Treatment for heavy eyelids

Elizabeth S. Lee, MD answers: Upper Blepharoplasty or Brow Lift for heavy eyelids?

I am 30 with heavy eyelids. There is no fat, just excess skin. I am wondering whether I am a candidate for an upper Blepharoplasty or a Brow Lift.

I feel like there is a lot of space between my brows and eyes and a brow lift might look strange. I've seen a few doctors and received a host of responses - some say my eyes would be easy to do, some thought it was hard, and one said to leave them alone because I might look bug-eyed? Thoughts?


Elizabeth S. Lee, MD
26 days ago

Your photo provides a limited view of your face, but I will assume that your left eye and brow are similar to your right.  The most striking thing I see is that you have what we call a "prominent eye." Your upper lid sits above the colored part of your eye.  "Typical" lid position has the upper lid covering the upper several millimeters of iris.  While this may just be how you look, it is important to make sure that you are in good health.  There are several medical conditions that can cause an appearance like this.  I would also want to make sure that you have no symptoms of dry eye. If your health is fine, then taking a small amount of skin from your upper lids would move your upper lid skin off your eyelashes. I think your eyebrow position is ok, although again this is a limited photograph and so I am not sure that a brow lift would be appropriate.

It is frustrating to get multiple different opinions from different specialists.  Keep in mind that the most important thing you can do is make sure that you have no health issue contributing to the appearance of your eye.  After a medical condition has been ruled out, find a surgeon who can address all the other opinions you have received and explain which procedure they feel is best and why.

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