Cosmetic surgery
Eyelid & Brow Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Hooded lids, under-eye bags, droopy eyelids, and heavy brows can make you look tired no matter how you feel. Dr. Husam Elias tailors eyelid surgery and brow lifting to your anatomy so your eyes look open, rested, and still unmistakably yours.
Eyes That Look as Rested as You Feel
Eyelid and brow surgery is a group of procedures that remove, tighten, or reposition the skin, fat, and muscle around the eyes and forehead to reduce hooding, puffiness, and heaviness. The most common is blepharoplasty, often called eyelid surgery, but it is not always the right answer on its own. Excess upper lid skin, a drooping eyelid muscle, a descended brow, and hollowing beneath the eye can look similar in the mirror, yet each needs a different fix.
At Cosmetic Doc, Dr. Husam Elias begins by identifying which of these is responsible. As a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon with training in the bones of the face, he pays close attention to the eye socket, cheekbone, and brow ridge that frame your eyes, because the way those structures support the soft tissue shapes what can be achieved.
Common Reasons Patients Seek Eye Surgery
- Hooded upper lids: Extra skin folds over the lash line, making eye makeup difficult and sometimes narrowing your upper field of vision.
- Under-eye bags: Fat that normally cushions the eye pushes forward, creating puffiness that does not improve with sleep or creams.
- A droopy eyelid: The lid margin itself sits low because the muscle that raises it has stretched or weakened, a condition called ptosis.
- Heavy brows: A brow that has descended over time pushes skin onto the upper lid and can give your face a stern or tired expression.
Procedures
Eyelid and Brow Procedures We Offer
Your plan may use one of these procedures or combine several. Dr. Elias will explain which ones match what is actually causing your concern.
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Upper & Lower Blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid surgery removes excess skin and fat to reduce hooding, while lower eyelid surgery repositions or removes fat to smooth under-eye bags. They can be performed separately or together.
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Asian Blepharoplasty
Double-eyelid surgery creates or refines an upper eyelid crease in harmony with your natural eye shape and heritage. Techniques range from incisional approaches to minimally invasive suture methods, depending on your anatomy.
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Revision Blepharoplasty
Corrects results from previous eyelid surgery, such as an uneven crease, a hollow or sunken look, too much skin removed, or a lower lid that has pulled downward, with careful, conservative planning.
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Canthoplasty & Canthopexy
Tighten and support the outer corner of the eye, where the upper and lower lids meet. They are often used with lower eyelid surgery to prevent or correct a loose, rounded, or pulled-down lower lid.
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Ptosis Repair
Tightens or shortens the muscle that raises the upper eyelid when the lid itself sits too low. It differs from removing excess skin and can be combined with blepharoplasty when both are present.
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Tear Trough Correction
Softens the hollow groove between the lower lid and cheek using fat repositioning during eyelid surgery, fat transfer, or carefully placed hyaluronic acid filler, depending on the depth of the hollow.
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Brow Lift
Raises and reshapes a low or heavy brow, reducing the upper lid hooding it causes and restoring an open, relaxed expression. Often paired with upper eyelid surgery for balanced results.
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Asian Blepharoplasty and Revision Eyelid Surgery
Asian blepharoplasty, also known as double-eyelid surgery, creates or refines a crease in the upper eyelid. The goal is never to change your ethnic identity; it is to create a crease whose height, shape, and fold look as though they belong to your eyes. Dr. Elias may recommend an incisional technique, which allows fat and skin to be adjusted and tends to produce a more durable crease, or a suture technique, which uses small punctures and suits thinner lids with little excess skin. Many patients pair this with other procedures described on our Asian facial surgery page.
Revision eyelid surgery is one of the most delicate procedures in facial cosmetic surgery, because there is less tissue to work with and the eye's protective function must be preserved. Patients from across Los Angeles seek correction of asymmetric creases, hollowness, or lower lid malposition. Learn more about our approach to revisional facial surgery.
Eyelid Surgery or Brow Lift?
If lifting your brow with a fingertip clears most of the hooding on your upper lids, a brow lift may do more than eyelid surgery alone. Removing lid skin beneath a low brow can pull the brow even lower. Many patients benefit from both, and Dr. Elias will show you the difference during your exam. When the upper face needs more than the brows, a forehead lift or broader facial rejuvenation plan may also be discussed.
