At some point, she noticed something new in the mirror. Her upper eyelid skin was not just a little heavier. It was actually resting on her eyelashes. Eyeshadow disappeared under the fold, mascara smudged more easily, and in photos her eyes looked smaller and more closed than before.
If you have ever thought, “My eyelids are sagging over my eyelashes,” you are not alone. Extra upper eyelid skin, also called hooding or dermatochalasis, is very common with age and genetics. She also had under eye bags, which made her look tired even when she was rested.
Why eyelids start to sag over the lashes
Several changes occur over time:
- The skin of the upper eyelid stretches and loses elasticity.
- Extra fullness can develop in the upper lid crease.
- The brow may sit slightly lower than it used to be.
Eventually, the extra skin can drape over the natural crease and rest on the eyelashes. Makeup no longer behaves the way it used to. Liner and mascara have less room, and shadow seems to vanish as soon as you open your eyes. The overall effect is a smaller, heavier looking eye and a more tired expression.
For this patient, that combination of sagging upper eyelid skin and under eye bags was the main reason she finally scheduled a consultation with Dr. Jason Sabet Peyman in Fullerton.
Her plan: upper bleph to open the eyes, lower bleph to smooth the bags
After listening to her goals and examining her eyelids, Dr. Sabet Peyman recommended a plan that addressed both problems at once.
- Upper eyelid blepharoplasty to remove the extra skin that was hanging over her eyelashes and to recreate a cleaner crease so her eyes could look more open again.
- Lower eyelid blepharoplasty to smooth and soften the under eye bags and shadows that were adding to the tired look.
Upper eyelid surgery is what actually opens the eyes visually by lifting the excess skin off the lashes and revealing more of the natural eyelid platform. Lower eyelid surgery does not open the eyes, but it can significantly improve the contour under the eyes by reducing bags and blending the lid into the cheek.
In her before photo, the upper skin sits on the lashes and much of the eyelid platform is hidden, and the lower lids show puffiness and creasing. In the after photo, you can see more of her natural upper eyelid platform with space between the crease and lashes, and the lower lids look smoother and less puffy. The change is noticeable, yet she still looks unmistakably like herself.
Beauty benefits patients actually feel
Patients often notice small, day to day benefits after upper and lower eyelid surgery, including:
- More confidence and feeling better about what they see when looking in the mirror.
- Makeup goes on more easily and stays where it is supposed to.
- There is room again for liner and shadow because upper lid skin is no longer resting on the lashes.
- Under eye concealer sits better on a smoother surface.
- Eyes photograph better, with less shadow and squinting.
- The whole face looks more awake and polished, even without heavy makeup.
For many women, these practical beauty changes matter just as much as the technical terms blepharoplasty or dermatochalasis. They want their eyes to match the effort they put into their appearance.
Why she chose to treat upper and lower lids at the same time
She could have treated only the upper eyelids or only the lower eyelids. Together, she and Dr. Sabet Peyman decided that doing both would:
- Avoid the “half finished” look where the upper lids look younger but under eye bags remain, or the reverse.
- Provide one in office procedure under local anesthesia instead of planning two separate surgeries.
- Allow for one recovery period, with swelling and bruising improving over the same one to two week window.
For patients whose main concerns are both eyelids sagging over the lashes and under eye bags, combining upper and lower blepharoplasty can be the most efficient way to get a balanced result.
What about cost if both lids are treated?
A combined upper and lower eyelid surgery is a larger investment than treating just one set of lids. At the same time, it is usually more cost effective than staging two separate surgeries.
Dr. Jason Sabet Peyman performs eyelid surgery in his own Fullerton office under local anesthesia, so there are no separate facility or general anesthesia fees. Your total cost mainly depends on:
- Whether you treat upper lids, lower lids, or both
- How complex your eyelid anatomy is
- Whether other treatments are added, such as laser resurfacing or ptosis repair
At your consultation, you will receive a personalized plan with a clear written quote for each option. You can see the difference between treating one set of eyelids or both, and choose what feels right for you.
Eyelids sagging over your eyelashes in Fullerton and Orange County
If your eyelids are starting to sag over your eyelashes, if makeup is disappearing under a fold of skin, or if under eye bags are making you look tired even when you feel fine, you do not have to guess which eyelid surgery you need.
Dr. Jason Sabet Peyman is a fellowship trained oculofacial plastic surgeon who focuses exclusively on eyelid and periocular surgery. From his office in Fullerton, he performs upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, and combined four eyelid surgery for patients across Orange County, including Fullerton, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Yorba Linda, and Huntington Beach.
A consultation with Dr. Sabet Peyman can help you understand why your eyelids are sagging over your lashes, whether upper, lower, or combined eyelid surgery is the best fit, and what kind of natural result you can realistically expect.
