Best candidates

Most people have the operation to get rid of the overhanging folds at the outer half of the upper eyelids and the heavy droop of the eyebrows. These heavy folds cause a dragging feeling in the eyelids and eyebrows, and frequently cause headaches because the frontalis muscle is in a state of constant contraction to lift the eyebrows.

It is now accepted that in some people the standard upper eyelid blepharoplasty operation does not fully correct the excess or redundant tissue in the outer half of the eyelid. This is because some of the skin laxity in this part of the eyelid may be due to redundant skin from the forehead or eyebrow, rather than the eyelid skin itself.

Some people have a browlift to eliminate forehead and frown lines at the same time as a facelift. A browlift has no effect on the lower part of the face - around the cheek folds or the jowls over the lower jaw-line.

It is most common for people in their thirties and forties to have this procedure, but it may be performed on much younger people who may have inherited heavy, droopy eyebrows and fullness in the upper eyelids.