The cat eyebrow lift is a recent beauty trend that has been spotted on Hollywood celebrities, runway models and Instagram influencers. The phenomenon refers to a slight upturn at the outer eye corners that can give your eyes a sleek, lifted and subtle cat-eye appearance.
But what exactly is this mysterious cat eye lift that’s causing such a buzz? Is it some tightly guarded beauty secret that only some lucky few know about? Fortunately, it’s not.
Anyone can achieve the cat eye lift. In fact, many plastic surgeons and aesthetic clinics across the country now offer the cat eye procedure.
The Fancy (Medical) Name is Endoscopic Brow Lift
There are several ways to achieve the cat eye look. Brow lift surgery is one of them. This surgical procedure is not new but has been around for many decades. What has changed, however, is the advanced technique.
Even as recently as a decade ago plastic surgeons used to make one large incision in the hairline, spanning from ear to ear. The entire brow would be lifted and repositioned to achieve a more youthful look, counteract the effects of gravity, reduce wrinkles and tighten skin.
For the most part, the traditional brow lift is a thing of the past. Enter the endoscopic brow lift, a much less invasive approach to brow rejuvenation. Instead of making one large coronal incision, 2-4 smaller cuts are made in the hairline. Any alterations to the eye muscles and anatomy are administered endoscopically – using a camera and probes.
Endoscopic plastic surgery has been a game-changer for both patients and surgeons. With this new ‘gentler’ technique patients can achieve the cat eye lift and look more refreshed with less downtime. When it comes to brow lift surgery, Dr. Cat’s philosophy is to give each patient the best results possible while preserving a natural and harmonious appearance.
How Cat Eye Lift Surgery is Performed
A traditional endoscopic brow lift won’t necessarily give you the cat eye look. Then what is a cat eye lift, you ask? It’s still brow lift surgery but only instead of making small incisions in the middle and above the forehead, they are placed more to the sides. If you draw a line from the corner of your eyebrow into the hairline that’s where your incisions will go.
This specialized technique allows your surgeon to create the classic slanted shape of the cat eye lift by repositioning the outer (lateral) corners of the eyebrow only and not the whole brow. It’s a subtle change – only about 2 mm – but it makes a big impact visually.
It’s Not the Same as Blepharoplasty
With so many procedures out there, it’s easy to confuse the endoscopic brow lift with another popular surgery called blepharoplasty. Excess skin is removed from the upper or lower eyelids during a blepharoplasty to open up the eyes and give them a more rejuvenated appearance.
Surgeons may choose to perform a brow lift and blepharoplasty at the same time if a patient has excess skin on their eyelids. Doing so can produce a much better outcome overall as these two procedures complement one another. Keep in mind that only the lateral endoscopic brow lift can create the cat eyebrow lift.
What Are the Benefits of Cat Eye Lift Surgery?
A brow lift performed endoscopically is much less invasive and risky than older techniques. There is less chance of developing serious complications such as infection, bleeding, slow wound healing, scarring, asymmetry and unfavorable results.
The recovery is also much faster and easier. Undergoing an endoscopic brow lift, or any endoscopic plastic surgery procedure, makes for a much more pleasing healing experience. That’s because the recovery process takes less time and patients are back at work or return to their normal activities within one week post-op.
Cat Eyebrow Lift: Little Details Make a Big Difference
According to Dr. Cat, a highly trained and skilled plastic surgeon, the biggest advantage of the endoscopic brow lift is how exact it can be. To benefit her patients, she uses the exceptional precision required by the technique to her advantage.
When performing the cat eyebrow lift, Dr. Cat focuses all her attention on every patient, always striving to exceed their expectations. Her meticulous surgical approach and gentle touch ensures that patients experience less pain, swelling, bruising and overall discomfort post-op.
What Can I Expect After the Cat Eye Procedure?
Recovery and downtime following the cat eyebrow lift is usually two weeks. When you arrive home post-op you’ll be wearing a dressing over your head and eye area. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may experience a headache or pain at the incision sites. Make sure to rest and take your pain medication as directed.
For the first week, it’s normal to have some swelling, bruising and overall discomfort. Your vision may be blurred for a few days. You may be asked to sleep upright and elevate your head to minimize swelling. To prevent bleeding and infection, make sure to keep the area dry and clean until you’re given the go ahead to bathe.
The second week of recovery should go much more smoothly. Most swelling, bruising and discomfort should have been resolved. You’ll be able to resume most activities at this time except strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and using steam/sauna.
Will I Have a Scar?
With any surgical procedure where incisions are required there will be a scar. Fortunately, endoscopic brow lift incisions are carefully hidden well within the hairline. Furthermore, Dr. Cat executes her incision closures so meticulously that any scars are minimal and barely noticeable after they have healed.
Some patients may experience temporary hair loss near the incision closure. During this time scars may be more visible than usual. After about 4-6 months all the hair should regrow to fully conceal the scars.
What is the Cat Eye Thread Lift?
Another trendy procedure to achieve the cat eyebrow lift is using absorbable surgical sutures or ‘threads.’ These can be made of PDO (Polydioxanone) or PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid).
How does the cat eye thread lift work? The threads are inserted under the skin through a pilot hole using a cannula. Depending on the threads, they can have bi-directional barbs or cones, which act as anchors to pull, lift and reposition the skin at the outer corners of the eyes.
Threads Vs. Brow Lift
The biggest problem with threads is how temporary they are. They’re supposed to last anywhere from 6-9 months but for many people that’s not always the case. Simply stated, the number one complaint from patients is that their cat eye thread lift only lasted a couple of months.
Considering the high cost of threads, and the discomfort of having to undergo the thread lift procedure, it can be very disappointing for patients when the cat eye effect doesn’t last.
Poor longevity aside, threads can have their own share of problems as well. Asymmetry is the biggest one as sometimes the threads can break or absorb at different rates from one side to the next. Sometimes they can look pulled or puckered, and in rare cases they can make the face look distorted.
Compare that to a much lower risk of complications with cat eye lift surgery, which can last upwards of five years, and it’s clear to see why the surgical route may be a better and longer-lasting option if you’re considering a cat eyebrow lift.
For more information about our services or general questions give us a call at 310-858-8808.
You can also reach us by email at [email protected]. Use this link to book a pre-consultation phone call: https://beautybydrcat.com/book-consultation.
