Why do I have an extra fold in my eye lid? (Photo)

Question

My eyelid has an extra fold on both eyes. I've had the one on my right eye for years already. It wasn't there before but then one day when i woke up, it was there. I usually get these extra folds when i dont have enough sleep or when i slept immediately after crying. But after a while it goes away. But the ones i have now look like they're permanent. The one on my left eye just appeared yesterday and it looks the same as the one on my right eye. What does this mean, and what can i do to fix it?

Luis A. Cenedese, MD, FACS · Answer

The attachements of the skin to the deeper eyelid structures may change with time and appear differently with swelling.Creation of a single fold eyelid is a common procedure which I am certain that many Plastic Surgeons in the Philipines have experience with..Please use this information when consulting in person with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon prior to making treatment decisions.

Chase Lay, MD · Answer

A significant number of the cases I see are for asymmetry or additional folds or eyelid creases. These can be addressed with either suture technique or incision take me to create a dominant fold so that you have one fold that is consistently present. Not everyone is a candidate for suture technique and General I feel incision technique is best.  Seek someone who is a specialist in Asian eyelid surgery. Best of luckChase Lay. MDasian eyelid surgery specialist and double board-certified facial plastic surgeon

Jonathan Zelken, MD · Answer

Dear delicioussea,To understand why some eyelids have folds and other do not requires a thorough understanding of eyelid anatomy and variations within and between ethnicities. Even more, swelling and other day-to-day events result in changes in your own eyelids. The simplest explanation I can offer is that there are attachments from the muscle that opens and closes your eyelids to the skin. Above the attachments, there is fat under the muscle that surrounds and protects your eyeballs and skin and fat just above the muscle too. In some Asians, those attachments are closer to the eyelashes or nonexistent, and there may be more fat above it. In Caucasians and some Asians, the attachments are higher up and there is less protruding fat, leading to a "double eyelid". In your case, it appears that you do have attachments and a moderate amount of orbital fat and your eye falls somewhere in between the first and second types. When you are tired or swollen, there is swelling above and below those attachments, giving the appearance of a new crease. As you age, these changes may become permanent. If I can be of any assurance, you have normal-appearing and attractive eyes. Please let us know what specifically you would like to fix.  I hope this helps,

Why do I have an extra fold in my eye lid? (Photo)

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Why do I have an extra fold in my eye lid? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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