Q: Is there something less aggressive to improve my slightly hooded eyes?
Thank you for your question. It appears from your photos that you have mild brow asymmetry and deeper set eyes. In that setting, sometimes the lower positioned brow can start to hood over the eyelid area, especially in the morning or when we are fatigued. It does not appear that you need upper eyelid surgery or a brow lift operation at this time. You may be a good candidate for what is called a "chemical brow lift" usually accomplished with Botox, Dysport, or other Neuromodulator. The nice thing about that approach is that small asymmetries can often be corrected with the amount of toxin that is injected into the muscle groups to give you a more even brow appearance, and lifted! Keep in mind that effect only lasts about 3 months, and then the injection pattern would have to be repeated to renew/maintain the effect. Your next steps should be to seek consultation with a board certified doctor who is a facial specialist that is experienced in this procedure. Best wishes!
Q: Would I be a good candidate for upper blepharoplasty? (Photos)
Thank you for your question. It appears that you have mild asymmetry in the upper eyelid fold, with slightly more redundant skin on the right than the left. The presence of an injury to an eyelid or eyebrow area can cause tethering or differences in fullness and fluid (lymphatic) flow around an eye, making that side appear more full or heavy. In this setting, it is worth seeking in person consultation with a board certified surgeon that specializes in eyelid surgery and can identify your nuanced condition. Since your brows appear to be in symmetric position and your upper eyelids seem to sit at the same height or level on the eye, you may be a good candidate for a conservative right upper eyelid blepharoplasty (limited skin removal only, not remove fat) to equalize the amount of "eyelid show" closer to the lash line (lowest part of upper lid). Hopefully that makes sense and an in person consultation can provide additional insights for you. Best wishes!
Q: Why is one eye drooping?
Thank you for your question. It appears you may have mild brow asymmetry with the right brow sitting lower than the left. This could be due to different reasons, but sleep position (sleeping mostly on one side) can affect our facial soft tissues leading to some drop or drooping. Mostly we see this in later decades, but depends on the person. Also, even though one side may appear lower, it could be the opposite side (upper eyelid) that is higher that is causing the asymmetry. Sounds like you feel the left eye/eyelid/brow are in normal position for your face, but do keep that in mind. Sometimes a more prominent eye on one side (different reasons for that happening) can push the upper eyelid up more and the lower eyelid down more, giving a larger eye appearance. One cause of this could be a thyroid imbalance. There are a variety of different reasons that may cause eyelid and brow asymmetry, so best to get this checked out to know more. For your lower eyelid appearance, your photos suggest mild hollows or volume loss in what we call the tear trough area. They may not be actual eyebags (meaning extra tissue), but rather a hollow or groove giving that appearance. This can often safely and very effectively be corrected with hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler, such as Restylane-L. Injected in limited amounts, HA can provide a very natural and rested appearance and be long lasting. May be worth investigating for you. I recommend you seek consultation with a board certified surgeon who specializes in the eyes and surrounding structures (eyelids, brows, etc.). Best wishes to you!
Q: What can be done to fix my uneven eyes? (Photo)(
Thank you for your question. It appears you have mild Ptosis (pronounced like Tosis) of the left upper eyelid, where the lid sits just a little lower on the eye surface than the opposite side. This is very common, especially when there is a small difference of about 1-2mm, like your eyelids. This can be corrected by a conservative upper eyelid muscle tightening, and there are generally two different ways of doing this - front of the eyelid or back of the eyelid approach. That will usually correct the issue long term. Please note that a skin removal only operation will not accomplish your goal. Another option would be injections of Botox or Dysport, which can also be used to make subtle changes to eyelid height, but have to be injected in very specific locations to achieve a symmetric result, and only last about 3 months in most people (would then have to be repeated to renew or maintain effect). Lastly there is a relatively new eyedrop medication on the market called Upneeq that can be used to very temporarily lift your eyelid height a small amount, but would have to be used daily to maintain the effect. Most people use it more for temporary effect before social or work commitments, important video calls, etc., not as a long term solution. I have included a link below for more information on that medication. You would need a prescription. I recommend you seek consultation with a board certified surgeon that specializes in eyelid surgery for further guidance. Wish you the best!
Q: Would I benefit from blepharoplasty? (Photo)
Thank you for your question. I appreciate your bravery in coming forward with this question and seeking answers, and I am sorry to hear about what you experienced in the past with comments about your natural expressions when you smiled and laughed. Unfortunately people of all ages can be unkind about others' appearance even when the person they have targeted appears completely normal. And "normal" can mean many things, as everyone's body is different, and these differences should be valued. We do sometimes see in our younger patients differences in eyelid shape and function based on genetic or developmental (medical) issues, but I do not see this to be the case for your eyelids. I would not recommend Botox or eyelid surgery to alter your lids at this point in time. One can always consider this as a later option. If you want to know more, I would recommend you seek consultation in person with a board certified surgeon who has experience with eyelid or facial surgery in younger patients to get further guidance for your concerns. I wish you the best with your decision.
