My eyebrow is sagging. How can I fix it without surgery? (Photo)

Question

My right eyebrow is starting to sag and it is getting worse. Somewhere over the past five years it has slowly started sagging. I can lift the eyebrow (together) but I can't lift it separately, however, I can lift the other one by itself. I tried Botox but all that was done was lower the left one. I don't want to lower my eyebrows but raise my "sagging" one. What can I do to raise that eyebrow? Does Botox not work? Do I need to work the muscle more?

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

There is usually an underlying hidden upper eyelid ptosis (droopiness) which causes one eyebrow to raise significantly more than the other so you should see an oculoplastic specialist for evaluation of eyelid ptosis before considering brow lift surgery.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Sometimes fillers work for this however, I find that brow lifting if more permanent and ultherapy/thermage or other heating technologies work for a short time and are a noninvasive alternative.  I suggest a formal consultation with an expert.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi TOB.  Both surgery and Botox (Dysport) injections are options.  If the lower brow moved downward after your Botox visit then your injector did not know how to perform a Botox Browlift as this procedure lifts the brow instead of dropping the other.  To see an example of the Botox (Dysport) browlift, click on the link below.

Juan Carlos Fuentes, MD · Answer

In your case there is an asymmetry between your brows, the left is too low, and also the frontalis muscle is stronger on the right side, so the left side being lower and not as strong will not lift the eyebrow enough to make it symmetrical with the right side. Without surgery you can lower the right brow and you can get some botox in the orbicularis oculi muscle and in an specific point of the frontalis muscle, so they brows can get more symmetrical with a small eyebrow lift, but this may not me more than 2mm.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Only a Mini Brow lift will give you the result you want. This can be done under local anesthetic and a few days downtime possibly. If it could be done without surgery everybody would have it done that way. See a very experienced brown lift surgeon for this.

Sheryl D. Clark, MD, FAAD · Answer

Dear ThatOneBrow:If  you want to lift the brow on one side only, you will want to investigate #Ultherapy.  Focused ultrasound lines of energy can be delivered in the brow area and above it on the side that is lower only. My patients are very happy with the treatment of this common problem.Wishing you all the best,Dr, Clark

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many Browlifts over the past 30 years and suspect that both of your eyebrows are in a low aesthetic position.  An in person or skype consultation could verify that.  A Browlift will raies both eyebrows into their proper aesthetic position.  This frequently means lifting one brow higher than the other when asymmetry of position between the brows exists, as appears to true in your case.  You can certainly try a low dose of Botox, injected into the tail of the lower eyebrow to see if that area will be lifted.  Hope this helps.

My eyebrow is sagging. How can I fix it without surgery? (Photo)

Answers (7)