It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally at a point in the cosmetic industry of being able to offer our clients several non-surgical solutions for improving the skin around the eyes.
The main thing to remember here is that there is no ‘non-surgical treatment’ that is going to offer you surgical results.
However, there are noticeable improvements and as long as you are realistic with your expectations, you should be quite happy.
Under eye bags can make you look tired all of the time even when you’re not and they can age you. Some people have under eye bags at a young age and never lose them while others find them showing up as the fat pads on the cheeks start heading south leaving a clear groove to contend with.
If there isn’t a lot of excess skin under the eyes and the patient isn’t prone to excessive daily puffiness, then simply injecting very thin filler into the groove can make quite a difference. Redensity II has included amino acids and vitamins along with hyaluronic acid to help improve the skin quality while filling. Thicker fillers in the delicate thin tissue can look lumpy. At Anti-Aging we split this treatment into 3 visits over about a month so that we gradually layer the filler to achieve its most natural look and to be sure not to overfill the area.
Wrinkly skin and a drooping upper eyelid might do better with a Thermage CPT eye treatment. This is a focusing of radiofrequency energy to kick start the body’s own natural renewal process. It’s a combination of heat energy to treat deep tissue, and cooling effects, to protect the skin surface and deliver better patient comfort. A safety contact lens is inserted so that the entire eye area can be treated. Now, results for this one takes time as you are waiting for your body and your collagen to respond which can be anywhere from 3-6 months.
If you have wrinkly skin under the eye and some hollowing then PRP might be right for you. A vial if your blood is taken by the doctor, spun down to separate the blood cells from the platelet rich plasma (PRP) and then that ‘liquid gold’ is injected under the eye. No foreign substances, just your own growth factors. Similar to the Thermage, results are gradual, although I noticed an improvement once the swelling had gone down – about 4 days. It’s recommended to have 4 treatments a month apart to get maximum results.
(Results vary by individual patient and results cannot be guaranteed)
Now the Fraxel Laser is also able to be done around and over the eyelid area. A metal contact lens keeps your eyes safe while the laser lays thousands of tiny controlled ‘wounds’ into the skin to stimulate collagen and resurface the top layer of skin. Combining Fraxel and Thermage (Thermafrax) on the same day can really boost the results but you will need a few days off for swelling and redness.
(Results vary by individual patient and results cannot be guaranteed)
There are other more invasive types of lasers on the market but this is a good cross section of what can be done with minimal discomfort and downtime and without going “under the knife.” Although some patients will need to consider surgery if they have extreme puffiness and very loose skin, that can be assessed in your consultation.(It’s complimentary at our clinic) You want the opinions of those who do this every day to help guide you to find the perfect solution for you.
