“Look them in the eye” and “the eyes are the windows to the soul” are expressions we have all heard countless times. When it comes to the most memorable facial features, the eyes have it. The eyes rate number one as the facial feature that people remember about someone they’ve met. However, it is also one of the first areas of the face that shows the signs of aging. Luckily, there are many quick and easy options to reduce the signs of aging around the eyes, giving your entire face a more youthful appearance.
Some of the issues patients experience are crow’s feet, which are the creases extending from the outer corner of the eyes toward the hairline, as well as fine lines around the bottom eyelid. Many patients also seek treatment for bags or a sunken area under the eyes or drooping of the upper eyelid and brow area. Regardless of which problems you are experiencing around your eyes, our award-winning plastic surgeons have several options that can have you looking years younger with very little downtime.
Crow’s feet are one of the most common complaints we see and the easiest thing to address. Treating crow’s feet requires a small amount of Botox carefully placed at the outer corner of the eyes. This treatment is very safe and has no downtime. It only takes minutes in the office and you leave without anyone knowing you’ve had anything done. The result takes its full effect about 4-7 days following the injections.
Another problem that can be treated with Botox are those tiny lines that show up just below the lower eyelid. A very small amount of Botox can be used in this area as well to treat these lines with no downtime. However, for a long-term solution, our surgeons can perform a simple in office procedure called a pinch incision, which removes a tiny amount of lax skin from that area, tightening the remaining skin, making those little lines disappear.
Some patients have an issue with the area under the eye. Sometimes referred to as the tear trough, it can hollow and sink as we age, creating a line or depression from the inner corner of the eye, where the tear duct is, down to the cheekbone. In cases like this, the best treatment is dermal fillers. These fillers are very effective at adding volume to the under-eye area, with great results and minimal downtime. Some patients experience the opposite problem; they have bags, or drooping areas under the lower eyelids. The best treatment option for this may be a lower eyelid lift or a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. This procedure takes approximately two hours. Patients can elect to have it done in the office under local and/or oral sedation or in an outpatient surgery center under general anesthesia. Patients may have some bruising and swelling for 1 to 2 weeks following the surgery, but it is usually minimal and can be camouflaged with makeup.
The upper eyelid area is one of the most concerning area for patients. As we age, the upper eyelid and brow areas can start to droop, which can dramatically age the face. In some cases, dermal fillers can be used to lift the brow, but in most cases, a patient sees the best result from a brow lift. Generally speaking, an endoscopic brow lift is the surgery of choice. Small incisions are hidden in the hair line and the brow is pulled up, eliminating its heavy appearance. The results are natural. Most patients say friends and colleagues notice the improvement, but think the patient has just returned from a vacation. This procedure can be done in the office.
Another common complaint is the droopy upper eyelids. In older patients, this can also impact a patient’s vision and, if this is the case, insurance may cover the cost of an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. This procedure can be done in the office under local anesthesia in approximately one hour. Excess upper eyelid skin is removed from the upper eyelid leaving a scar hidden in the upper eyelid crease. The scar is generally not visible when the eyes are open. Since eyelid skin is the thinnest in the body and will be under minimal tension, scars after blepharoplasty are usually inconspicuous. Swelling and bruising after the procedure usually subsides within 1 to 2 weeks.
If your eyes are aging the appearance of your face, schedule a consultation with one of our award-winning board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Peter Butler or Dr. Jocelyn Leveque.
