There are a few different solutions for getting rid of hooded eyelids. The most effective is surgery to lift the brow. Some people just naturally have hooded eyelids while for others it’s caused by aging. Many patients come in because they want to look more refreshed and feel their hooded eyes make them look tired or angry.
What causes hooded eyelids?
Aging is the main cause of hooded eyelids. It is often due to hyper squeezing, squinting and frowning of the muscles around the eyes, as well as lax skin that causes the skin under the brow to sag. Excess skin or fat in the upper eyelids are also contributors to the hooded effect.
The first thing I do is consult with my patients to give them the best options. Some people may think they have hooded eyelids, but in reality their brows are drooping, so for them I would do a brow lift. For others, excessive skin on the actual upper eyelid is causing the hooding. For those patients I would remove the redundant skin with an upper blepharoplasty. Sometimes, there’s a combination of both eyebrow drooping and excessive upper eyelid skin. This is when a brow lift combined with an upper blepharoplasty works best.
There are also cases where the hooding is caused by weakening in the muscle which causes the eyelid to fall down over the eyeball covering too much of the eye. This is called ptosis or a ptotic eyelid. In this case, surgery to lift the eyelid margin and tighten the eyelid muscles does the trick.
How can I tighten the skin on my upper eyelids?
Surgery to remove excess skin and/or shorten the muscles that lift the eyelid is the best way to tighten upper eyelid skin. We can also remove or transfer some fat, depending on the individual situation, though I prefer to not take too much fat out of the upper eyelids because I think that ages the eyelid.
Botulinum Toxin is another option that can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery to weaken the muscles responsible for squinting and frowning.
How much does an eyelid lift cost?
The cost of an eyelid lift really depends on what type of surgery that will be performed. In my practice, simple eyelid lift surgery runs about $4,700. However, in most cases I am adding in a brow lift and maybe some botulinum toxin, both of which add to the cost. We may also add in some correction to the lower lids, which would increase the cost as well.
An individual consultation is the first and most important step. A great example is a 26 year old woman who came in for a rhinoplasty but wanted her upper eyelids to look better, too. She had no redundant skin, no brow ptosis, and only primary ptosis of the upper eyelid causing it to droop. Before I did her rhinoplasty, I performed a small surgery on her upper eyelid that lifted the level of her eyelids. She now looks a lot more refreshed and less tired. So the individualized consultation is the most important thing. I’d love to see you in my office and talk about your specific case. Make an appointment with me and come in. I will make some suggestions of what I think will work the best for your face.
Have questions?
Email Dr.Sykes at [email protected]
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About Dr. Jonathan Sykes
Dr. Jonathan Sykes is a world-famous expert plastic surgeon who performs all cosmetic and functional plastic surgery procedures on the face and neck. He is a past president of The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and served on their Board of Directors for over 10 years. He is also a Professor Emeritus in Facial Plastic Surgery from UC Davis Medical Center, and the former Director of Facial Plastic Surgery at that institution.
He is known as the expert’s expert, and is often called to consult and advise other plastic surgeons in both Northern California and Beverly Hills. He has a special interest in eyelid and browlift surgery, facial rejuvenation surgery including facelifts, and rhinoplasty. He also has a particular interest in facial feminization surgery. Have questions? Email Dr.Sykes at [email protected].
