You glance in the mirror and notice the skin around your eyes looks a bit tired or droopy—maybe it’s time to consider a cosmetic procedure. But which one will help you look more refreshed: a blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) or a brow lift?

While both procedures focus on rejuvenating the eye area, they do so in different ways. Let’s take a closer look.

Blepharoplasty: Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty targets the skin around the eyes and comes in two main types:

• Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Removes excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper eyelid.
• Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Addresses puffiness and under-eye bags by removing or repositioning fat and tightening loose skin beneath the eyes.

While this procedure can improve some dark circles, it won’t affect those caused by pigmentation or fine lines like crow’s feet. However, these issues can be treated with complementary options such as laser resurfacing, Botox, or fillers.

Brow Lift: Forehead Rejuvenation

As the name suggests, a brow lift works on the upper face—specifically the forehead and brows.

During the procedure, small incisions are typically made near the hairline. From there, tissue, skin, and muscle can be lifted to smooth forehead wrinkles, soften frown lines, and elevate drooping eyebrows.

This creates a more youthful, open look around the eyes. However, a brow lift does not remove excess eyelid skin—though it may improve the appearance of upper eyelid puffiness by lifting the brow itself. Surgery usually takes 1–2 hours and is often paired with other cosmetic enhancements like a facelift, blepharoplasty, or skin resurfacing.

Can You Combine These Procedures??

Yes, blepharoplasty and brow lift procedures can absolutely be combined, and in many cases, doing both provides the most balanced, natural-looking rejuvenation of the upper face.

While each procedure addresses specific issues, combining them can offer more comprehensive results. Sometimes what appears to be excess eyelid skin is actually the result of a sagging brow. In these cases, a brow lift alone might reduce the heaviness. But if there’s still extra skin or puffiness on the eyelids, a blepharoplasty may be needed as well.

Benefits of Combining Both Procedures

• More dramatic, yet natural-looking results

• Improved balance between the forehead, brow, and eyelids

• Single recovery period instead of two separate surgeries

Dr. Jane Kim, a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon, will assess your facial anatomy and goals to determine which procedures are best for you.