Too much skin around the upper eyelids can cause the lids to drop slightly low, making a person look tired or not fully alert. This heavy eye look is also known as hooded eyelids, when the skin below the brow weighs down the lids. But there is a solution to help make the eyes appear wider and alert by using Botox to lift the skin and muscle around the brows to stop the hoovering over the lids.
The injections from this neurotoxin cause paralysis of the muscles around the brow to reduce the heavy eyelid look. Botox to treat hooded eyelids can help a patient look more refreshed and awake.
So, what are the causes for hooded eyelids? And what should you expect with a Botox treatment? Let's take a closer look into this procedure, starting with why do people have hooded eyelids?
There are two main reasons that can cause hooded eyelids. The first is genetics; a person naturally has more skin tissue above the upper eyelids and is part of their facial features and structure. The second reason is the aging process; the skin around the brow and upper eyelid loses its elasticity and begins to drop slightly—a side effect of aging skin.
But we need to point out that Botox can't treat hooded eyelids with severe skin laxity, which is when the skin is too saggy and falls over the eyelids, possibly impeding a patient's eyesight. This issue typically happens to older patients in their 50's or 60's.
The way to remove the severely saggy skin is with a surgical procedure called blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery. A surgeon removes a thin strip of skin and muscle from the upper eyelid area.
Consult with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon to find out if the skin around your eyes can be treated with Botox or may require surgery.
Botox is a purified protein made from botulinum toxin type A, which is a type of bacteria. Botulinum blocks the signals to your nerves that make your muscles contract. When injected into a muscle the neuromuscular blockers relax the muscle from contracting, limiting the movement.
Botox for hooded eyelids can help patients with a naturally low eyebrow position or for patients with a slight eyebrow droop from minor skin laxity.
Botox is injected into the outer end of the eyebrow and lower part of the forehead to elevate the eyebrow slightly. The lift reveals a small amount of eyelid skin by elevating the eyebrow a few millimeters, which may not sound like a lot but effectively gives the patient a more open and alert look.
Treating hooded eyelids with Botox is a non-invasive procedure performed in a medical office and is considered an outpatient doctor's visit. The treatment is fairly quick and straightforward, only taking 20-30 minutes to complete.
The board-certified medical professional will first cleanse the treated areas and inject Botox into your lower forehead and the outer ends of your eyebrows. After the procedure, the patient can continue with their normal activities for the remainder of the day.
The results can take 2-3 days to see a noticeable difference.
Botox can last three to six months, making this a non-permanent treatment. It's best to set up scheduled appointments to maintain the results, or the effects of the injections will begin to neutralize and absorb naturally into the body.
Treating hooded eyelids with Botox can be performed on a patient at any age older than 18. A good candidate for this treatment will mainly depend on the condition and the amount of skin around the eyes. Too much skin may require surgery, not a neurotoxin injection. Here are more criteria for an ideal candidate:
Botox injections to treat hooded eyelids are ideal for someone with a naturally low brow or help a patient with early signs of aging skin around the eyes by creating a subtle lift of the brow. The injections around the eyebrow paralyze the muscles from dropping low, eliminating that constant "sleepy" look.
To find a board-certified cosmetic surgeon or medically-trained professional experienced to treat hooded eyelids with Botox, use our “Find a Doctor” navigation tool for a medical professional in your area.
- VM
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