Can Botox be used to maintain natural eyelid hooding?

Hi! Dr. Peterson here —
What you’re describing happens because Botox in the glabella (the frown lines between the brows) can subtly change how the forehead and brow muscles interact, leading to less brow depression and a more “open” upper eyelid look. Some patients love that lift, but if you’ve always had a natural hooding and prefer to maintain it, dosing and placement become very important.
A few options: • Lower dosing in the glabella can sometimes minimize that lifting effect. • Strategic placement (avoiding too much lateral spread) can preserve some of your natural brow position and hooding. • In certain cases, leaving small muscles active helps maintain your natural look while still softening lines.
At your age, eyelid and brow changes can also be related to skin and tissue laxity, so it’s not only about Botox. A board-certified dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon can individualize the treatment so you keep the look you want while still treating wrinkles safely.

I recommend trying to inject more Botox into orbicularis oculi muscles. I would try 2-2.5 units on each side.

It's interesting you want hooding bc most people don't... however, if you do want that, then you want to make sure you get some botox to the frontalis muscle (forehead) because that will partially paralyze your brow lifting muscles, and if you are getting glabella botox that does 'lift' your brows.

Botox can sometimes alter the appearance of the eyelids and brows by changing how the muscles pull in the area. In patients with naturally hooded eyelids, Botox placed in the glabella or forehead can lift the brows slightly, which may reduce or change the natural hooding. While small adjustments in technique—such as adding units to the lateral brow—can help, there is no guaranteed way to preserve the exact natural hooding effect with Botox. If maintaining your natural eyelid appearance is a priority, careful dose adjustments and precise placement are key. In some cases, alternatives to Botox or different injection patterns may be more suitable.

Botox can help with brow positioning. While Botox can provide a conservative brow lift, it can also create more of a "heavy" brow if desired. Make sure to visit with an experienced injector to discuss your desired look.