Hooded eyes are often associated with aging, which is the main reason why many undergo surgical procedures to have them corrected. The good news is that nowadays, non-surgical treatments are already available to lift hooded eyes without lengthy downtime or an expensive price tag.
In this post, we’ll discuss the main cause of hooded eyes, the most popular treatments like Botox injections in North Hollywood, and how you can minimize the hooded appearance. Read below and see which one works for you best!
What are hooded eyes?
Hooded eyes occur when extra skin from the brow folds over the eyelid, covering the eyelid and creating the ‘hooded’ appearance.
Overall, hooded eyes are harmless and won’t cause any vision problems. And while it’s associated with aging, hooded eyes can be seen across ages, as it can be a genetic feature.
Take note that hooded eyes should not be mistaken for another condition called ‘ptosis’. Ptosis, also known as ‘lazy eye’, is a medical condition where the upper eyelid sags or falls over the eye. It can happen in one or both eyes, which can either be congenital or acquired later in life.
Unlike natural hooded eyes that don’t affect vision, ptosis can limit or completely block your vision. It typically happens when the levator muscle responsible for lifting the eyelids doesn’t function properly.
Causes of hooded eyes
The following are the most common causes of hooded eyes, most of which are harmless and don’t require medical treatment:
- Genetics. The shape of your eyelids depends on your genetic makeup, including your predisposition to hooded eyes by birth or later in life. If one or both of your parents have hooded eyes, there’s a possibility that you’ll inherit the same facial feature.
- Aging. As we age, our skin loses elasticity, causing the skin around the eyes to droop or sag, leading to a hooded appearance. Aside from that, the muscles around the eyes weaken with aging, which contributes to this condition.
- Excess skin. Some people have naturally excessive skin on their eyelids, which folds and creates a hooded appearance. This is often corrected with surgery since it’s not a good candidate for non-surgical treatments.
- Swelling. Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids can cause temporary hooded eyes. It can be due to a lack of sleep, allergies, or fluid retention. Unlike other causes of hooded eyes, swelling typically goes away on its own, unless it’s caused by a lingering medical condition.
How to fix hooded eyes: effective non-surgical treatment options
While hooded eyes don’t typically require medical attention, they can still affect a person’s appearance and self-esteem. If you’re looking for non-invasive and affordable ways how to get rid of hooded eyes without surgery, the following are the most popular options:
1. Botox for hooded eyes
Botox is one of the most convenient ways to reduce the appearance of hooded eyes temporarily. It uses a derivative of the botulinum toxin to relax the eyebrow muscles, such as the orbicularis oculi, and stop them from pulling the eyebrows down.
Aside from that, Botox can reduce skin folding over the eyelid, giving the eyes are more open and less hooded look. On top of that, Botox is widely used to treat wrinkles around the eye area, such as crow’s feet, to give you a more youthful appearance.
Hooded eyes typically need around 20 to 30 units of Botox with results lasting for about 3 to 6 months. You can always get touch-up injections to maintain the results and prevent your hooded eyes from coming back.
Pros
- Affordable hooded eyes treatment starting at $12 per unit
- Quick procedure that only takes around 30 minutes
- No serious downtime needed
- It can also reduce wrinkles around the eyes for a more youthful result
Cons
- Temporary results that last 3 to 6 months
- Not suitable for pregnant/breastfeeding women and those taking certain medications
2. Dermal fillers for hooded eyes
If your hooded eyes are due to loose skin or hollow areas around the eyes, dermal fillers in North Hollywood would be an effective treatment.
Fillers work by adding volume around the eyes, but it doesn’t directly address your hooded lids. Instead, it fills hollow areas to smooth the transition between the tear troughs and hollows, minimizing attention to your hooded eyelids.
By filling hollow areas around the eyes, dermal fillers can also reduce the shadow effect that makes your hooded lids more visible.
Overall, the results of dermal fillers for hooded eyes last for 6 to 18 months.
Pros
- Restores facial volume to smoothen hollow areas under the eyes
- Long-lasting results up to 18 months
- Can be used as a complementary treatment with Botox
- Immediate visible results
Cons
- Does not lift the eyelids or address hooded eyes directly
3. Laser resurfacing
Laser treatments can also be used to reduce the appearance of hooded eyes. It works by creating controlled damage on the skin to stimulate collagen production, which will help reveal a fresher layer while giving a tightening effect.
