As a plastic surgeon, I have seen firsthand the impact that cosmetic procedures can have on a person's self-esteem and confidence. However, when it comes to procedures like brow lifts, it is important to consider the unique needs and characteristics of each individual patient, especially those with melanin-rich skin.
The Importance of Understanding Melanin-Rich Skin
Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin, hair, and eyes. It is produced by cells called melanocytes and is responsible for protecting our skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. People with melanin-rich skin have higher levels of melanin, which can make their skin more prone to scarring and hyperpigmentation.
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, it is crucial to understand how melanin-rich skin may react differently compared to lighter skin tones. This understanding is essential in achieving optimal results and avoiding potential complications.
The Challenges of Brow Lifts on Melanin-Rich Skin
Brow lifts are a popular cosmetic procedure that can help improve the appearance of sagging or drooping eyebrows. However, on melanin-rich skin, there are some unique challenges that must be considered.
One of the main challenges is scarring. People with darker skin tones are more prone to developing keloid scars, which are raised and often darker than the surrounding skin. This can be a concern for brow lift incisions, as they are typically made along the hairline or in the scalp. If not done carefully, these incisions can result in noticeable scarring.
Another challenge is hyperpigmentation. Any trauma or injury to the skin can cause an increase in melanin production, leading to dark spots or patches on the skin. This is especially true for people with melanin-rich skin. Therefore, it is crucial to take extra precautions during and after a brow lift procedure to minimize the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Tailoring Aesthetic Results for Diverse Faces
When it comes to brow lifts on melanin-rich skin, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each patient's unique facial features and skin characteristics must be taken into account to achieve the best possible results.
One way to tailor aesthetic results for diverse faces is by using different techniques for brow lifts. For example, instead of making incisions along the hairline, a surgeon may opt for a transblepharoplasty approach, which involves making incisions in the upper eyelid crease. This technique can help minimize scarring and reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Another important factor to consider is the amount of tension placed on the incisions during the procedure. Too much tension can lead to wider scars and an increased risk of hyperpigmentation. Therefore, surgeons must be careful not to over-tighten the skin during a brow lift on melanin-rich skin.
The Role of Post-Operative Care
Post-operative care is crucial for achieving optimal results and minimizing complications for any cosmetic procedure. However, it is especially important for patients with melanin-rich skin undergoing a brow lift.
Surgeons must provide detailed instructions on how to care for the incisions and manage any potential side effects, such as swelling or bruising. They may also recommend specific skincare products or treatments to help minimize scarring and hyperpigmentation.
It is also essential for patients to follow these instructions carefully and attend all follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and address any concerns.
The Importance of Diversity in the Aesthetic Industry
As a plastic surgeon, I believe it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the diversity of our patients. This includes understanding the unique needs and characteristics of different skin tones and tailoring our approach to cosmetic procedures accordingly.
Furthermore, it is essential for the aesthetic industry as a whole to embrace diversity and promote inclusivity. This means not only considering the needs of patients with melanin-rich skin but also ensuring that there is diversity among plastic surgeons and other professionals in the industry.
The Gap in Representation: Aesthetic Medicine’s Blind Spot
While cosmetic medicine has advanced rapidly in the past two decades, diversity in application and representation has lagged behind.
For years, training materials and clinical trials focused on lighter skin phototypes (Fitzpatrick I–III), often ignoring how melanin-rich skin reacts to procedures, heals, or even expresses age.
This gap has real-world consequences:
Hyperpigmentation risk is often overlooked in melanin-rich skin post-procedure.
Facial anatomy, such as brow position, forehead curvature, and skin thickness, differs across ethnicities.
Visual outcomes are often measured by Eurocentric ideals (e.g. high-arched brows), which don’t suit all faces.
What’s needed is not just better representation—but tailored technique, deep anatomical knowledge, and cultural sensitivity.
How Brow Position Varies Across Skin Tones and Ethnicities
In melanin-rich skin tones—ranging from South Asian to Middle Eastern, Black African, Afro-Caribbean, and Latinx populations—there is often:
A lower natural brow position
Thicker dermal layers, which resist change more than thinner, lighter skin
More melanin activity, increasing the chance of pigment changes if not handled correctly
Less visible ageing in terms of fine lines, but more volume descent and heaviness around the eyes
A standard brow lift approach—especially if aggressive—can distort natural harmony, exaggerate asymmetries, or lead to artificial results. This is where expert, subtle adjustment becomes key.
