Heavy eyelids and sad looking eyes, how can I fix this? (Photos)

Question

Hi! I have very sad looking eyes. And my eyes have a very different shape, which people point out often. Also one of my eyelids has started ”drooping” and my eye hurts at the end of the day because i need to use the muscles around my eye strongly to keep the eyelid from closing too much. Is there any surgery to give my eyes a nicer shape like the almond shape and that will stop my eyelid from drooping more that wont leave me looking fake, or is there nothing that can be done?

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS · Answer

The main reason for your sad looking eyes is negative canthal tilt with lower eyelid retraction. It is possible to make the eyes more almond shaped. It requires elevating the lower eyelids, not just canthoplasty. That is critical to understands as doing canthoplasty alone can distort the eye shape. You may also benefit from ptosis procedure but perhaps later.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

The main issue here is the ptosis of the upper eyelids.  So you need more than a blepharoplasty.  You need to have the muscle tightened to actually elevate the eyelid.  See an oculoplastic surgeon who can evaluate the eyelid muscles and determine what surgery would be best for you. You have an almond shape already.  Elevating the upper lids will make you look less tired, and you will appreciate the almond shape more.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you eliasr for your question.  Blepharoplasty surgery is a great option to get rid of heavy eyelids and improve the "sad" look.  Consult with your board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a proper candidate for the procedure and see what else he or she recommend.  Sometimes they will recommend some additional filler as well for the tear trough area.

Heavy eyelids and sad looking eyes, how can I fix this? (Photos)

Answers (3)