How Can Sagging Eyelids Be Corrected?
Sagging eyelids refer to a situation where the upper eyelids are drooping disproportionately. The edge of the upper eyelid may have excess skin or hang lower than usual. Drooping eyelids can come with aging, genetic causes, or result from injury or illness.
The eyelids usually sag when the muscles that support them become weak or their skin becomes loose. Eyelids can also hang down if the nerves that control eyelid muscles are damaged. The good news is that you can correct sagging eyelids. We will perform a physical exam to identify the cause and recommend suitable treatment.
How Can You Correct Sagging Eyelids?
The results from your physical exam will determine the most suitable way to tighten your sagging eyelids. Based on your case, your doctor can recommend surgical or nonsurgical treatments.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Treating mild to moderate sagging eyelids may involve nonsurgical treatment. The most common nonsurgical alternatives include:
Prescription eye drops - Your doctor can recommend eye drops that help tighten your eyelid muscles and raise the eyelids
Injections - Injecting botulinum toxins, such as Botox, can help fix loose skin and minimize wrinkles around your eyes
Fillers - Gels containing hyaluronic acid, such as Juvéderm®, can add volume to fill folds around your eyelids. This will give a fuller appearance to the skin around your eyes
Your doctor may recommend trying these treatment options before they suggest surgery.
Surgical Treatments
Severe drooping eyelids may need surgery. There are various surgical treatments you may undergo for saggy eyelids based on the cause. They include:
Eyelid Repair Surgery
Eyelid repair surgery corrects sagging eyelids by tightening the muscles that raise the upper eyelid. Based on the type of eyelid repair, your surgeon may make cuts on the back or front of the eyelid or the forehead.
You may experience bruising for two weeks after the surgery and minimal pain. Eyelid repair surgery is the best treatment option for patients with severe sagging of their upper eyelids.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty repositions or removes excess skin and fat around your eyelids. Studies show that blepharoplasty has various benefits to the eyes. It helps improve headaches and increases the patient’s field of vision.
Forehead or Eyebrow Lift
Forehead or eyebrow lift can raise saggy eyelids by leveling and tightening your eyebrows and forehead. The effects of this procedure are instant, but swelling can take up to six months to decrease.
Surgical treatments aim to fix saggy eyelids or eye bags, and their outcomes are long-lasting. Before you choose to go ahead with surgery, be sure about your reasons. Talk to your plastic surgeon if you have questions about the treatments for sagging eyelids. Your surgeon will explain everything you need to know and help you make an informed decision.
For more on how sagging eyelids can be corrected, contact Aesthetic Surgical Associates at our office in Metairie, Louisiana, serving the New Orleans area. Call 504-226-8200 to book an appointment today.
