Woman with softly hooded eyelids illustrating droopy eyelid assessment

Droopy Eyelids · Hooded Eyes · Brow Position · Thermage Eye · HIFU · Orchard Road

Droopy Eyelid Treatment Singapore

Name: Droopy Eyelids & Hooded Eyes Singapore | IN Eternity Clinic
Creator: Dr Sin Yong
Published: 2026-10-07

Hooding, a low brow or true ptosis: three different problems.

Heavy-looking upper lids can come from excess lid skin, a brow that has dropped, or a weak lid-lifting muscle. Medical Director Dr Sin Yong tells these apart before anything is suggested.

WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓

3 causes

Told apart first

Mild hooding

What this page covers

Referral

For true ptosis

Doctor-led

Assessment

Key facts

Three causes: excess upper-lid skin (dermatochalasis), a brow that has descended onto the lid, and blepharoptosis — a lid margin that sits low because the lifting muscle or its tendon has weakened.
Brow-lift effect: small doses of botulinum toxin, a prescription medicine, relax the muscle that pulls the outer brow down, which can raise the brow tail by a few millimetres.
Energy options at IN: Thermage FLX with the Eye Tip for lid skin laxity, and shallow focused ultrasound (HIFU) along the brow and forehead, kept away from the eye itself.
When surgery is needed: true ptosis, heavy folds of excess skin, or a lid that blocks the upper field of vision usually need an oculoplastic opinion.
Red flags: a droop that appears suddenly, or comes with double vision, a different pupil size, headache or weakness, needs urgent medical review the same day.
Where: IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore.

Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong, Medical Director, IN Eternity Clinic · Last updated 7 October 2026

Diagnosis

Is it hooding, a low brow or ptosis?

Hooding is usually skin: a fold of upper-lid skin that rests on the lashes as elasticity falls with age. A low brow adds weight from above, especially at the outer third, and lifting the brow with a fingertip often opens the eye. Ptosis is different again: the lid margin itself sits low over the iris because the levator muscle or its attachment has stretched or weakened. It may be from age, long-term contact lens wear, previous eye surgery, or, less often, a nerve or muscle condition.

Dr Sin Yong looks at brow height at rest, how much lid skin there is, where the lid margin sits relative to the pupil, and whether the forehead is working hard to hold the brows up. Anti-wrinkle injections in the forehead of someone who relies on that muscle to keep their lids open can make things worse, which is one reason this assessment comes first.

Options

Which non-surgical options can help mild hooding?

Brow-lift effect with anti-wrinkle injections. The outer part of the muscle around the eye pulls the brow tail downward. Relaxing it with small, precisely placed doses of botulinum toxin lets the brow-lifting muscle act a little more freely. The change is subtle and wears off over months. See anti-wrinkle injections.

Thermage FLX with the Eye Tip. Monopolar radiofrequency heats the dermis of the upper and lower lid skin to tighten collagen and prompt new collagen over months. Protective eye shields are placed for treatment of the lids. See Thermage FLX.

Focused ultrasound along the brow. Shallow HIFU lines along the brow and forehead can tighten the tissue that supports the brow; lines are placed away from the eye itself. See HIFU. Often a combination works more gently than any single step.

Referral

When does a droopy eyelid need an eye specialist?

If the lid margin covers part of the pupil, if you find yourself raising your eyebrows or tilting your chin to see, or if one lid has dropped noticeably more than the other, the cause is likely ptosis or heavy dermatochalasis. These are treated surgically by an oculoplastic specialist, and no injection or energy treatment will lift a lid whose muscle has weakened. Dr Sin Yong will tell you this at assessment and can arrange a referral.

A droop that comes on over hours or days, especially with double vision, a change in pupil size, eye pain or headache, can signal a nerve problem and needs same-day medical attention rather than an aesthetic appointment.

