Hooded Eyelids
As we age, our eyelids may begin to droop and sag. Whether you're looking to lift your eyelids, improve your vision, or enhance your natural beauty, we have a solution for you. At Perfect Eyes Clinic in London, we offer a range of treatments to address concerns about hooded eyes.
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What are Hooded Eyelids?
Hooded eyes are a common facial feature characterised by excess skin and soft tissue around the eyebrow, covering the eyelid but not the eye itself. This condition gets its name from the skin forming a "hood" over the eyelid, creating a visible crease.
The excess skin can droop down from the brow bone to the lash line, affecting one or both eyes. As a result, the eyes may appear smaller, and applying makeup, like eye shadow, can be challenging. The shape of your eyes and eyelids is a unique genetic feature, similar to attached earlobes or hair colour, which becomes more pronounced with age.
Symptoms of Hooded Eyelids
Hooded eyelids can affect both how your eyes look and how they feel. If you’ve ever wondered why your eyelids feel heavy, an eyelid hooded by excess skin from the brow bone is one of the most common reasons. Other causes of heavy eyelids include a weak eyelid muscle (ptosis) and a lowering brow, which is why a proper assessment matters. Common symptoms of hooded eyelids include:
Excess skin fold visible over the eyelid crease
A fold of skin hangs down from the brow bone and partly or fully hides the natural eyelid crease. This is often the first sign people notice in the mirror.
Eyes appearing smaller or tired
The extra skin covers part of the upper eyelid, which can make your eyes look smaller. It can also leave you looking tired, even when you’re well-rested.
Difficulty applying eye makeup
Eyeshadow and eyeliner can smudge or disappear into the skin fold. This makes makeup harder to apply and harder to keep in place.
Peripheral or upward vision partially blocked
When the hooding is more pronounced, the skin can sit low enough to block part of your side or upward vision. Some people find they lift their brows to see more clearly.
A feeling of heaviness or eye fatigue
Many people with hooded eyelids describe heavy eyelids that feel weighed down, especially later in the day. If one eyelid feels heavy, it’s often because the hooding is more pronounced on that side. It can also be a sign of ptosis affecting one eye.
Increased light sensitivity
Irritation around the eyes can make them more sensitive to bright light, which can cause discomfort.
Watery or irritated eyes
Excess skin resting near the lash line can irritate the eye, leading to watering, itching or a gritty feeling.
Causes of Hooded Eyelids
Genetics
Some people are born with hooded eyelids due to their genetic makeup, which can be inherited from their parents or grandparents. This trait is more common in people of Asian descent.
Ageing
As we get older, our skin loses its firmness and elasticity, causing the muscles around our eyes to stretch and lead to excess skin folding down from the brow bone to the lash line.
Lifestyle Factors
Certain habits, like smoking, excessive sun exposure, and a poor diet, can accelerate the ageing process and worsen hooded eyelids. Rubbing or irritating the delicate skin can also contribute.
Ethnicity
While hooded eyes are more common in people of Asian descent, anyone can develop this condition regardless of their ethnicity.
Muscle and Fat Structure
The composition of fat and muscle under our skin can affect how it droops down, increasing the risk of hooded eyes if the muscles are weak or there's excess fat in the eye area.
Trauma
Injuries or medical treatments can alter the appearance of our eyes and surrounding skin, potentially leading to hooded eyes. For instance, a head injury can affect the eyes and surrounding skin.
Hooded Eyelids vs Droopy Eyelids: What’s the Difference?
Hooded eyelids and droopy eyelids are often confused, and both are common reasons for heavy eyelids. However, they have different causes and need different treatments.
| Hooded Eyelids | Droopy Eyelids (Ptosis) | |
|---|---|---|
| What causes it | Excess skin folding down from the brow bone | A weak eyelid muscle |
| What you notice | The eyelid crease is hidden by a fold of skin | The upper eyelid sits lower than normal |
| Can the eye open fully? | Yes | Often not fully |
| Effect on vision | Can partly block vision when hooding is pronounced | Can significantly affect vision |
| Can you have both at the same time? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Treatment | Upper Blepharoplasty or a Brow Lift | Ptosis Surgery |
If you’re unsure which applies to you, a clinical assessment with Dr Sabrina will identify the cause and recommend the right treatment.
Treatments for Hooded Eyelids
Upper Lid Blepharoplasty
This procedure can enhance the appearance of your upper eyelids by addressing hooded eyes, puffiness, and drooping excess skin, leaving you looking refreshed and rejuvenated.
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to tighten and lift the skin around the eyes. It is best suited to mild hooding, where skin laxity is the main concern.
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Sofwave™
Sofwave uses ultrasound energy to lift the brow and eyelid area by stimulating new collagen beneath the skin. It is a no-downtime option, so most people return to their day straight after treatment.
