What non surgical options are available for saggy eye lids and jowls?

Question

I have saggy eye lids and am jowly. I am working on loosing weight. I have great skin for my age. But those things are really bothering me. I don’t want surgery because I am scared of being put under. What should I do?

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Photos would have been helpful. Without them, I can only make some general remarks. For one, I gave up performing threadlifts several years ago. First, threads don't address volume loss (only pull the skin), which is the major contributor to sagging and jowl formation. Secondly, they have been associated with a disproportionately high percentage of adverse reactions, including infection, skin dimpling, and "spitting out" of the threads. On the other hand, natural, hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers have been used successfully and safely for years to noninvasively lift and volumize the skin of the face and neck to recontour the face and cheeks, straighten the jawline, augment the chin and the lips and define the jawline and diminish jowls. As for the saggy eyelids, if you mean the upper eyelids, you may wish to check out The Ten Minute Eyelift, a minimally invasive procedure I have been using for over twenty years (even performed it on myself) for hooded, saggy uipper eyelids. Make sure to consult a board certified cosmetic dermatologist and be sure to ask to see his/her personal before and after photos. Best of luck.

Laura Ellis, MD · Answer

Determining the source of the problem allows for the most natural looking and often longer lasting correction. Sagging upper eyelids is often due to lowering of the brow (forehead laxity) which occurs as you age. Strengthening and lifting the brow is the solution, lifting the lid off the lash line and "opening" the eyes. My preferred method to strengthen the connective tissue (fascia) of the brow is with ultrasound energy. I accomplish this with Ultherapy, an FDA approved method of non-surgical brow lifting. It is a 20 minute in-office treatment with no downtime and the results can last for years. If you have excess eyelid skin despite improved brow position, you may need a CO2 laser treatment of the lid to shrink the lid skin. Sagging jowls are due to loss of structural support in the temples, mid face and angle of the jawbone as well as weakened connective tissue in the face. The treatment here should be volume replacement and an energy-based procedure (radiofrequency or ultrasound) to strengthen connective tissue. Correcting the source of the problem will help you look like younger you, not "done" or pulled and stretched.

What non surgical options are available for saggy eye lids and jowls?

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Thread Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What non surgical options are available for saggy eye lids and jowls?

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Thread Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.