Why Cosmetic Doc
Our Approach to Eye Surgery
The eyes are the first place people look. These principles guide how Dr. Elias plans every eyelid and brow procedure.
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Diagnose Before Treating
Excess skin, fat, a weak lid muscle, and a low brow each need a different approach. A careful exam ensures your procedure matches the real cause of your concern.
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Keep Your Eye Shape
Conservative removal and careful repositioning of tissue help your eyes look refreshed without appearing hollow, rounded, or surprised, so you still look like yourself.
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Respect Your Heritage
Eyelid crease design is personalized to your natural features and ethnic identity, with the goal of enhancing what is already there rather than imposing a single standard.
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Protect Eye Function
Your eyelids shield and moisten your eyes. Every plan balances aesthetic goals with comfortable closure and healthy tear function, especially in lower lid and revision surgery.
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Recover Comfortably
Most eyelid procedures can be performed under local anesthesia with oral or IV sedation, and many patients return to desk work within about one to two weeks.
Recovery After Eyelid and Brow Surgery
Most patients experience swelling and bruising that peaks within the first few days and fades over one to two weeks. Cold compresses, head elevation, and prescribed eye drops or ointment help keep you comfortable. Many people return to work and light activity within about one to two weeks, and residual swelling continues to settle over the following months. Detailed pre- and post-operative instructions guide each stage.
Cost, Insurance, and Scheduling
The cost of eyelid or brow surgery depends on the procedures chosen, the technique, the type of anesthesia, facility fees, and whether procedures are combined. You will receive a personalized, written quote after your consultation. Cosmetic eye surgery is generally elective, but when hooded lids or eyelid ptosis block your field of vision, upper eyelid surgery or ptosis repair may qualify for medical insurance; our team can help verify your benefits. We accept cash, checks, major credit and debit cards, and financing plans.
To learn which approach fits your eyes, schedule a consultation with Dr. Elias at Cosmetic Doc in Pasadena or Sherman Oaks.
Questions patients ask
Eyelid & Brow Surgery FAQs
What is the difference between ptosis and excess eyelid skin?
Excess skin, called dermatochalasis, folds over a lid that is otherwise in a normal position and is treated with blepharoplasty. Ptosis means the eyelid margin itself sits too low because the lifting muscle has stretched or weakened, and it requires tightening that muscle. Some patients have both, and both can be corrected together.
Will insurance cover my eyelid surgery?
Cosmetic eyelid surgery is generally not covered. However, if drooping lids or eyelid ptosis block your upper field of vision, surgery may qualify for medical insurance, often after documented vision testing. Our team can help verify your benefits and explain what documentation your insurer typically requires before surgery.
Is Asian blepharoplasty meant to make my eyes look different?
No. Asian blepharoplasty creates or refines an upper eyelid crease that suits your natural eye shape, heritage, and personal preferences. Dr. Elias designs the crease height and shape with you, aiming for a result that looks natural and consistent with your features rather than following a single template.
Do I need a brow lift or eyelid surgery?
If gently lifting your brow erases most of the hooding on your upper lids, the brow is likely a major cause, and a brow lift may be recommended alone or with eyelid surgery. If hooding remains with the brow raised, excess lid skin is the main issue. Dr. Elias evaluates both during your exam.
How can dark hollows under my eyes be treated?
Hollows along the tear trough may be softened by repositioning your own under-eye fat during lower eyelid surgery, by transferring purified fat from another area, or by placing hyaluronic acid filler. The best choice depends on the depth of the hollow, your skin quality, and whether bags are also present.
Will my eyelid surgery scars be visible?
Upper eyelid incisions are placed within the natural crease, where they are typically hidden when your eyes are open. Lower eyelid surgery may use an incision just below the lashes or inside the lid, leaving no visible scar. Most incisions fade to fine lines over several months with proper care.
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Your Choice for Expert Cosmetic Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Cosmetic Doc delivers board-certified cosmetic surgery with care, compassion, and artistry. From facelifts and rhinoplasty to body contouring, Dr. Husam Elias pairs dual MD/DMD training with an on-site AAAHC-accredited surgery center for the safest, most natural-looking results. Contact our Pasadena or Sherman Oaks office today to schedule your consultation.