I naturally have monolids, and whenever I look straight ahead, my eyes tend to appear droopy and less refreshed. This is especially noticeable in photos, where I often look sleepy even when I'm not tired. I usually have to take countless pictures just to find one I like! It also affects my confidence, especially when meeting new people or being in large groups. As I entered my 30s, I wanted to become a better, more confident version of myself. That's why I decided to visit Lovely Eye & Skin Clinic to address my droopy eyes caused by ptosis.
What Was Causing My Droopy Eyes?
BASELINE EYE 26/6/26
Monolids with ptosis, making the eyes appear droopy, tired, and sleepy
Before my consultation, I thought my main concern was simply having monolids. Since I didn't have visible upper eyelid creases, my eyes looked small and lacked definition. However, when I visited Dr. Mina Naratippakorn (Medical License No. 43109) for an eye assessment, I discovered that my concern wasn't just about having monolids.
She found that I also had ptosis, a condition in which the upper eyelid sits lower than its normal position, often due to problems involving the muscles responsible for lifting the eyelid.
This explained why my eyes appeared partially closed and why I sometimes seemed to have multiple eyelid folds. The appearance of these folds was partly related to overlapping upper eyelid skin.
That's when I realized how important a thorough eye assessment is before undergoing double eyelid surgery. If I had focused only on creating an eyelid crease without addressing the underlying eyelid condition, the results might not have fully addressed my concerns. I might have to undergo double eyelid revision in the future.
I also believe that choosing the right clinic and an experienced medical team is essential. Dr. Mina carefully examined my eye structure, including my eyelid creases, fat distribution, and the function of my upper eyelid lifting muscles. This comprehensive assessment helped her develop a treatment plan tailored to my individual concerns.
Are Monolids and Ptosis Related?
Monolids and ptosis are two different conditions. Monolids refer to an eyelid structure in which there is no clearly visible upper eyelid crease when the eyes are open. This is a natural anatomical characteristic and does not necessarily indicate an eyelid problem.
Ptosis, on the other hand, is a condition in which the upper eyelid droops lower than its normal position. It may occur when the muscles responsible for lifting the upper eyelid, particularly the levator muscle, do not function properly. This can cause the eyes to appear partially closed, tired, or sleepy. Although monolids and ptosis are different, they can occur together, as they did in my case.
Can Ptosis Be Treated?
Dr. Mina explained that ptosis can be treated, although the appropriate treatment and outcomes depend on the underlying cause and each individual's eyelid condition. For my case, she recommended double eyelid surgery combined with levator muscle adjustment.
The purpose of the levator adjustment was to reposition the upper eyelid margin so that it covered less of the iris, allowing my eyes to appear more open and refreshed. At the same time, double eyelid surgery was performed to create defined upper eyelid creases and improve the balance between both eyes.
Rather than simply focusing on how high I wanted my eyelid creases to be, Dr. Mina carefully considered several important factors, including the degree of eyelid opening, the position of the upper eyelid margins, and the overall symmetry of my eyes. Thhis approach helped ensure that the surgical plan addressed both the functional concerns associated with ptosis and my desired eyelid appearance.
My Double Eyelid Surgery and Ptosis Surgery Journey
LOVELY EYE 9 DAYS 5/7/26
Nine days after surgery, I returned to Lovely Eye & Skin Clinic to have my stitches removed. Overall, my incisions were healing well and had dried nicely. My eyelid creases were becoming more defined, and I could already notice that my eyes appeared more open. The eyelid crease lines were also beginning to follow the positions designed before surgery.
However, I still had some postoperative swelling, so I needed to allow more time for my eyelids to settle. The clinic staff recommended continuing with warm compresses for a while to help reduce the remaining swelling.
LOVELY EYE 1 MONTH 27/7/26
One month after surgery, the swelling had significantly decreased compared with the first few days. I could see the shape of my new eyelid creases more clearly, and my eyes appeared more open. Before surgery, my eyes often looked droopy and tired, even when I felt completely fine. Now, I feel that my eyes look brighter and more refreshed. I'm absolutely loving my new double eyelids!
LOVELY EYE 3 MONTHS 24/9/26
LOVELY EYE 3 MONTHS 24/9/26
Three months after surgery, I wanted to share some photos of myself wearing makeup. What I love most about my results is that I don't feel like I've become a completely different person.
Instead, I feel like a more confident version of myself. I enjoy taking photos from different angles without worrying as much about how my eyes look. I can also experiment with a wider variety of makeup styles, which makes getting ready much more enjoyable. These little changes have made a positive difference in my everyday life.
For anyone who has monolids and notices that their eyes appear droopy, have difficulty opening fully, or look asymmetrical, I recommend consulting the Lovely Specialists medical team at Lovely Eye & Skin Clinic. A thorough eye assessment can help identify whether the concern is related to the eyelid crease, excess eyelid skin, or the function of the upper eyelid lifting muscles. From there, the medical team can recommend an appropriate treatment plan based on each individual's eye structure and concerns.