Hooded eyes and bags under eyes. The hooding is getting worse. What's the problem? How can I fix it? Age 29. (photos)

Question

I've always been made fun of as a kid for my under eyes but now I'm feeling like the skin on my upper is heavy feeling everyday and it's like I have too much skin between my eyes under my eyes and on top of my eyes. Makeup can't even help me anymore it's getting weird.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

First, the photos you have provided are not adequate to conclude that you might benefit from upper eyelid surgery and what that surgery should be.  Do not get surgery because you asked for it and some was happy to provide.  Get surgery that makes sense for you.  That prevents you from being destroyed by the wrong type of surgery.  In each photograph, you are looking down into your phone.  The pictures really need to be taken with you looking level and straight ahead.  I suspect from the photo with you pinching up the eyebrow that you have an early levator dehiscence ptosis and upper eyelid lash ptosis.  Most likely there is more levator dehiscence in the right upper eyelid because there seems to be more eyebrow compensation on that side.  Standard blepharoplasty without correction of the levator tendon will cause you a thin, hollow, surgical looking eyelid (see the attached video).  For the lower eyelid, please do not listen to the surgeons who are recommend lower eyelid surgery.  They have not examined your lower eyelid to determine if the cause of the lower eyelid "bag" is herniated orbital fat-it isn't.  Do your own examination in front of a mirror.  Put your right index finger on top of the "bag".  What you are feeling is the bony orbital rim.  This is not caused by herniated orbital fat.  This is a hollow caused by an absence of fat.  Surgeons do not take a chisel and chisel out bone.  They might remove orbital fat but it is not going to help your issue.  This is best addressed by very thoughtfully performed hyaluronic acid filler treatment.

Mitesh Kapadia, MD, PhD · Answer

It looks like you would be a good candidate for upper blepharoplasty surgery. Make sure to see someone experienced in treating patients your age. The key is to remove the right amount of skin to give you a less hooded, less tired look without overdoing it.

Johnson C. Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your photos. Although you are still young, genetics sometimes can prematurely age your eyes. You are a great candidate for an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) which will help remove the extra skin, brighten your eyes, and give you that "eyeshadow space" above your eyelashes. The bags on your lower eyelids are not so severe but you do have noticeable improvement when you pull your skin up. You can also benefit from a lower blepharoplasty or you can avoid the surgery for now and use a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler to blend the area between your eyelids and cheeks.This can last several months up to a year. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee MDPlastic Surgery

Hooded eyes and bags under eyes. The hooding is getting worse. What's the problem? How can I fix it? Age 29. (photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

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Hooded eyes and bags under eyes. The hooding is getting worse. What's the problem? How can I fix it? Age 29. (photos)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.