Reverse the Signs of Aging: Cosmetic Treatments for the Eyes
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but what if the signs of aging have left you feeling like your eyes aren't windows to your soul but rather a gigantic billboard announcing your age to the world? Drooping eyelids and wrinkles around the eyes can make us look tired, worn out, and old beyond our years. Fortunately, there are many options available, including eyelid surgery, to reverse the signs of aging and reveal your inner, youthful self. Minneapolis plastic surgeon Gregory T. Mesna offers this overview of rejuvenating cosmetic eye treatments.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, commonly called eyelid surgery, is used to remove fat and excess tissue around the eyes. Blepharoplasty may be performed on just the upper eyelids, just the lower eyelids, or both. The differences between the two are as follows:
- Upper Eyelid Surgery: With upper eyelid surgery, excess fat and tissues are removed from the upper eyelids. Upper eyelid surgery is suited to patients who suffer from puffy, droopy, sagging upper eyelids.
- Lower Eyelid Surgery: Lower eyelid surgery is used to remove tissue and fat under the eyes. Lower eyelid surgery is useful for reducing under eye bags and fine lines around the bottom of the eyes. Lower eyelid surgery can also be used to tighten under eye skin to eliminate droopiness.
Brow Lift
For some people, tired, droopy looking eyes may actually be a result of excess brow skin and not caused to the eyelids. It is natural for the forehead to develop wrinkles and become lax, forcing the upper eyelids to droop. A brow lift can help tighten the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelids by pulling the tissue up and taut. A brow lift can help take years off of the appearance by smoothing the forehead of wrinkles and rejuvenating the upper eyelids. Brow lifts can be performed traditionally with an incision across the hairline, or endoscopically with a small incision in the scalp.
Non-surgical Options
Surgery is not the only option for rejuvenating the eyes. Non-surgical injectables offer a solution to those who wish to refresh their appearance but don't want to go under the knife. BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the most well known and time-tested cosmetic injectables. BOTOX® Cosmetic works by relaxing targeted facial muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Crow's feet and other wrinkles around the eyes can be quickly and painlessly treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic. BOTOX® treatment can be completed in as little as 15 minutes and requires no recovery time. Though results are noticeable instantly, the full results may take a day or two to fully take. Results are not permanent but typically last three to six months.
Candidates for Cosmetic Eye Treatments
Candidates for eye treatments should be in good health and suffer from such conditions as puffy eyelids, sagging eyelids, large bags under the eyes, crow's feet, and wrinkles around the eyes. To find out which treatment is right for you, or to learn more about these and other treatment options, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mesna.