Comfort

Does it hurt? Comfort and numbing

Anti-wrinkle injections around the brow feel like a few quick pinpricks and take minutes; numbing is rarely needed. Thermage on the eyelids is done with numbing cream, and each pulse feels like a short burst of heat followed by cooling and vibration. HIFU along the brow can feel like deep, brief prickling or aching over bone; numbing cream and adjusted energy keep it tolerable.

Timeline

What to expect: day by day

Day 0: assessment, photographs at rest and with eyes open wide, then treatment if suitable. You can usually return to normal activities the same day.

Days 1–3: after injections, small bumps at the injection points fade within hours; avoid rubbing the area. After Thermage or HIFU, mild redness or puffiness around the eyes can occur and settle.

Week 1: the toxin effect starts to show from around day three to five.

Weeks 2–4: the brow-lift effect reaches its full level by about two weeks. Collagen tightening from Thermage or HIFU develops more slowly, over two to six months.

Review at about two weeks: the brow position is checked and any small adjustment discussed; energy treatments are reviewed again at three months.

Myths and facts

Common myths, answered

Myth: Anti-wrinkle injections always make eyelids droop.
Fact: Lid drooping after toxin is a recognised but uncommon side effect, usually from product spreading towards the lid-lifting muscle. Careful placement and dosing reduce the risk, and it wears off.
Myth: Eye creams can lift hooded lids.
Fact: Creams can hydrate the skin and soften fine lines, but they cannot lift a descended brow or tighten a fold of excess skin.
Myth: All droopy eyelids can be fixed without surgery.
Fact: True ptosis and heavy skin folds need surgical correction. Non-surgical options suit mild hooding only.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can hooded eyes be fixed without surgery?

Mild hooding can often be improved without surgery, usually by lifting the brow tail with anti-wrinkle injections and tightening skin with radiofrequency or focused ultrasound. The change is modest. Heavy folds of skin and true ptosis usually need surgical correction by an oculoplastic specialist.

How long does a brow-lift effect from injections last?

Usually around three to four months, though it varies with the dose, your muscle strength and metabolism. Stronger muscles and people who are very expressive may find it wears off sooner. The effect fades gradually rather than suddenly, and repeat treatment is planned only if you were happy with the first result.

Can anti-wrinkle injections cause droopy eyelids?

Yes, occasionally. If toxin spreads to the muscle that lifts the eyelid, the lid can sit lower for some weeks. It is temporary. Careful mapping, small doses and avoiding rubbing the area afterwards reduce the risk, and eye drops can help while it resolves.

Is Thermage safe around the eyes?

Thermage FLX has an Eye Tip designed for the upper and lower eyelid skin, and protective eye shields are used during lid treatment. Swelling and redness are common for a short time. As with any energy treatment near the eye, technique and settings matter, which is why it is done by the doctor.

How much does droopy eyelid treatment cost in Singapore?

It depends on the cause and the plan: injections alone, an energy treatment such as Thermage FLX or HIFU, or a combination. Where surgery is the right answer, a referral is arranged instead. Dr Sin Yong explains the options and their cost after examining you.

When should a droopy eyelid be seen urgently?

See a doctor the same day if an eyelid droops suddenly, or if the droop comes with double vision, a change in pupil size, eye pain, headache or weakness elsewhere. These can signal a nerve or neurological problem rather than ageing.

References

Huilgol SC, Carruthers A, Carruthers JDA. Raising eyebrows with botulinum toxin. Dermatol Surg 1999;25(5):373-376. doi:10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08286.x
Biesman BS, Baker SS, Carruthers J, et al. Monopolar radiofrequency treatment of human eyelids: a prospective, multicenter, efficacy trial. Lasers Surg Med 2006;38(10):890-898. doi:10.1002/lsm.20452
Finsterer J. Ptosis: causes, presentation, and management. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2003;27(3):193-204. doi:10.1007/s00266-003-0127-5
Singapore Medical Council. Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors (2016 edition). healthprofessionals.gov.sg/smc

These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.