Can You Get Eyelid Surgery for Hooded Eyes?
Written by: Dr. Dahlia Rice. Posted in: Blog
Hooded eyes occur when the upper eyelid itself is not visible at all or is just barely visible when an individual has their eyes open. With someone who has non-hooded eyes, the upper eyelids are visible even when their eyes are open.
Many people are unhappy having hooded eyes because it can give them a tired, worn-out look. It also allows for minimal eyelid makeup space, and it can even cause vision obstruction in some cases. Aging and the effects that come with aging can exacerbate these issues even more.
Fortunately, eyelid surgery for hooded eyes can correct the problem.
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ToggleUpper Eyelid Surgery for Hooded Eyes
Upper eyelid surgery also known as upper blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the upper eyelid area and tightens the muscles around the eyes. This eyelid lift can give the patient a more awake and youthful appearance.
Cause of Hooded Eyes
Sometimes, the excess eyelid skin on patients with hooded eyes is simply genetic, and other times, it is caused by aging. The delicate eyelid skin we all have around our eyes tends to wrinkle and sag faster than the other parts of our face. This is why so many patients seek cosmetic surgery for their eye area before seeking surgery or getting dermal fillers on other parts of the face.
Hooded Eyelid Surgery Steps
Every patient is different, but most hooded eyelid surgeries start with general anesthesia, and then an incision is made along the natural upper eyelid crease. Through this incision, your surgeon can remove the necessary amount of excess skin as well as any excess fat or muscle.
They can also adjust the surrounding tissue and eye muscles to create the desired look you are after. At the end of surgery, your incisions will be carefully closed, and you will be appropriately bandaged. Eyelid surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, so you can go home on the same day.
Hooded Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Some of the symptoms of eyelid surgery recovery include swelling, bruising, soreness and pain near the incision sites, aching eye muscles skin discoloration, and general tenderness.
You should not have any type of noticeable scarring injury following this surgery. For the most part, scars are barely noticeable, even with lower eyelid surgery on the lower eyelids. Still, stay out of the sun, take it easy for a while, and use silicone scar treatments if possible to speed scar fading.
FAQ: Double Eyelid Surgery for Hooded Eyes
How much does eyelid surgery for hooded eyes cost?
The cost of eyelid surgery depends on how much excess skin and fat the patient has on their eyelids and around their eyes, what their goals are for surgery, whether muscle tightening is required, and what other procedures are being performed if any. Ultimately, prices also vary by geographic location, surgeon, and type of anesthesia.
Will insurance pay for eyelid surgery?
Health insurance will only pay for plastic surgery that is considered reconstructive surgery and that is medically necessary. In some cases, eyelid surgery may be medically necessary because it can help open up a patient’s vision by lifting the upper eyelids. This isn’t always the case, though, so you’ll need to contact your health insurance provider directly to learn if your surgery can be covered.
What’s better an eyelid lift or a brow lift?
Eyelid surgery, as the name suggests, focuses on the eyelids. To perform eyelid surgery, excess skin and fat are removed from the upper lids, and the muscles around the eyes are sometimes tightened.
On the other hand, brow lift surgery lifts the brow area. This can sometimes lift the upper lids slightly, but more of the focus is on lifting the actual brow line and creating a brighter, more alert and awake appearance around the patient’s brows and forehead.
Which option is best for you depends on your current situation. Book a consultation appointment and get a cosmetic eyelid evaluation in order to determine the best surgery for you.
Are hooded eyes and droopy eyes the same thing?
While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is technically a difference between hooded eyelids and droopy eyelids.
Hooded eyes are a part of the patient’s natural eye shape. They are typically caused by having a larger eyelid crease and more prominent brow bones.
Conversely, droopy eyes tend to occur later in life when the effects of gravity and aging cause the upper eyelids to develop sagging skin, wrinkle, and droop more over the patient’s line of vision. Some patients with drooping eyelids actually have trouble completely opening their eyes.
Hooded and droopy eyelid surgery can correct both of these issues.
Contact Dr. Dahlia Rice to Book a Consultation
Whether you have hooded eyelids or droopy eyelids, upper eyelid surgery can help correct these issues and give you your confidence back.
Call Dr. Dahlia Rice of DMR Aesthetics Chicago today to learn more about eyelid surgery and book your consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dahlia Rice.