The Chemical Brow Lift: A Safer, Customisable Option
The Chemical Brow Lift is a non-surgical technique using targeted neuromodulators (e.g. botulinum toxin) to relax the brow depressor muscles, allowing the brow elevators to gently lift the brow.
It’s an ideal solution for clients with melanin-rich skin because:
No incisions or skin disruption (so no post-procedure pigmentation risk)
No downtime, which suits busy lifestyles
Fully adjustable to suit your unique facial proportions and expression
Results are subtle and natural, enhancing your own features without overwriting them
This treatment works especially well when performed with precision—something Mesglo has become known for among its diverse clientele.
Why Mesglo Leads in Inclusive Aesthetic Practice
At Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic in Marylebone, inclusive aesthetics isn’t a marketing angle—it’s a clinical principle. The team approaches every face as a unique structure, shaped by heritage, genetics, lifestyle, and culture.
Here’s how Mesglo ensures success for clients with melanin-rich skin:
???? Anatomy-Informed Planning
Their practitioners study facial differences across ethnicities, not just in textbooks but through lived experience and advanced medical training. This means better precision in product placement, dose, and facial mapping.
???? Bespoke Aesthetic Goals
At Mesglo, you won’t be forced into a “one ideal brow shape” mould. Your personal preferences, identity, and cultural aesthetics are at the heart of your treatment plan.
???? Skin-Safe Techniques
Mesglo uses ultra-refined injection techniques to avoid bruising, irritation, and pigment disruption—especially vital for Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin types.
???? Empathetic Consultation
Many clients with darker skin tones have felt dismissed or misunderstood at other clinics. Mesglo’s practitioners listen carefully to your concerns, desires, and hesitations—creating a space where you’re seen and respected.
Client Stories: Aesthetic Empowerment Without Compromise
“I always hesitated with aesthetic treatments because I didn’t see women who looked like me in any of the before-and-afters. But at Mesglo, they really understood my features, and the lift gave me such a fresh, awake look—without changing who I am.”
— Amani, 37, British-Nigerian marketing director
“I’ve got deeper set eyes and thick brows—I didn’t want them overarched or surprised-looking. Mesglo gave me the tiniest lift, and it changed how people interact with me in meetings. I feel sharp again.”
— Rashid, 42, tech entrepreneur
These aren’t just cosmetic improvements. They’re acts of self-expression—made possible by skilled, inclusive aesthetic artistry.
External Authority: The Need for Representation in Cosmetic Dermatology
A 2021 study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open highlighted the lack of diversity in dermatology and aesthetic training, concluding that “greater focus on skin-of-colour dermatology is urgently needed.”
???? Read the full study here
This highlights the importance of seeking out clinics like Mesglo that prioritise advanced, inclusive training.
Subtle Enhancements, Bold Confidence
It’s not about changing your identity—it’s about honouring your natural features and showing up as your most confident, expressive self.
At Mesglo, the goal is never to erase what makes you unique. Instead, the team works with your facial structure, skin tone, and lifestyle to deliver a brow lift that:
Opens up your expression
Restores youthful energy
Keeps your identity intact
You don’t have to compromise safety or expression to enjoy aesthetic treatments. When done right, especially by inclusive experts, the Chemical Brow Lift becomes a quiet revolution for those long overlooked in beauty spaces.
Conclusion: Inclusive Aesthetics is the Future—And It Starts at the Brow
The world is finally starting to understand that true beauty includes all skin tones, all bone structures, all stories. For too long, aesthetic medicine ignored the nuances of melanin-rich skin. But the tide is turning.
At Mesglo in Marylebone, the future has already arrived. With deep knowledge, refined skill, and a human-centred approach, they offer non-surgical brow lifts that elevate more than your brows—they elevate your experience.
✨ Ready to see how the Chemical Brow Lift can enhance your natural features?
Book a consultation with Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic today.
Feel seen. Feel understood. Look exactly like yourself—only fresher.
