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Hooding of the upper lids is a fairly common problem with aging. Shrinkage and the downward displacement of the supporting fat pads under the eyebrows, coupled with an overall loss in both the amounts and quality of collagen and elastic fibers are contributing factors. While blepharoplasty remains the gold standard for treating this problem, many people wish to avoid the expense, risks and downtime of traditional eyelift surgery. For these people, the Ten Minute Eyelift, a minimally invasive technique, offers a viable and quick alternative. The procedure is simple. The redundant portion of the underside of the hooded area of each upper lid, which is hidden from view, is first marked and then injected with a tiny amount of a local anesthetic. Next, a heated probe is run along the marked areas until visible shrinkage and retratction of the hooding is observed and the underlying true upper eyelid exposed sufficiently. Once done, the resulting line-like wound is covered with an ointment and is left to heal spontaneously. Each eyelid takes about five minutes to treat in this fashion, hence the name the Ten Minute Eyelift. Most people return to their daily routines immediately afterward, although some prefer to do so the following day. Slight swelling, tenderness, and a tiny amount of drainage and scabbing along the treatment line are common and are simply treated by cleaning and the application of a bit of Vaseline or antibiotic ointment. Wounds are generally completely healed in seven to ten days. A fine, linear scar eventually results, which remains hidden under the remainder of the now shortened and less droopy upper lid. Overall, patients have been quite gratified by the results and by the ease, rapidity, relative inexpensiveness and lack of need for traditional eyelift surgery.
Many patients come to the office hoping to improve theappearance of their droopy eyelids. Themost common treatment is upper eyelid surgery. This removes the excess skin from the upper eyelids and thus improvesthe overall appearance of the eyes. An alternative to surgery is Botox. Botox can be used to elevate the brows, whichwill open up the eyes and approve the appearance of your droopy eyelids. This is not a replacement for surgery but isa great option for patients that are not ready for surgery.It is important to see a board certified plastic surgeon todiscuss your Botox options. Your surgeon will be able to discuss the advantagesof eyelid surgery versus Botox for treatment of your options. Your surgeon will be able to individualize yourtreatment based your desires and anatomy. Please discuss your treatment with a board certified plasticsurgeon.
Most people undergo blepharoplasty to remove redundant/hanging skin and fat pads that may herniate. If you have eyelid ptosis, then you need a different procedure to repair the muscle that opens the eyelid. Blepharoplasty and noninvasive treatments won't help with this. The alternatives utilize heat to tighten the dermis to create contraction. This can be very effective for small amounts of skin excess but most patients only see a mild improvement. The blepharoplasty procedure is very well tolerated and can be done in the office in as little as 30-45 minutes. Everyone heals differently but many patients have very little bruising and swelling and can get back to social activities within a few days. If bruising does develop than it may take 7-10 days for that to resolve. Avoiding blood thinners and using Arnica and other supplements can help limit and reduce bruising. I hope this is helpful.
This is an excellent question! There will almost always be a non-surgical option to address issues with the eyelids and the face, though the biggest difference is how effective it is compared to surgery. This will vary widely based on the cause of your issues. If the droopiness is from excess skin, then there are several different types of laser treatments that can tighten this area and even some medical grade skin care products. If the issue is more from "bags" of fluid, then changes in the diet (low sodium, low sugar, etc.) can help minimize how much fluid the body holds on to. If the droopiness is more of a "hollowness" then sometimes this can be addressed with filler, creating a more smooth transition from eyelid to cheek. If the issue is from prolapsed fat or stretched out eye muscles (festoons), then surgery would likely be a more effective option than some of the non surgical adjuncts. Hope this helps!Kyle Kimura, MDFacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
As a board certified plastic surgeon, I am often asked this question. The technique for improving sagging upper eyelids depends on the degree of loose skin, as well as the goals of the patient. The more loose skin, the more likely that surgery would be the answer. What most patients don’t realize is how quick the recovery is for this surgical procedure, called an “upper blepharoplasty.”. In just eight days, patients can be fully recovered, all sutures removed, resulting in a neat, clean upper eyelid. Most important is to produce a result that does not remove too much skin to produce the dreaded “deer-in-the-headlights” look. This is key -- and being an expert in revision surgery of the face (faces, noses, necks, eyes, chins), the difficulty of revisionary surgery of the upper eyelids is that if a prior surgeon removed too much tissue, or put the incision in the wrong place, there is little that can be done to improve the situation. It’s key to place the incision where it is not easily seen when a patient is in normal expression. When there is a mild or moderate amount of excess skin, there are some non-surgical options such as miconeedling with RF (radiofrequency) that can be helpful. Sometimes, expertly placed Botox can provide a slight lift to the upper-eyelid skin. Threadlifting is another effective, non-surgical approach. I would suggest that you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and see what treatment would be best for you.
