The Eyes Have It: Cosmetic Procedures That Fix Aging Eyes
Your eyes tend to be one of the most prominent features on your face, and they are also the area where the signs of aging first emerge. Skin around the eyes is thinner than on other areas of the face, and aging thins the skin even more. As a result, sagging eyelids, bags and dark circles under the eyes, and crow’s feet become dead giveaways that you’re not as young as you feel.
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery surveyed their member surgeons in 2012 and found blepharoplasty was the second most popular cosmetic surgery for patients between the ages of 35 and 60. There were also non-surgical treatments favored by men and women looking to reduce the signs of aging around the eyes. Learn more about these procedures below.
Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery in San Fransico is a cosmetic surgery that tightens the skin on the upper and lower eyelids. This helps reduce sagging and bags that form with aging. The surgical procedure begins with the administration of a light sedative and local anesthesia, unless you are pairing the eyelid surgery with other surgeries, and then general anesthesia may be more appropriate.
During the surgery, incisions are made in the crease of the upper eyelid for upper eyelid surgery, and in the inside of the lower eyelid or along the lower lash line for lower eyelid surgery. On the upper eyelid, excess skin is trimmed away and a little strip of muscle might also be removed. For the lower eyelid, excess fat may be removed and then if any skin needs removing, a minimal amount is excised. Once the eyelid lift is complete, the incisions are closed.
As you recover, discomfort is minimal and often includes dry, itchy eyes, some bruising, and minor swelling. You’ll have stitches removed in the first week, and then you can get back to light activities. You do need to refrain from strenuous activities for approximately three weeks.
Botox Cosmetic
Botox Cosmetic injections work by relaxing the muscle below the skin on your face. It’s a safe, effective injection that improves the appearance of lines around the eyes (crow’s feet), between the brows (frown lines), or the position of the eyebrows for approximately three to five months. At that point, you need touch up Botox Cosmetic injections or the lines will return.
The needle used for Botox Cosmetic is very fine, so you do not need any anesthesia prior to the injections. You will use ice to minimize the slight discomfort you might feel. Following the injections, it’s best to avoid strenuous activities for about six hours. You do not need to take time off to recover following Botox Cosmetic injections.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are useful in filling in the tear troughs below the eye. While the FDA has not yet approved products like Restylane for use under the eyes, many facial plastic surgeons are using this filler with great success. It lasts for upwards of eight months, so the results are not permanent. This allows you to make the improvements to your eyes and then see how well you like the end results. You can either go for touch-up fillers or opt for a more permanent cosmetic procedure like blepharoplasty.