Everyone has a different shape or size of eyes. Some people have round eyes while others have hooded eyes. Round eyes may appear very open, whereas hooded eyes may appear smaller. Although for some people having hooded eyes may seem unnatural and uncomfortable. Hooded eyes are completely natural and not a cause for concern medically.
However, it is understandable if you want a more open-eyed look to boost your confidence and make you feel more attractive. Years ago, the only way to achieve this was surgery, but in recent times, with advancements in technology, there is now more than one way to get rid of hooded eyes.
There are different causes of hooded eyes and even though they are natural causes, there have been reports of people having hooded eyes after a Botox eyebrow lift. How true is this? In this article, we shall be discussing that, as well as the different causes of hooded eyes and possible ways of achieving a more open-eyed look.
WHAT ARE HOODED EYES?
Hooded eyes are the excess skin that folds down from below your brow bone and sometimes may extend to your lash line. It is a result of either the lack of visible eyelid crease or a heavy upper eyelid area, either way, hooded eyes are a natural and normal eye shape.
It is pretty easy to tell if you have hooded eyes. Notice if the skin under your brows touches your lash line or comes close to it. If it does, you may have hooded eyes. In some cases, hooded eyes could affect your vision. When the excess skin below your brow bone folds so much that it begins to droop, it may cover your pupils, hence, affecting your vision.
CAUSES OF HOODED EYES
There are many causes of hooded eyes ranging from age-related sagging of the skin around the eyes to certain diseases, the most common causes are aging and hereditary. If you have hooded eyes, it could likely be as a result of heredity. There is often a great chance of finding people whose parents have hooded eyes and have the same eye shape.
As we age, we lose bone structure in the face, our skin begins to lose facial volume, collagen, elastin, and fat, and due to gravity the skin above the eyes sags and hangs over the eyes, hence changing the shape and size of the eyes.
Besides heredity and aging, other factors that could cause hooded eyes are:
- Excessive exposure to the sun can easily reduce the skin’s firmness and structure, causing it to sag.
- Injury to the eyes or the side of the head. According to a 2021 article, this could potentially cause hooded eyes.
- Certain diseases such as diabetes, horner syndrome, myasthenia gravis, style, and stroke could cause also cause hooded eyes.
- Damage to the nerves controls the muscles that are responsible for opening the eyes. The muscle then becomes weak and this is referred to medically as Ptosis.
DOES BOTOX MAKE HOODED EYES WORSE?
Botox is an injection that contains botulinum toxin, which causes paralysis, and when properly administered, it can be used to prevent the appearance of frown lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet, giving the face a more youthful look.
Sometimes, when Botox is injected, especially when injected by someone who is neither skilled nor trained, the toxin may travel to some areas of the face where it shouldn’t reach and if these areas are close to the eyes, then you may have hooded eyes temporarily for about 5 weeks, but if you already have hooded eyes naturally, then yes, Botox can make it worse, but even that will only last temporarily.
HOW TO GET RID OF HOODED EYES
There are several ways hooded eyes could be treated, however, the most common and effective method is through an eye surgery known as Blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty is an effective method of getting rid of hooded eyes. It involves making a small incision of about 4-6mm below the eyelid to remove excess skin or fat from the eyelid, and tightening it for a more open and natural look.
The procedure could be done under either local anesthesia or general anesthesia, and like every surgical procedure, there are risks involved, such as:
- Infection and bleeding
- Dry and irritated eyes
- Scarring
- Difficulty closing the eyes
- Temporary blurred vision
As effective as blepharoplasty might be, it is also time-consuming, recovery could take a few weeks and it doesn’t come cheap. It could cost between $2,000-$5,000. In some cases, non-invasive treatment such as using the injectable neurotoxin –Botox, could be used to improve the look of hooded eyes.
HOODED EYES BOTOX EYEBROW LIFT
Botox eyebrow lift is a non-invasive procedure that uses Botox injection to gently lift the brows, and since sagging skin over the eyes could be the cause of hooded eyes, using Botox eyebrow lift can help lift the outer tail of the eyebrow.
The result of this procedure is temporary and can last up to 3-5 months, after which, if you want to maintain the open-eyed look, you would have to return to your doctor to get more Botox injected. It is essential that you find a professionally trained doctor for this procedure, to minimize risks.
HOODED EYE BOTOX EYEBROW LIFT: HOW IT WORKS
Your doctor would inject small doses of Botox into strategic points, and just as we had said earlier, Botox causes paralysis, so once injected, it paralyzes or weakens the muscles that are causing the drooping of the eyebrows. If administered properly, Botox should not affect the elevator muscle that raises your brows, so your eyes look more open as the upper eyelids lift by a few millimeters.
Results begin to become visible within 7 days and continue to improve for about 2 weeks. Although the results of the procedure are temporary, it is less time-consuming and less expensive. However, if your hooded eyes are a result of excess eyelid skin, then blepharoplasty is a better treatment option as Botox wouldn’t be able to reduce or tighten the skin.
HOODED EYE BOTOX EYEBROW LIFT COST
The cost for a hooded eye Botox eyebrow lift depends on the number of Botox doses your doctor used on you and since this is a cosmetic procedure, it may not be covered by your insurance.
HOODED EYE BOTOX EYEBROW LIFT INJECTION SITE
To minimalize the chances of the Botox traveling into some areas of the face where it shouldn’t and causing complications, a professional doctor would inject Botox into a strategic point. Botox is injected into the lower forehead and the outer tails of your eyebrows.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR HOODED EYES
1. Laser Resurfacing
This is a cosmetic procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of the skin or treat minor facial flaws such as fine wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. The procedure could also be used in getting rid of hooded eyes, as it works by tightening loose skin around the eye.
Generally, laser resurfacing can be done with an Ablative laser or with a nonablative laser, however, to get rid of hooded eyes, the ablative laser is used. This type of laser removes the outer layer of the target skin and heats the underlying layer while stimulating collagen production. This helps the area heal in a smoother and more even way.
2. Plasma Fibroblast Skin Tightening
Another effective cosmetic procedure. It works by creating numerous tiny holes or controlled micro-injuries on the depressor eyelid with a high-frequency electric current. Immediately, these micro-injuries shrink up, resulting in a retraction of the skin and a tightening and lifting effect on the eyebrows.
3. Eyelid Tapes
They are also known as correcting tapes. Eyelid tapes are the safest and easiest approach to getting rid of hooded eyes. It is a transparent adhesive strip that lifts the skin around the eyelid, giving you a more open and youthful.
4. Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are like Botox, in that they are both injectable, but unlike Botox, the result of using dermal fillers to lift brows is immediate. Adding a dermal filling to the area of the drooping skin of the eyes can provide a lift to the eyebrows and decrease the look of the hooded eyelids.
5. Microcurrent Devices
These devices are relatively easy to use and can be used at home, and even as in-office procedures, they are not expensive. They work by stimulating muscles in the upper lid, resulting in a temporary lift of the eyes.
CONCLUSION
Hooded eyes are a natural shape of the eyes and mostly is as a result of heredity or age, although other factors could be responsible for your hooded eyes. You may not feel comfortable with the shape of your eyes, and want to get rid of the hooded eyes. There are several methods with which that can be done, ranging from invasive to non-invasive procedures. One of the methods of getting rid of hood eyes is through a Botox eyebrow lift.