As your skin heals from the laser treatment, your eyelids gain more elasticity, reducing their hooded appearance.
However, multiple laser sessions are needed to achieve your desired results. Depending on the severity of your hooded eyes, it may take around 3 to 6 sessions to improve their appearance. It’s always best to consult licensed laser clinics like Pure Skin Laser Center to learn about the best treatment package.
Pros
- Helps tighten loose eyelid skin to reduce hooded eyes
- Stimulates collagen production to make the eyelid less droopy
- Provides long-term results with enough sessions
Cons
- Requires multiple sessions to achieve your desired results
4. Chemical peel
Chemical peels for eyelids can help reveal younger and tighter skin. It helps improve skin texture and reduces skin folds that cause the eyelid to appear hooded.
However, it’s very important to get eyelid peels from a licensed and experienced cosmetic clinic. Since the peel solution will be applied around the sensitive eye area, it’s crucial to trust a specialist to avoid adverse side effects.
Also, you should note that chemical peels only work for mild to moderate hooded eyelids. It doesn’t address hooded eyes related to muscle weakness, and it’s NOT a substitute for medical treatments, such as blepharoplasty.
Pros
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area
- Improves the skin tone and texture around the eyes
- Brightens the eye area to make you look younger
- Minimizes the appearance of mild hooded eyes
Cons
- Limited results in addressing hooded eyes
- Not suitable for everyone
5. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is also used to stimulate collagen production around the eye area and minimize hooded eyes related to aging. PRP therapy uses the person’s own blood plasma, which will be injected around the eyelid and eye area to rejuvenate the skin.
This results in firmer and more youthful skin, which can help lessen the appearance of hooded eyes. However, since PRP is a non-surgical treatment, it can’t solve hooded eyes due to excess skin or fat.
On the upside, you can combine PRP therapy with other non-surgical procedures, such as Botox and fillers, for better results. Still, you may need multiple sessions to see substantial improvement on your hooded eyes.
Pros
- All-natural treatment that uses your own blood sample
- Also helps with dark circles, wrinkles, and dull skin texture
- Minimal downtime and can be scheduled during your lunch break
Cons
- Limited results on reducing the appearance of your hooded eyes
- Effectiveness depends on your age, lifestyle, and overall health
When to consider surgical vs. non-surgical treatment
Consider surgical treatments if…
- Your hooded eyes are due to excess skin and fat.
- Your hooded lids are already obstructing or affecting your vision.
- You want a permanent fix on your hooded eyelids.
- You have severe hooded eyes that make you look tired all the time.
Consider non-surgical treatments if…
- You have mild to moderate hooded eyes.
- You want to avoid the long recovery and downtime associated with surgical procedures.
- You’re looking for treatments with reversible results in case you’re not happy with the results.
- You only want a slight or mild improvement on your hooded eyes.
- You’re willing to undergo repeat treatments to maintain the results.
How to minimize the appearance of hooded eyes
1. Use makeup for hooded eyes
2. Adopt a good skincare regimen
Healthy skincare can delay hooded eyes due to aging. Using skin tightening products with retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid can help prevent your hooded eyes from worsening.
Overall, you should keep your eyelids moisturized – an area that many of us overlook when doing skincare!
3. Observe a healthy lifestyle
4. Get proper eyebrow grooming
Shaping your eyebrows properly will create a natural arch that gives a lifting appearance to your lids. Avoid straight or flat brows as these only emphasize your hooded eyes.
Another tip: highlight your brow bone to brighten up your eyes and create a shadow effect that reduces the hooded appearance.
Need help choosing the best treatment for hooded eyes?
If you have hooded eyes and can’t choose which of these non-surgical treatments suits you best, feel free to contact us at Pure Skin Laser Center. Our aesthetician with 10+ years of cosmetic experience will help you find the right treatment that will give you a youthful and fresher look.
We have over 1,000 happy clients in North Hollywood, and we’re excited to unlock your best look yet! So, if you have questions or want to know more about our treatments, book a consultation with us today!
