Reversing The Effects Of Aging

As we age, our faces undergo gradual changes that affect the ways in which we interact with the world. One common area in which this occurs is within the structures surrounding the eyes.

With age, the muscles supporting the eyelid weaken. This, combined with increased laxity in the skin, leads to an accumulation of excess fatty tissue and skin above and below the eye. The skin of the upper eyelid can start to rest on the lash line or droop even further, completely obscuring the upper lid shape while the lower eyelid area can begin to appear puffy and dark. This combination can create an appearance of “tired-looking” or “disinterested” eyes.

In a time of masks covering the lower half of our faces, these changes can have an outsized significance and betray the true emotions you are trying to convey in pivotal nonverbal communications usually provided by the whole face.

Eyelid rejuvenation can be achieved several ways through both non-surgical and surgical methods. The quickest method with zero downtime involves injecting a bioactive agent such botulinum toxin, known as Botox, into the muscles and skin around the eye, effectively raising the drooping skin around the eye. The puffy and dark appearance of the lower eyelid can be balanced with the use of dermal fillers, offering a non-surgical and reversible treatment option.

Finally, a surgical procedure with minimal recovery time, known as blepharoplasty or eyelid lift, can be combined with laser or radiofrequency technology to improve eyelid drooping and puffiness, permanently resulting in more awake and engaged eyes. These procedures can be performed separately, or concurrently, to rejuvenate the eyes and create a more youthful and natural appearance.

Neuromodulators such as botulinum toxin can be precisely placed into the muscles around the eyes, achieving a chemical brow lift. The chemical brow lift stabilizes the descending eyebrows and lifts the drooping skin around the eye. The procedure takes minutes while awake and revitalizes heavy and tired-looking eyes. The results can last three to four months until the medication wears off. Neuromodulator therapy is a great, temporary way to get a sneak peek into the permanent effect of surgical intervention.

Dermal fillers are composed of hyaluronic acid and combine with water molecules in the tissues underneath the skin layer to create fullness. The face is analyzed to determine which areas require contouring. The dermal filler is then strategically utilized to smooth out areas of skin laxity and ease the transitions from one area of the face to the other, thereby shaping a younger appearance.

This procedure is generally performed while the person is awake, with topical numbing cream allowing for minimal, if any, recovery time required. The effects can last up to two years and can be safely repeated as necessary.

Surgical restoration of the eyelids is through a procedure known as blepharoplasty. This can be performed on both the upper and lower eyelid. During this procedure, a small incision is made on the eyelid and excess skin is removed. Precise measurements are taken to determine the amount of skin removal required, and the incision is positioned so it is hidden and essentially invisible after it has healed. This procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. There is minimal post-procedural pain and recovery time required. The incision heals and swelling subsides over the weeks following the procedure. The final results restore more youthful appearing eyes and are much longer lasting than dermal fillers.

We are constantly sending nonverbal communication to the people we interact with through our facial expressions. The changes that occur with age can have a significant impact on the way these messages are conveyed. Neuromodulators, dermal fillers and blepharoplasty are methods in which the structures surrounding the eyes can return to a natural and more youthful appearance. In the right hands, both are highly effective in reversing the effects of aging in subtle yet meaningful ways. This can not only have a profound impact on how others perceive us but also on how we perceive ourselves.