Also called brow ptosis. A low brow that pushes down on the upper lids.
What it is
The brow drops with age, and often sits lowest at its outer end. A low brow pushes down on the upper lid.
Symptoms
Heaviness above the eye, lifting the forehead to see, deep lines across the forehead, and upper lids that look hooded.
Causes
Ageing and gravity, loss of support in the forehead, and sometimes facial weakness on one side.
When to get it checked
Have it checked with your eyelids together, because treating one without the other can look unbalanced.
How it is checked
Every plan starts with an examination by a consultant, not a photograph or a questionnaire.
- Your consultant looks at your brow and lids together, measures where each sits, and shows you what changes when the brow is lifted.
- What your consultant finds is explained in plain English, there and then.
- You leave with a written plan and, where treatment is right for you, a written fee.
- You are never asked to decide on the day.
If surgery is not the right answer, your consultant will say so, and explain what happens if you do nothing.
Questions patients ask
Do I need a referral?
No. You can request a consultation directly. A letter from your GP or optometrist is helpful if you have one, and your insurer may ask for it.
Will I need surgery?
Not always. Your consultant will explain whether treatment is needed, what each option involves, and what happens if you do nothing.
What happens at the consultation?
Your consultant looks at your brow and lids together, measures where each sits, and shows you what changes when the brow is lifted. You leave with a written plan and fee, and time to decide.
How soon can I be seen?
The clinic team will offer the first suitable appointment, and sooner where your consultant judges it urgent.