by injecting hyaluronic acid fillers in areas like the brow bone, eye socket, or temples, adding volume to indirectly support and lift the skin around the eyes, making sagging upper eyelids appear less prominent. However, this method’s lifting effect is limited, mainly for mild hooding due to hollowness or lack of structural support around the eyes. For more severe drooping, other lifting options, such as ultrasound lifting or surgery, may be needed.
What Are Fillers
are injectable cosmetic products widely used for facial contouring, wrinkle removal, and filling areas of volume loss. The main content of their composition is hyaluronic acid, which is a resident of the skin and tissues and helps in holding moisture and giving the skin a plump, soft look. As skin ages, moisture and elasticity gradually decrease, leading to facial contours sagging and the skin wrinkling. Hyaluronic acid fillers provide moisture and add volume for contouring. Fillers can also lift sagging areas of the cheeks, temples, and jawline.
Different brands differ in texture, molecular size, and duration. Doctors would choose an appropriate type of filler based on the area of treatment. Speaking of the treatment of hooded eyes, fillers may either succeed or fail due to many reasons: eyelid laxity, general facial anatomy, skin texture, to name a few.
Hooded Eyes Defined
Hooded eyes generally refer to droopy or excess skin of the upper eyelid that partially covers the eyelid, giving a “hooded” appearance. Different extents of the condition may alter not only one’s look and facial expression but also make them appear more tired, even older, or sleepier than they actually are. The causes of having hooded eyes also differ and range from natural structure, skin laxity due to aging, to genetic and weakened eye muscles.
Mild hooded eyes only affect the contour and appearance of the eyes, but in severe ones, it may affect the vision, such as not being able to open the eyes or easily getting tired of the eyes. As for conservative treatments, it includes a surgical approach by levator muscle surgery or brow lift to elevate the upper eyelid. In recent years, however, nonsurgical treatments like injections of fillers have gained popularity due to the minimally invasive nature and short recovery period. Most people are attracted to trying fillers as one way of correcting mild hooded eyes.
How Fillers Work
Generally, fillers work to add volume to skin and tissues, thereby lifting sagging areas and improving hollowness. When hyaluronic acid fillers are injected, they combine with skin moisture through the filling of subcutaneous gaps, therefore providing an immediate kind of “support” and “lift.” More importantly, hyaluronic acid itself may stimulate collagen production in the skin, which contributes to a longer effect.
For hooded eyes, fillers tend to work by giving an upward tuck of the skin around the eyes, improving laxity of the eyelid skin and definition lines of the eye contour. Physicians usually inject fillers into the orbital bone, temples, or around the orbit to provide a sort of “lifting” result of the upper eyelid due to spillover from the volume transfer. Such subtle changes make the skin tighter, the orbit takes on a better shape, and the eyes seem brighter, which therefore .
However, fillers are only temporary and usually last anywhere from 6 to 18 months, depending on the individual. Over time, hyaluronic acid slowly gets absorbed by the body, and the effect of the filler diminishes. Repetitive injections at appropriate intervals are thus required for sustained results.
Lift vs. Fill
Many people confuse the terms “lift” and “fill.” In plain English, a “lift” elevates drooping skin, while “fill” adds volume to improve hollowness and contour. The fillers are more concerned with adding volume by increasing the volume locally to support the skin and hence offer a “pseudo-lifting” effect. In severe hooded eyes, however, the effects of fillers are limited because they cannot directly lift the skin as would be the case with surgery.
Fillers tend to work most effectively for mild forms of hooded eyes, usually brought about by hollowness around the eyes or brow bones that are low. In such cases, the skin supported by fillers appears “propped up,” offering visual enhancement. However, in those cases where sagging is more extreme and just the result of skin laxity, the effect of fillers becomes limited because the loose skin will continue to sag. Besides, fillers may make the area around the eye more puffy rather than lift the skin.
Thus, fillers are more “fillers” than “lifters.” Those who wish for a lot of lift may see better lifting with the addition of other techniques, such as ultrasound lifting, Thermage, or even surgery.
Benefits for Hooded Eyes
will see some relative visibility of the benefits of fillers. First, fillers may enhance the contour of the eye nonsurgically and make the area around the eye more defined and expressive. Many people opt for the option of fillers because they quite effectively increase the prominence of the brow bone and the socket of the eye, and by doing so, the upper eyelid does not look as droopy. Results are immediate, and the recovery period is rather short, often without considerable swelling and bruising.
Moreover, filling is a relatively painless and quick procedure. Anesthesia is usually not needed; just topical anesthesia at the site of the injection is enough, and even this causes minimal discomfort. What’s more, the effects of fillers can be reversed: if the results turn out to be unsatisfactory, the action of hyaluronidase will dissolve the filler.
The effect of fillers will gradually appear, and it can also encourage the skin to produce collagen to a certain extent. So regular injections can also make the skin firmer and slow down aging. When facial contours are accentuated, the whole eye area takes on a fresher appearance, giving one a much younger and more dynamic look.
Risks to Consider
Although fillers do not bring a lot of risks with them, it is not totally risk-free. Firstly, these injections of fillers can result in minor swellings and bruising at the site, which generally clear off in some days or so. Also, because the skin around the eyes is very fine, fills may cause minor lumpiness once administered. This usually goes away in a few weeks or so but sometimes requires adjustment by the doctor.
The significant risk of complications related to injecting eye area fillers is interrupted blood flow. This facial area is rich in small blood vessels and an inappropriate technique could annihilate a vessel, leading to serious complications, like skin necrosis or blindness. One needs to choose the professional very carefully. Apart from this, an allergic reaction to hyaluronic acid or some other ingredient of the filler is conceivable and requires a skin test before injection.
Besides, it is crucial to emphasize that injections are not permanent because fillers will be gradually absorbed. It is necessary to perform periodic injections with the purpose of sustaining results. However, carrying out frequent injections might thicken local tissue, thus distorting natural aesthetics.
Is It Right for You
Whether fillers are right for you depends essentially on the extent of the hooded eyes and your expectations. In cases where one suffers from mild hooded eyes, normally due to hollowness around the eye or inadequacy in contours, then fillers may be a relatively safer option with short recovery and serve improvement in the appearance of your eye and making it brighter.
However, for those who wish to see more pronounced lifting or with greater degrees of skin laxity, the effect of fillers may be limited. For them, other non-surgical lift options would involve either ultrasound lifting, Thermage, or even surgery for better results.
Whether fillers will suit you depends on the physical condition, skin status, and risk tolerance. Be sure to discuss your needs and expectations with a professional before injection. Choose the most suitable solution after listening to professional advice.
