drooping brows. Do you need an upper blepharoplasty or a brow lift?
Upper Blepharoplasty or Brow Lift?
As a Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, figuring out the best treatment plan for rejuvenating your face is my job. And I say face because even though the eyes may be what brings you in to my Boston area practice, all of your features work together. Facial rejuvenation is really about restoring proper proportion between said features. During your consultation, I will listen to what bothers you about your appearance. We will discuss, in detail, your medical history, family history, lifestyle, and any prior procedures, aesthetic or not, as well as how your body recovered. Then, I’ll conduct a physical exam to assess your:
• Skin tone & texture
• Location & degree of loose, sagging skin
• Volume loss in under eye area and/or temples
• Proportional relationship between upper & lower face
Your upper eyelids and brows work together so it is not atypical for me to address both as part of your treatment plan. However, there are distinctions between aging in each area. If you lift the skin and tissues above your brows and this improves the appearance of any “hooding” in the upper eyelid then you are probably a better candidate for a brow lift. However, if a noticeable amount of excess skin still remains on your lids then you may be better suited for an upper blepharoplasty.
Benefits of an Upper Blepharoplasty in Boston
Blepharoplasty is the medical term for eyelid surgery. It can be performed on the upper lid, lower lid or both. The benefits of an upper blepharoplasty are extensive.
They include:
• Excise loose skin to improve the appearance of “hooded” eyes
• Remove sagging skin that may be obstructing your peripheral vision
• Deliver a natural looking result with incision hidden within crease of eye
• Restore a more vital, awake and youthful appearance to your eyes
As discussed, age may adversely affect the delicate tissues of your upper eyelid, resulting in drooping skin that can make your eyes look tired. However, even younger patients may have issues with hooded upper eyelids as a heaviness in this area is often genetic.
Brow Lift to Rejuvenate Upper Face
As the name implies, a brow lift is an aesthetic procedure to rejuvenate your forehead. While patients of all ages often get Botox® for forehead lines, a neurotoxin cannot lift loose skin. If you’ve noticed that the eyebrows on your favorite influencer or celebrity seem flatter, changing the shape of their eyes, this is often the result of using Botox® instead of a surgical brow lift. My goal with any aesthetic procedure is to deliver a very elegant, natural looking result. I don’t want anyone to recognize that you’ve had “work” unless you decide to tell them. A well done brow lift can lift and smooth the wrinkles in your forehead and subtly lift your eyebrows without making you look perpetually surprised. So, if you are tired
of looking tired or angry when you’re not, it might be a good time to come in and discuss your options.
To find out more about an upper blepharoplasty, brow lift, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
