Face
Refresh tired, heavy upper eyes and a sagging brow so you look as rested as you feel.
Eyelid Tuck & Brow Lift
If people keep telling you that you look tired when you feel fine, the upper third of your face is often the reason. Loose skin on the eyelids and a brow that has dropped over the years can make you look worn out, even angry, no matter how well-rested you are. An eyelid tuck, also called blepharoplasty, removes the excess skin and puffiness around the eyes, and a brow lift raises a heavy, sagging brow back to a natural position. The two are often done together because they address the same area from different angles.
At his Denver practice, Dr. Jason Martin treats the upper face as a connected whole, so the result looks balanced rather than over-corrected. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he also offers minimally invasive options like AccuTite for patients whose changes are still mild.
At a Glance
These are typical starting points. Dr. Martin confirms the specifics for your case at your consultation.
About 1 to 2 hours for eyelid surgery or a brow lift; 2 to 3 hours when combined.
Bruising and swelling peak in the first few days; most people return to work and social plans in about 10 to 14 days.
A refreshed look appears as swelling settles.
Hidden in the natural eyelid crease for blepharoplasty, and within or behind the hairline for a brow lift.
Spans a single eyelid procedure to a combined eyelid and brow lift; upper eyelid surgery is sometimes covered by insurance.
What they address
These procedures treat two related changes in the upper face.
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) removes excess skin and repositions or removes the small pockets of fat that cause puffiness. On the upper lids, it clears the hooded skin that can hang over your lash line and even crowd your field of vision. On the lower lids, it smooths the bags and puffiness under the eyes that make you look tired.
A brow lift addresses the eyebrows and forehead. As the brow descends with age, it pushes down on the upper eyelids and deepens the lines between the brows, which creates a heavy or stern look. Raising the brow back to a natural height refreshes the whole upper face and often improves the hooding that eyelid surgery alone cannot fully fix.
When the brow has dropped and the eyelids are heavy at the same time, doing both gives a more balanced and lasting result than treating either one alone.
Your options
The right choice depends on what is causing the heaviness and how much change you need.
Upper blepharoplasty is best when loose, hooded skin on the upper lids is the main concern.
It removes the excess skin and any puffiness so the eyes look open and rested. This is the most common eyelid procedure and often the single biggest change for a tired-looking upper face.
Lower blepharoplasty is best for bags and puffiness under the eyes.
It smooths the under-eye area by removing or repositioning fat and tightening loose skin.
A brow lift is best when a dropped, heavy brow is pushing down on the eyes.
It raises the brow to a natural position, which refreshes the forehead and reduces the hooding that eyelid surgery alone leaves behind. Eyelid surgery and a brow lift are frequently combined for this reason.
AccuTite is best for mild, early laxity around the eyes when surgery is more than you need.
It uses precise radiofrequency energy to tighten the delicate skin around the eyes through a tiny entry point, with far less downtime than surgery. It does less than blepharoplasty when there is significant excess skin, and Dr. Martin will tell you honestly which one fits.
Candidacy
You may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery or a brow lift if you have loose or hooded upper-eyelid skin, under-eye bags, or a heavy, dropped brow, you are in good general health, and you want a refreshed, natural result. Most patients are in their 40s and beyond, though heavy upper lids can appear earlier and run in families.
You are likely a good candidate if you:
These procedures are honest about what they do. They refresh the upper face and open up tired eyes; they do not stop you from aging or change the fundamental shape of your eyes. If your changes are mild and driven by early skin laxity, a minimally invasive option like AccuTite may be all you need right now, and part of an honest consultation is saying so.
Experience & judgment
Dr. Martin evaluates the brow and the eyelids together, because lifting one without considering the other can leave a result that looks incomplete. He plans the amount of skin to remove conservatively, since the eyes are an area where over-correction is obvious and hard to undo.
What he brings to that work
The procedure, step by step
Eyelid surgery and brow lifts are usually done as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia. The steps depend on what you are having done:
the incision is placed in the natural crease of the upper lid, where it heals as a hidden line, and the excess skin and any puffiness are removed.
the incision is hidden just below the lash line or inside the lid, and the under-eye fat is smoothed or repositioned.
small incisions are placed within or behind the hairline, and the brow is repositioned to a natural height.
with fine sutures to keep the scars thin and well hidden.
Recovery
Recovery from eyelid surgery and brow lifts is usually easier than people expect. The pattern below is typical; Dr. Martin gives you specific instructions for your case.
The first few days
Bruising and swelling around the eyes peak. Cool compresses and keeping your head elevated help it settle faster. Discomfort is usually mild.
About 5 to 7 days
Eyelid sutures generally come out, and the bruising begins to fade.
About 10 to 14 days
Most people feel ready to return to work and social activities, with any remaining bruising easy to conceal.
Weeks to months
The last of the swelling resolves and your final, refreshed result settles in over about 6 to 8 weeks.
The last of the swelling resolves and your final, refreshed result settles in over about 6 to 8 weeks.
Investment
In Denver, an eyelid and brow lift generally runs from about $4,000 to $12,000, depending on whether one or both procedures are done and which areas are treated, along with anesthesia and facility fees. One important note: upper eyelid surgery is sometimes covered by insurance when the hooding is heavy enough to interfere with your vision, and our team can help you find out whether you qualify for that.
At your consultation you will receive a clear, itemized quote for your specific plan, and our team will walk you through financing options so the cost fits your budget.
Common questions
An eyelid and brow lift in Denver generally runs from about $4,000 to $12,000, depending on whether you have upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or a combination, along with anesthesia and facility fees. Upper eyelid surgery is sometimes covered by insurance when heavy hooding affects your vision. You will receive an itemized quote for your specific plan at your consultation, with financing options available.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery is not covered, but upper blepharoplasty can be covered when the excess skin is heavy enough to obstruct your vision, which makes it a functional problem rather than a cosmetic one. Our team can help you determine whether your case may qualify and how to document it.
An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) removes excess skin and puffiness from the eyelids themselves. A brow lift raises a dropped, heavy eyebrow back to a natural position. A low brow often pushes down on the upper lids, so when both are involved, combining the two gives a more complete result than either alone.
A brow lift helps with hooding that comes from a dropped brow pressing on the upper lids. When the hooding is caused mostly by excess eyelid skin, upper blepharoplasty is the answer. Many patients have both, which is why Dr. Martin evaluates the brow and eyelids together.
For mild, early laxity, a minimally invasive option like AccuTite can tighten the delicate skin around the eyes with much less downtime than surgery. When there is significant excess skin, surgery gives a better and longer-lasting result. The consultation is where Dr. Martin tells you which one fits your eyes.
Blepharoplasty results typically last 10 to 15 years, and many patients never need it done again. A brow lift generally lasts around 10 years. Your eyes continue to age naturally over time, so the procedure is a lasting refresh from a younger starting point.
There is no single right age. Most patients are in their 40s and beyond, but heavy upper lids can appear earlier and often run in families, so the right time is when the changes bother you and you are in good health.
Begin
The best way to know whether eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or a minimally invasive option is right for you is an exam with the surgeon who performs them. Dr. Martin will assess your eyes and brow together, explain your options in plain terms, and build a plan around your goals. Take our virtual consultation to get started, or call our Denver office at (303) 321-1439 to schedule your visit.
(303) 321-1439