ASK DR YAGODA

Question: I’m a 60-something year old woman and the skin around my eyes is just not what it used to be. The skin sags and I can’t wear eye shadow anymore because it barely shows. Can an eyelid lift help me or do I need a facelift?

Answer: The condition you are describing is known as hooding. Hooding occurs when upper eyelid skin becomes loose and hangs over the eyelid crease close to or onto the eyelashes.  Bothersome as it may be, the solution is fast, easy and virtually painless.  This excess skin, caused by the normal aging process or genetics in some cases, can be removed in the office under local anesthesia.  The incision, which is hidden in the normal upper eyelid crease, is nearly invisible when it heals.  And, here’s good news for the squeamish:  aside from the sensation of heaviness after surgery, there is no pain. This is because once the skin incision is made, the area can be numb for up to three weeks.  In addition, there is no need to worry about “seeing” something during the surgery. An opaque contact lens is placed into the eye, after it has been anesthetized with a topical eye drop.  As a result, you won’t feel the insertion or removal.