Will eyelid tape work for uneven eyelids?

Question

I'm Caucasian, and a lot of these people who use eyelid tape are trying to achieve a double lid. I already have one, but my other eye is hooded. Will eyelid tape help this? Or is surgery my only option?

Brett S. Kotlus, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Yes, eyelid tape can improve eyelid platform asymmetry. Just the other day I saw a patient who successfully uses tape on one eyelid for this very reason. In Asian cultures the various types of eyelid tape are well known.One caution is that the adhesives on the tape can become irritating to the skin in certain individuals. If this happens then you may wish to consider surgery.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

However, I have a few patients who absolutely love to tape their eyelids and get very nice results from it.  When done correctly, you can control small differences in the two eyelids. The tape sits in the folded crease and is not visible.  The cost is low and there is no harm.  I say go for it and see if this works for you.  Consider posting your experience on Realself for others.

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear ekatgThank you for your question!  The eyelid taping sounds interesting- most likely a temporary technique rather than giving a permanent fold, plus creating symmetry may be difficult. Surgery is likely the best option!With Warm RegardsTrevor M Born MD

Robert S. Houser, DO · Answer

There are few to no consequences of trying it for a while and seeing what you think. It certainly may be an answer for you at this point in your life. But know that there is a more permanent, surgical option out there if you choose to proceed. Good luck!

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Tape can be effective for some patients in the short term. With excessive hooding, the tape may not be strong enough to hold up the skin. Surgery is the more effective option. When you are ready for surgical correction, have your eyes evaluated by a board certified surgeon with expertise in eyelid surgery.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear
ekatg,

Thank
you for your clinical post and interesting question.  Eyelid tape will generally help with some
soft tissue laxity but is not a good long-term option.  If you have hooded upper eyelids and you are
Caucasian with a double fold, then generally you have some nonsurgical and
surgical options to try and achieve the outcomes you are looking for.  Nonsurgical options include the use of Botox®
to get a Botox® brow lift.  The elevation
of the tail of the brow will elevate some of the hooding and relieve some of
the excess skin that hangs over your upper lid and smudges mascara or gives you
a tired, droopy, downtrodden appearance. 
Soft tissue fillers over the eyebrow will also assist, together with the
injection of Botox®, in achieving a nonsurgical browlift and the alleviation of
hooding of the outside corner of the eyelid.

However,
often Botox® and soft tissue fillers are expensive options.  If you are not averse to surgery, upper
eyelid blepharoplasty surgery can be performed under local anaesthesia in
approximately an hour.  Recovery takes
approximately one week and generally excellent results can be achieved when
performed expertly.  The other option is
a combination of an endoscopic tail of brow lift to elevate the brow, alleviate
some of the soft tissue of the upper lid and even an adjunctive minor upper lid
blepharoplasty in conjunction with the brow will give you often the ideal
resolution in hooding of the upper lid. 
The advantage of combining an endoscopic brow lid with the upper lid
blepharoplasty is that the lateral extension of the scar to relieve the hooding
can be far less and contained within the orbit itself.

These
are all options that bear discussion with a certified plastic surgeon with lots
of experience in all the aforementioned techniques.

I
would seek the consultation of some surgeons and then elect a procedure with
the one you feel best understands the aesthetic outcomes you are trying to
achieve and has the skill set to deliver.

For
more information, please review the link below.

I
hope this information has been of some assistance and best of luck.

Sincerely,

R.
Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified
Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville,
Toronto

Will eyelid tape work for uneven eyelids?

Answers (6)

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