Scarless Lateral Brow Lift: A Modern Solution for Drooping Outer Eyes
Drooping at the outer corners of the eyes is a concern for many — especially as we age. One of the key factors behind this issue is the natural loss of skin elasticity around the upper eyelid area. This can create a tired, aged appearance that affects your overall facial harmony.
However, thanks to continuous advancements in medical technology, today’s cosmetic procedures are safer and more refined than ever before. Patient safety is now a top priority, and treatments are designed with minimal invasiveness in mind. This is why modern individuals — especially the younger generation — are turning to scarless lateral brow liftprocedures to regain a youthful, refreshed look with confidence.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift (Hidden Incision Under the Brow)involves, how it works, and whether it’s the right option for you. Let’s dive into the details together!
What Is a Scarless Lateral Brow Lift (Sub-Brow Lift)?
A drooping outer eyelid, or downward-sloping brow bone structure, can give the face a tired, aged appearance. The Sub-Brow Lift is a surgical technique that corrects this issue by lifting the outer corners of the eyes through a hidden incision made just beneath the eyebrows.
In this procedure, the surgeon carefully places the stitches along the lower edge of the brow, effectively concealing any visible scars. The result is a seamless, natural look — most people won’t even notice you’ve had surgery unless they look very closely. What’s more, the recovery is quick, with minimal swelling or bruising, and patients can even apply makeup immediately after the procedure.
How to Tell If You Have Drooping Outer Eyes: Simple Self-Check Tips
Not sure if your eyes fall into the category of drooping outer eyelids? Here are a few quick ways to check at home to determine if you might benefit from a lateral brow lift:
- When looking in the mirror, the outer corner of your eyes sits noticeably lower than the inner corner. This creates a downward tilt, giving the eyes a droopy appearance.
- The outer upper eyelid appears puffy or heavy, often due to sagging skin and accumulated fat pressing down on the area.
- Your eyes may look sad, tired, or aged, even when you’re well-rested.
- The drooping outer lid pulls down the natural eyelid crease, making the eyes appear smaller or less defined.
- In severe cases, your peripheral vision may be affected. This happens when sagging skin partially covers the outer part of the eyes, reducing side visibility.
What Causes Drooping at the Outer Corners of the Eyes?
Like any facial or physical condition, drooping outer eyelids (also known as lateral hooding or sagging) have underlying causes that can usually be identified. Let’s explore the most common reasons this condition occurs:
- Aging: As we age, skin naturally loses its firmness and elasticity. This includes the delicate skin on the upper eyelids, especially around the outer corners, which can begin to sag noticeably over time.
- Downward Brow Bone Structure: Some individuals naturally have a curved or downward-sloping brow bone, which pulls the outer eye area downward, affecting the overall shape of the eyes.
- Excess Fat Around the Brow Area: An abundance of fat around the brow ridge can push downward on the skin around the outer eyelid, making the area appear heavy or saggy.
- Excess Skin or Fat in the Upper Eyelid: Too much skin or fat on the upper eyelid itself can weigh down the outer corners, resulting in drooping and puffiness that alters the eye’s natural contour.
- Extended Sagging Beyond the Eyelid: In some cases, the sagging extends beyond the eyelid crease into the outer eye area. This excess tissue may not be fully corrected with traditional double eyelid surgery alone, making a sub-brow lift a more suitable option.
What Are the Benefits of the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift (Sub-Brow Lift)?
The Scarless Lateral Brow Lift offers a wide range of benefits for those looking to refresh and rejuvenate their appearance:
- Naturally lifts the outer corners of the eyes to restore a youthful, more awake look.
- Removes excess tissue around the outer eye area, creating a smoother, more even appearance.
- Lifts the eyelid crease, making the eyelids more defined, especially for patients with minimal excess skin or fat.
- Can be combined with double eyelid surgery to create larger, more defined eyes, while reducing the need to make additional incisions around the outer eyelids.
- Slightly lifting the outer corners of the eyes can create a sharper, more defined look.
- Improves facial symmetry, enhancing the overall proportions of the eyes.
- Brightens and rejuvenates the face, giving it a more youthful and fresh appearance.
- No visible scars as the incision is neatly hidden within the natural brow line.
What Issues Can This Procedure Address?
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits, let’s take a closer look at the specific issues the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift can solve:
- Reduces sagging skin around the outer eyelids that causes the “drooping” effect when smiling.
- Minimizes crow’s feet, reducing fine lines around the outer eye area.
- Corrects droopy, sad-looking eyes and restores a more alert expression.
- Reduces excess tissue under the brow bone, creating a more harmonious eye area.
- In cases where the lateral brow lift is combined with double eyelid surgery and inner-eye opening surgery, it helps create a clearer eyelid fold and removes excess skin around the eyes, resulting in brighter, larger eyes.
- Helps naturally lift the outer eye corners, giving the eyes a lifted, youthful appearance.
Limitations of the Sub-Brow Lift Surgery
While the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift is an effective procedure, it does have some limitations:
- It cannot transform a monolid (single eyelid) into a double eyelid.
- If not performed correctly, the incision site might not heal well, and scarring could occur, especially if the surgeon lacks sufficient expertise.
Who is Suitable for the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift?
The structure around each person’s eyes is quite similar, which allows some individuals to correct sagging eyelids with this method. However, it may not be suitable for everyone. In this section, we will discuss who is ideal for this procedure:
- Individuals with mild sagging at the outer corners of the eyes, but without excessive drooping skin.
- Those who already have beautiful double eyelids but are experiencing drooping eyelids as they age, or have had previous double eyelid surgery with good results but are now noticing sagging.
- People who have had double eyelid surgery but still have excess skin and tissue at the outer corners of the eyes, with a pronounced brow bone causing the eyes to look closed.
- Those who have crow’s feet or wrinkles at the outer eye corners.
- Individuals with hidden or falling eyelid folds that make the eyes appear tired or smaller.
- People looking to achieve a natural upward lift of the outer corners of the eyes without affecting the eyebrow position.
However, the surgeon will first analyze the patient’s concerns and assess the most appropriate treatment plan. If the patient has other issues that need to be addressed—such as weak eye muscles causing asymmetry or excess skin in the inner corners of the eyes—then a scarless brow lift may not be the most suitable option.
Can the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift Be Combined with Double Eyelid Surgery?
Yes, combining the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift with double eyelid surgery can be an effective approach. This combination helps lift the outer eye corners while effectively removing excess skin and fat around the eyelids. It results in a more defined eyelid crease, larger eyes, and a more youthful look, while avoiding long incisions at the outer corners of the eyes.
If the patient already has double eyelids without significant excess skin, the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift alone can be used to lift the outer corners naturally, creating an uplifted appearance.
How Long Does It Take to See Results After the Scarless Lateral Brow Lift?
After undergoing any cosmetic surgery, patients want to know when they will start seeing their desired results. Here’s the timeline:
- 4-5 days post-surgery: Mild swelling around the incision site may occur.
- 7 days after the procedure: Stitches are removed, and you can begin wearing makeup—just avoid the eye and eyebrow areas.
- 1 month post-surgery: Full makeup application, including eye and eyebrow areas, is completely safe.
