How to Fix Hooded Eyes: Non-Surgical & Injectable Treatment Options

Hooded eyes are a common but often misunderstood concern in aesthetic medicine. Though often considered a cosmetic concern, hooded eyes can also impact function - causing visual field obstruction, brow strain, and makeup difficulties.

As professionals in aesthetic medicine, it is essential to go beyond surface-level improvements and understand the anatomical, age-related, and structural changes contributing to this condition. This article outlines how to fix hooded eyes effectively using non-surgical, minimally invasive, and, when appropriate, surgical options. Our goal is to guide injectors through evaluation and treatment planning while helping patients understand what’s possible for their unique facial anatomy.

What Are Hooded Eyes?

Hooded eyes occur when excess skin folds from the brow and covers part of the upper eyelid. This can make the eyes appear smaller, aged, or less defined. Some patients are born with this feature, while others develop it over time.

Causes Include:

Genetics: Many people have a naturally low-set brow or extra skin over the eyelid crease.
Ageing: Over time, the skin loses collagen and elasticity. Combined with gravitational descent of the brow and fat pad repositioning, this results in upper eyelid hooding.
Facial Bone Changes: The orbital rim widens and recedes with age, altering upper facial support.
Muscular Laxity: Weakening of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle may contribute to eyelid drooping. In some cases, this may indicate ptosis, which requires distinct management.

Not every case of hooded eyes is the same, so proper diagnosis and tailored planning are critical.

Assessment Before Treatment

Before selecting a treatment modality, injectors must conduct a comprehensive assessment.

Evaluate These Key Factors:

Is the hooding due to excess skin, brow descent, or both?
Is there significant temple volume loss affecting lateral brow support?
Is the concern purely aesthetic, or does it impair vision or cause discomfort?
Are the brows symmetrical?
Is there any evidence of true ptosis that needs surgical referral?

A skilled injector knows that temple hollowing and lateral brow descent are often culprits of upper face ageing. Without restoring this scaffolding, isolated eye treatments may fall short.

For clinical context, refer to: What is ptosis?

Non-Surgical Hooded Eye Treatment Options

Aesthetic practitioners can achieve excellent results in mild to moderate cases using a combination of injectables and energy-based devices. These treatments require precision and anatomical knowledge but offer patients non-invasive alternatives with minimal downtime.

1. Botox for Hooded Eyes

Botulinum toxin can gently lift the outer brow by targeting the orbicularis oculi muscle that pulls the brow downward.

Best for patients with early brow descent and good skin elasticity
A “chemical brow lift” effect that opens up the upper eye area
Results in 5–10 days, lasts around 3–4 months.

Careful injection is critical. Incorrect dosing or placement can worsen eyelid heaviness or cause asymmetry.

2. Dermal Fillers for Temple and Brow Support

Volume loss in the temple and lateral brow contributes significantly to the hooded appearance. Restoring this area with structural fillers (e.g., high G-prime hyaluronic acid) can:

Recreate lateral brow support.
Provide subtle lift without surgery.
Improve contour transitions between the forehead and cheeks.

Fillers must be placed deeply near the bone to avoid irregularities and mimic natural projection.

3. Radiofrequency (RF) and Microneedling

Devices like fractional RF and RF-microneedling offer controlled thermal stimulation to the dermis.

Promote collagen synthesis and dermal tightening.
Suitable for patients with mild skin laxity
Require multiple sessions for optimal effect.

These are ideal complementary treatments to support injectables and enhance long-term skin quality.

4. HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound)

HIFU is effective for deeper tissue tightening, working at the SMAS level.

Penetrates deeper than RF
Results appear gradually over 2–3 months.
Best for patients seeking a gradual, natural-looking lift

While not a direct eyelid treatment, it improves periorbital firmness and can enhance the outcomes of other procedures.

5. Plasma Pen / Fibroblast Therapy

This is a precision technique for superficial tightening.

Effective for patients with mild crepey skin
Stimulates fibroblast activity and skin contraction
Not suitable for patients with darker skin tones due to the risk of hyperpigmentation

Practitioners must assess skin type carefully and discuss realistic expectations.

6. Medical-Grade Skincare

No topical product will reverse hooding, but skincare supports maintaining outcomes.

Recommend:

Retinoids for dermal renewal
Peptides to support collagen
Firming serums with caffeine or growth factors

These products prolong injectable results and improve skin texture and elasticity.

