Heavy, tired-looking eyes can come from a dropped brow, extra eyelid skin, or both. A brow lift raises the brow; eyelid surgery removes skin from the lid. ASPS puts the average at $5,460 for a brow lift and $3,359 for upper eyelid surgery, before anesthesia and the operating room.
Updated July 2026Reviewed by the Afters Editorial Team
OPTION ABrow Lift
OPTION BEyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
ASPS average, before anesthesia and the OR$5,460$3,359 upper lids · $3,876 lower
RecoveryBack to work in about 1 to 2 weeksBack to work in about 1 to 2 weeks
How long it may lastLong-lasting; no source gives a number of yearsLong-lasting; no source gives a number of years
The differences worth understanding before a consultation.
01
A brow lift moves the brow back up; eyelid surgery removes skin from the lid itself — they fix two different causes of the same tired look
02
The mirror test: gently lift your brow with a finger. If the hooding disappears, your brow is the problem. If skin still folds over the lash line, it’s the lid
03
Many people have some of both, and surgeons often do the two in one operation
04
Either can be covered by insurance when it measurably blocks your vision and meets your plan’s criteria; done for looks, both are cosmetic
AFTERS’ TAKE
A useful verdict should narrow the question—not pretend to make the decision for you.
So, which way should you lean?
Do the mirror test before any consultation: lift the brow with a finger and watch what happens to the hooding. Brow drops need a brow lift, true skin excess needs eyelid surgery, and plenty of people need a little of both. A surgeon who examines your brow position before quoting you eyelid surgery is a surgeon paying attention.
Bring better questions into the room.
A qualified provider should be able to show you where the difference appears in your anatomy, their plan, and their own documented results.
01
“Which problem do you see?”
Ask the provider to name the anatomical issue before recommending the treatment.
02
“Show me patients like me.”
Look for comparable anatomy, goals, and starting points—not simply their most dramatic result.
03
“What would make you say no?”
A thoughtful answer reveals candidacy limits, alternatives, and whether the recommendation is truly personalized.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What patients usually ask next.
01
How do I know if I need a brow lift or eyelid surgery?
Look straight ahead in a mirror and gently lift your eyebrow with one finger. If the heaviness over your eye disappears, your brow has dropped and a brow lift addresses the cause. If skin still folds over your lash line with the brow lifted, that skin excess is what eyelid surgery removes. If both change things, you may benefit from both — a common combination.
02
Can you get a brow lift and eyelid surgery at the same time?
Yes, and it’s common. Combining them means one anesthesia and one recovery. It also protects the result: fixing only the lids when the brow is low can leave you looking tired anyway.
03
Which lasts longer, a brow lift or blepharoplasty?
No source we read gives a number of years for either. Mayo Clinic says brow lift results won’t last forever because skin may droop again with age and sun damage, while Cleveland Clinic calls a brow lift permanent. ASPS calls eyelid surgery long-lasting while you continue to age. Neither stops aging.
04
Will insurance pay for either procedure?
Either can be covered when it measurably blocks your vision and meets your plan’s own criteria: a functional brow lift for a brow drooping onto the lid, or upper eyelid surgery for skin or a low lid in the way. Done for looks, both are cosmetic, and the policies we read treat lower eyelid surgery as cosmetic or nearly so. ASPS says most health insurance plans don’t cover a brow lift. Plans set their own tests, so ask yours before you book.
KEEP RESEARCHING
The right decision should feel clearer, not louder.
Explore documented results, learn what catches your eye, and then find practices near you that do that work often.