Hello,Alternatives to surgical eyelid tucks include BOTOX, fillers and lasers. These modalities can help soften the wrinkles around the eyes, improve skin tone and lift the eyebrows.( and also the lids) They can be quite effective in cases of early hooding and drooping as well as hollowing in the tear troughs. As with all minimally invasive treatments, these modalities have their limitations and a surgical eyelid tuck may be the best and most effective treatment in more severe cases of drooping and bags.Warm regards,Dr Pedy GanchiVillage Plastic Surgery
If you have excessive upper or lower eyelid skin, or protrusion of the lower eyelid fat pads, surgery may be the best option. HOWEVER, there are many non-surgical eye rejuvenation options. 1. Botox. Placed in the right spots, botox can lift the eyebrows and upper eyelids. It can also smooth lines around and under the eyes. 2. Filler. Filler can be used under the eyes to rejuvenate. It can also be placed under the outer aspect of the eyebrow to give lift to the lid. 3. Laser resurfacing. The CO2 laser (Lumenis Total FX) works well to help lift and smooth eyelid skin. 4. Non-surgical lifting devices like Ultherapy can be used to lift the eyebrows and thus the lid. I recommend "multi-modality" treatment for eye rejuvenation. That involved a combination of options. For example, combining the use of surgical rejuvenation with CO2 laser resurfacing. Follow this regular botox treatments for improved longevity.
To give the eyebrows a nice lift, we use injectable fillers to improve the eyebrow, upper eye, forehead and temple. A filler is placed on the bone and in the fat pads of these areas to contour and lift without it looking overdone. We use cannulas to limit pain and swelling. I suggest getting a formal consultation with a facial sculpting expert.
There are a number of options if you are not ready for surgical blepharoplasty. A small amount of Botox just below the outer part of the eyebrow will raise the outer eyebrow 1-2mm, but will need to be repeated every 3 months for continued effect. For a longer-lasting result skin-tightening lasers such as Thermage and Ultraformer III will lift the sagging upper eyelid skin.
There are many nonsurgical ways to improve the appearance of your eyelids. Here is a quick reference sheet:BotoxTo smooth the crows feet, smile lines, and wrinkles around the eyesCan be very carefully injected to raise the eyelids non surgically (to be done only by an expert; off-label use)To stabilize and/or elevate the lateral browsChemical Peel/LasersTo smooth the crows feet, smile lines, and wrinkles around the eyesFillersTo fill the lower eyelid hollows and/or camouflage the bags. Can change the shadowing of the lower eyelid dark circlesHope this helps!
The possible options for non-surgical rejuvenation around eyes include: dermal fillers, botox injections, and laser skin resurfacing (such as CO2 or Erbium). The above procedures help to reduce signs of aging in different ways. For instance, by injecting botox into particular muscles around the eyes and eyebrow depressor muscles, it is possible to raise the eyebrows up and reduce the amount of upper eyelid hooding. But it is only a temporary measure and botox injections need to be repeated every three to four months. Dermal fillers can help with treatment of circles under eyes, reduce the appearance of eyebags fill in tear trough under eyes. Dermal fillers under the eye could last up to oone year and even longer. Abalative laser procedures can help to tighten the skin, promote college formation and reduce the wrinkles around the eye.Eyelid surgery such as blepharoplasty is the main surgical treatment to address signs of aging such as hooding and droop eyelids, lower eyelid bags, and tear trough. In the hands of an experienced and specialized surgeon ( oculoplastic surgeon) this is a very safe procedure with life changing results that could last a lifetime.
