Caring for Your Eyes with Cosmetic Procedures
Your eyes are two of the most prominent features on your face. But over time, they begin to age along with the rest of our body. Aging around the eyes can lead to drooping, sagging, and an overall false sense of fatigue. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent or correct the appearance of imperfections around this part of your face.
Here’s a few tips for restoring the natural, youthful appearance of your eyes with cosmetic surgery and/or non-surgical procedures…
For Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet
The tissues on the eye lids are the thinnest on the body, meaning it is often the first area on the face to start showing wrinkles and fine lines. This is especially the case if you have overactive muscles surrounding the eyes, which can also lead to forced contraction (a leading cause of crow’s feet). So how do you help minimize or eliminate these lines?
BOTOX, a commonly used neurotoxin, can be injected into your facial muscles to soften the targeted skin and help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, fine lines, or wrinkles around the eyes. The best part? This “miracle product” (as many have called it) is nearly painless and creates fast-acting results with little to no downtime!
To reduce the appearance of wrinkles, a similar solution can be obtained. Whatever area you choose to target, whether it be forehead lines or crow’s feet, BOTOX will work to reduce the activity of the underlying muscle. Often paired with a filler agent that restores volume in lost areas, these non-surgical procedures can result in a softer, more youthful appearance around the eyes.
For Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
Many patients choose to use a filler agent, such as Juvéderm or Voluma XC, to correct bags around the eyes that are caused by having prominent tear troughs. These products (along with many others carried at The Lucas Center) help replenish lost volume between the cheek and eyelid area.
For dark circles under or around the eyes that present as uneven skin tone or discoloration, micro-needling may be another great option. Depending on your unique goals, micro-needling can help encourage the collagen production you need to obtain the results you want.
So, what is it? Micro-needling is the process of using extremely small needles to induce collagen growth in the dermis (a layer of skin) and increase cell turnover – two things that help improve the appearance of the skin. This quick, painless procedure works great around the eyes and on other areas of the face, such as on the forehead and around the lips. If this isn’t the procedure for you, home retinol treatments may also help generate an improved appearance.
For Drooping Eyelids (Upper & Lower)
Another common problem that pops up during the dreaded aging process is drooping or sagging eyelids. The fat pads in our lower eyelids can become puffy and make us look tired. On the other hand, the resting position of the upper eyelids can result in hanging skin. While both issues can create a tired appearance, they can also begin to obstruct your vision.
Here’s the thing: excess skin of the upper and lower eyelids can only be removed with surgery. A procedure like an eyelid repair (lid ptosis repair) with excess fat pad removal may be your best option if your goal is to correct skin that blocks your vision or causes a tired look. The result? A crisp, youthful appearance that is more naturally proportioned with the rest of your facial features.
For Lifting Eyebrows
he most useful part of the eyebrows is to convey expression. Surprise, happiness, anger, contemplation… these emotions and more play a big role in the outcome of our daily interactions with others. But if the muscles controlling your eyebrows are overactive and or the overlying skin becomes inelastic over time, the deep furrows between the brows can lead to misinterpreted expressions. And on top of that, it can cause you to appear older than you are!
It’s frustrating, but it can be prevented or corrected. A good plastic surgeon can elevate your brow line to the outer 1/3 section of your eye using BOTOX. In just a few very minor injections, this product can begin correcting your fatigued appearance and bring new life to your expressions by selectively weakening the muscles in that area. This creates an overall “lifted” look and can be a great way to improve the appearance of your forehead and eye region.
If you struggle with upper eyelid skin that hangs too close to your lashes, a Brow Lift can be performed utilizing endoscopic techniques. Dr. Lucas or your respective surgeon will use this technique to elevate the peak of your brow and reset the skin to its natural resting position.
In short, brow lifts are extremely complementary of upper eye procedures and helps to create long-lasting, refreshing results.
Dr. Lucas’s Advice to YOU
“If something about your eyes is making you feel self-conscious, you may want to consider consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon on your options. He or she can help you feel more confident in your decision, whether it’s to move forward with the procedure or not, by discussing your fears, goals, and options at length.
If you opt to have a procedure on or around the eyes, please choose a surgeon that has demonstrated skill with that specific procedure, has a knack for design and precise mathematical measurement, and is highly-knowledgeable of the human anatomy. Confidence in your surgeon is the first step to feeling confident in your results.”
To learn more about Dr. Lucas and his experience with facial procedures, click here.
Have questions about an eye care procedure? We’re here to help! Call (865) 218-6210 or email us to speak with a member of our team today.