Droopy eyelids: excess skin, ptosis or low-set eyebrows?
“My eyelids droop” sounds like a single complaint, but at least three different causes can hide behind it. And the distinction is not academic: it determines whether upper eyelid surgery will help you, or not at all.
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Leave your name and phone number. One of our team members will call you within one working day to answer your questions. There is no obligation.
1. Excess skin (dermatochalasis)
The most common cause. The skin of the upper eyelid stretches over the years and starts to hang over the lash line. Typical signs: the eyelid margin itself sits at a normal height, but a fold of skin rests on or over the lashes. Complaints include a heavy or tired feeling, a restricted upper field of vision and a tired appearance. This is the complaint upper eyelid surgery is designed for: the surgeon removes the excess skin.
2. Ptosis: the eyelid margin itself droops
In ptosis, the muscle that lifts the eyelid does not work well enough. It is not the skin but the edge of the eyelid itself that sinks towards the pupil. You may recognise it because the eye looks smaller and the lid margin can cover the upper part of the pupil, often more on one side. Standard skin removal does not solve this; it calls for a procedure of its own, the ptosis correction, which Looks Clinics performs through the inside of the eyelid, without an incision in the skin. Read more in the article on ptosis. Ptosis that develops quickly or comes with double vision should always be discussed with your GP first.
3. Low-set eyebrows (brow ptosis)
Sometimes the problem sits above the eyelid: the eyebrow has descended and pushes the eyelid skin down. Many people compensate without noticing by raising their brows, causing forehead lines and end-of-day headaches. If only eyelid skin is removed in this situation, the brow can be pulled down even further. The right treatment then starts with the brow position: the direct brow lift, which Looks Clinics also performs. Read more in the article on the brow lift.
Why this distinction matters so much
- Upper eyelid surgery only helps with excess skin.
- Ptosis requires a ptosis correction; removing skin changes little.
- With low-set brows, the direct brow lift is the logical route; a standard correction can make things look worse there.
- Bags and dark circles are a lower eyelid issue; for those, lower eyelid surgery exists.
All three causes are treatable at Looks Clinics, each with its own procedure; the assessment determines which fits your situation. Our self-test deliberately screens for these signals: if you recognise features of ptosis or low-set brows, your result will say so. In doubt, a specialist will look at your situation, at no cost, through the photo assessment.
FAQ
Can I tell myself whether I have ptosis?
One clue: look straight into the mirror and note where the eyelid margin sits relative to your pupil. If the margin covers part of the pupil, that fits ptosis. Only an assessment by a physician can give certainty.
Can excess skin and ptosis occur together?
Yes, both can be present at the same time. That is exactly when a proper assessment beforehand matters, because it changes the treatment choice.
Does Looks Clinics treat all three causes?
Yes. For excess skin there is upper eyelid surgery, for ptosis the ptosis correction through the inside of the eyelid, and for low-set eyebrows the direct brow lift. The assessment beforehand determines which procedure fits.
Prefer to talk it through?
Leave your name and phone number. One of our team members will call you within one working day to answer your questions. There is no obligation.