Minimally Invasive Option: Thread Lifting

Thread lifting has become an increasingly popular option for patients with early to moderate signs of hooded eyes who are not yet candidates for surgery. It offers a minimally invasive route to lift and reposition sagging tissue around the upper face, particularly the lateral brow and temple area.

What Is Thread Lifting?

Thread lifting involves the insertion of absorbable sutures beneath the skin to mechanically lift tissue and stimulate collagen production. The most commonly used threads for this indication are made from Polydioxanone (PDO). However, Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads are also used depending on the desired longevity and bio-stimulatory effect.

For hooded eyes, barbed PDO threads are inserted into the subcutaneous layer above the zygomatic arch and toward the lateral brow to create upward tension. This results in a visible lift of the outer brow, improving upper eyelid exposure and softening heaviness around the eyes.

Clinical Benefits for Hooded Eyes

Lifts lateral brow to open up the upper eyelid area and counteract early brow ptosis
Supports temple and upper face volume loss, a key contributor to upper face sagging
Stimulates neocollagenesis, improving dermal firmness over time
Minimises downtime, typically allowing the return to normal activities within 1–3 days.

While threads cannot replace surgery in cases of severe skin laxity, they offer a suitable bridge between injectables and surgical intervention for appropriate patients.

Surgical Option: Upper Blepharoplasty

In patients with significant excess skin or true ptosis, surgery remains the definitive treatment.

Procedure Goals:

Remove redundant skin and excess fat.
Tighten the underlying orbicularis muscle.
Restore a defined upper lid crease and refreshed appearance.

Performed under local or general anaesthesia, recovery takes about 7–14 days. Although not part of non-surgical training, upper blepharoplasty remains the gold standard for advanced cases with significant excess skin. Aesthetic practitioners must recognize when to refer appropriately.

Choosing the Right Treatment Approach

Matching the treatment to patient needs requires skill, honesty, and aesthetic judgment. Use this guide:

Severity	Recommended Treatment
Mild	Botox, fillers, RF, medical skincare
Mild–Moderate	PDO threads, HIFU, plasma pen, filler + Botox combo
Moderate–Severe	Surgical blepharoplasty ± brow lift
All levels	Skin maintenance with medical-grade skincare

Each patient must be assessed holistically. A multi-modal approach often yields the most natural and effective results.

Why Anatomical Knowledge and Training Matter

Treating hooded eyes is not just about technique. It’s about understanding facial ageing patterns and offering safe, effective, and tailored solutions.

For practitioners:

Mastering periorbital anatomy is critical to avoiding complications
Misplaced filler or Botox can worsen drooping or cause eyelid ptosis.
Comprehensive training improves outcomes and patient satisfaction.

👉 Explore our aesthetic medicine courses online to deepen your knowledge and stay confident in delivering results.

Conclusion

Hooded eyes can result from skin laxity, brow descent, or structural volume loss. Treating them requires more than one solution. Aesthetic practitioners must assess the cause and choose the right combination of injectables, threads, or device-based treatments. For advanced cases, surgical referral may be needed.

At HubMedEd, we offer expert-led training to help you understand facial aging, refine your technique, and deliver safe, natural-looking results. Explore our aesthetic medicine courses to strengthen your practice and stay confident in your approach to periorbital rejuvenation.

FAQs

How do you fix hooded eyes naturally?

While hooded eyes cannot be fully reversed naturally, using retinoids, facial exercises, and firming eye creams may improve mild skin laxity and support upper eyelid health.

Can hooded eyes be corrected?

Yes, hooded eyes can be corrected using non-surgical options like Botox, dermal fillers, thread lifting, and energy-based devices. Surgical blepharoplasty is reserved for severe cases.

Can hooded eyes be fixed without surgery?

Hooded eyes can be treated without surgery through injectables, RF microneedling, HIFU, and thread lifting. These non-invasive treatments improve brow support and tighten skin.

How much does hooded eyelid surgery cost?

Upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) typically costs between £2,000 and £5,000 in the UK. The price varies based on the clinic, surgeon expertise, and location.

Are hooded eyes attractive?

Yes, hooded eyes are a natural eye shape and can be very attractive. Treatments are only needed when hooding affects function or personal aesthetic goals.

How to tighten the upper eyelids?

You can tighten upper eyelids with RF microneedling, HIFU, or plasma pen treatments. These non-surgical options stimulate collagen and improve skin firmness around the eyes.