The eyes are the window to the soul; our most often noted and viewed facial feature, and unfortunately the first facial feature to show signs of facial aging. Eyelid aging changes begin as early as the late 20’s and early 30’s and are one of the most common concerns that motivate people to seek plastic surgery. The most common sign of eyelid aging is “tired eyes” and the most common complaint I hear is that “people say I look tired and I am not”. Blepharoplasty, the plastic surgery procedure to correct aging eyes is the 3rd most common plastic surgery procedure performed in the United States today
Happily there are many preventative steps we can take to prevent eyelid aging changes, and if you already have aging eyes there are many exciting new non-surgical methods available to reverse eyelid aging changes.
The earliest eyelid aging changes are eyelid wrinkles called crow’s feet which we see on the corner of our eyelids on the cheek when we smile. Later these wrinkles extend across the lower eyelid and up into the upper eyelid. Later the upper eyelid skin becomes lax and begins to sag or droop and eventually covers the beautiful upper eyelid fold and begins to form an eyelid hood or eye hood which eventually can compress the upper eyelashes and obstruct vision. Eye hoods or eyelid hooding can also be made worse by the descent of the sagging eyebrow.
The lower eyelid also becomes lax and as a result, normal fat beneath the eyelid protrudes or pushes out on the eyelid and creates eye bags or eyelid bags or puffy eyes. This protruding lower eyelid tissue creates a shadow in the normal depression below the eyelid and creates the dark circles under the eye.
Fortunately there are many things we can do to prevent these eyelid aging changes before they occur or reverse these changes early without surgery. If however advanced eyelid aging changes occur, there are excellent modern laser and surgical eyelid rejuvenation procedures available to restore the eyelid to a youthful appearance.
Prevention of Eyelid Aging
Sun block, wrap around sun glasses, and general sun protection are essential eyelid aging prevention techniques, especially in the south, southwest and west where sun exposure is greatest and outdoor activities are so common. A healthy diet and exercise help prevent premature skin aging and tired eyes. Botox prevents crow’s feet. A good anti-aging skin cream like Retin A or vitamin C can help prevent and reverse eyelid skin aging and eyelid wrinkles.
Non-surgical eyelid rejuvenation
Exfoliation of eyelid skin, stimulation of new collagen formation in sun damaged eyelid skin, and tightening of eyelid skin can all be achieved non-surgically and can correct early eyelid aging changes and tired eyes. Topical Retin A, microdrmabrasion and Dermasound are good non-surgical eyelid rejuvenation techniques. For more severe eyelid aging, laser skin rejuvenation with newer less intensive eyelid laser skin peeling techniques such as the activefx laser skin peel or the microlaserpeel, or the lux2940 microfractional laser peel can exfoliate and tighten eyelid skin and remove eyelid wrinkles.
Surgical Eyelid rejuvenation
Modern eyelid rejuvenation surgery utilizes the laser and revolutionary new blepharoplasty techniques to rejuvenate the aging eyelid with minimal or no scarring and can correct tired eyes while preserving the beautiful eyelid shape. Surgical lower eyelid rejuvenation utilizes a laser incision on the inside of the lower eyelid through the pink portion of the eyelid called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. During this procedure the eyelid fat is repositioned to remove the eye bag without creating a hollow eyelid appearance. Dark circles under the eyes are removed by a procedure called the arcus marginalis release, all with no scar. Upper eyelid hooding or eye hoods are also removed with the laser with virtually no bleeding, thus less bruising, quicker recovery and a small scar that is invisible when the eye is open. If wrinkles and sun damage of the eyelid are severe a new more gentle Lux 2940 microfractional laser skin peel can be done to smooth and freshen the eyelid skin for total eyelid rejuvenation.
With prevention, eyelid aging can be forestalled and early eyelid nagging can be treated with simple painless non-surgical high tech methods. Once eyelid aging has occurred remarkable truly revolutionary laser eyelid rejuvenation techniques are available to correct tired eyes, restore a youthful, open, alert, bright look to the eyes, the window to our soul.
To learn more about eyelid aging prevention, modern eyelid rejuvenation, and facial rejuvenation, read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you,
Dr Seckel,
Boston, Massachusetts