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Direct Brow Lift
A Direct Brow Lift is a minimally invasive procedure that raises a low or descended brow that is causing or worsening hooding. Lifting the brow back into position can reduce the fold of skin sitting over the upper eyelid.
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Hooded Eyelid Surgery Cost in London
The cost of treatment for hooded eyelids depends on the procedure chosen, the complexity of your case, and whether one or both eyes are treated. Pricing is discussed in full at your consultation so you receive a personalised quote. To find out which treatment would suit you and what to expect in terms of investment, book a consultation with Dr Sabrina.
Book a ConsultationWhat to Expect After Treatment
Recovery varies from person to person, but here is what most patients can expect after upper eyelid surgery:
The first week
- Bruising and swelling around the eyelids are normal and are usually at their most visible in the first few days.
- Your eyes may feel more sensitive to light, so many patients wear sunglasses when going out.
- Most patients choose to rest at home during this time.
Returning to normal activities
- Light activities such as reading and short walks can usually resume within a few days.
- Most patients return to desk-based work within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Eye makeup and contact lenses can usually be worn again after around 2 weeks.
- Strenuous exercise is usually best avoided for around 3 weeks.
10 to 14 days
- Bruising and swelling have largely settled, and most patients feel presentable again.
3 to 6 months
- Full results are typically visible once the swelling has completely settled.
Our team will walk you through what to expect at your consultation; every patient’s recovery is slightly different.
Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After
Disclaimer: Your results may vary. Any specific claims or duration of results vary for each patient and are not guaranteed.
Meet the Expert: Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai
MS, FRCS (Ed) Ophth
Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai, MS, FRCS (Ed) Ophth is a multi-award-winning Oculoplastic Reconstructive Surgeon and Aesthetic Practitioner specialising in reconstructive, revisional, and cosmetic surgery of the eyelids, as well as non-surgical treatments for the eyes and face. With 25 years of surgical and 17 years of non-surgical experience, she is globally recognised for her pioneering, minimally invasive techniques.
Listed in Tatler’s Beauty & Cosmetic Surgery Guide every year from 2019 to 2026, she is known as the “go-to” surgeon for discerning patients seeking subtle, natural results, and is highly sought after for revisional procedures by those who have undergone previous fillers or eyelid surgeries.
- Listed on the Royal College of Surgeons of England register of Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeons
- Listed in Tatler’s Beauty & Cosmetic Surgery Guide every year from 2019 to 2026
- 25 years of surgical and 17 years of non-surgical experience
Frequently asked questions
Call or email us today, we would be delighted to answer your questions.
- It’s normal to experience temporary effects in the days after surgery as your eyelids heal. These can include numbness, bruising, puffiness, swelling and some discomfort or pain. You may also notice light sensitivity, watery eyes or slightly blurred vision for a short time. These effects usually settle gradually over the first couple of weeks, and our team will guide you through your aftercare at every stage.
- Hooded eyes are often linked to genetics and ageing, so they can’t always be prevented, but some habits can help slow further sagging. Protecting your skin from the sun with SPF and sunglasses helps preserve the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Not smoking, eating a balanced diet and avoiding rubbing your eyes can also help. A good anti-ageing skincare routine for the delicate skin around the eyelids can further support this.
- Some people find that facial exercises and gentle massage improve muscle tone and circulation around the eyes. This may help reduce the appearance of mild hooding for some people. However, exercises and massage cannot remove excess skin. For more noticeable hooding, a non-surgical treatment or eyelid surgery is usually more effective.
- In some cases, yes, particularly if the hooded skin droops significantly. When the excess skin sits low over the lash line, it can block part of your upper or side vision. Some people also find their eyes feel heavy or tired from constantly lifting their brows to see clearly. If your vision is affected, a clinical assessment can confirm the cause and the most suitable treatment.
- You likely have hooded eyes if the crease of your eyelid is not visible when your eyes are open, or if a prominent fold of skin covers the crease. The fold usually comes down from the brow bone and can affect one or both eyes. Hooded eyes can be confused with droopy eyelids (ptosis), which are caused by a weak eyelid muscle rather than excess skin. A consultation with Dr Sabrina can confirm which condition you have.
- Limited vision: Hooded eyelids can block your vision or make it difficult to see clearly.
- Difficulty with eye makeup: The excess skin can get in the way of applying eye makeup or eyeliner.
- Tired or heavy eyes: You may feel like your eyes are weighed down or fatigued, even when you're well-rested.
- Sensitivity to light: Your eyes might become more sensitive to light, leading to discomfort or pain.
- Watery eyes: You may experience excessive tearing due to the hooded eyelids.
- Difficulty opening eyes wide: It may be hard to open your eyes fully, giving you a perpetually tired look.
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