Most people have tricks to hide their aging and tired eyes. Some use make-up to hide wrinkle lines or shadows from eyelid bags. Others wear sun glasses - even when it is not sunny! It is not surprising that late-night television has so many commercials for creams and potions that promise younger eyes since there are no natural shortcuts to hide aging around our eyes. Our eye area is exceptionally delicate and is one of the first indicators of noticeable aging. 

Changes in skin elasticity, bone resorption, and fat redistribution all conspire to age our appearance. Learn how eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty surgery, by a Raleigh, NC, plastic surgeon can make people look refreshed and more youthful without obvious signs of a plastic surgery procedure.

Common Signs of Aging Around the Eye Area

Our faces have been exposed to harsh environmental conditions like sunlight and pollution, smoking and second-hand smoke, and excessive dryness which all contribute  around the eyes. Even small repetitive eye blinks, squinting, or other facial motions can result in fine lines surrounding the eye and the forehead. Irritants in our environment that cause allergies or direct eye aggravation can cause excessive rubbing of the eyes, worsening skin excess, and eyelid bags.

Are There Some Other Options to Consider Before Eyelid Surgery

Medical Grade Skin Care

Fine lines around the eyes can result from skin problems or underlying muscle activity. Good skin care can improve the fine wrinkling of the skin from all causes. Professional-grade skincare products such as those offered at Zenn Plastic Surgery have been studied rigorously and proven to work by removing dead outer layers of skin and promoting collagen production to thicken the skin. There is a difference in effectiveness between department store or drug store skin products and medical grade products available only at a physician’s office. 

Injectables

Facial fillers like Juvéderm® and Restylane® can add volume back to the face around the eye, making up for lost fat and bone volume, though they are not permanent and require continual use. Neurotoxins like BOTOX effectively remove wrinkles due to unwanted muscle activity around the eyes. Over time, the unwanted muscle activity returns to cause things like crow’s feet, “elevens” between the eyebrows, and wrinkle lines in the forehead. 

When to Consider a Cosmetic Eye Procedure Like Eyelid Surgery

There are some times, though, that a person should consider eyelid surgery:

  • Ptosis – droopy upper eyelids that can block vision 
  • Blepharitis – inflamed eyelids from exposure or rubbing 
  • Ectropion – lower eyelids sag & change the shape of the eye 
  • Entropion – lower eyelid causes eyes to turn inward, causing eyelash rubbing 
  • Blepharochalasis – eyelid bags & folds from excess skin and fat. This is the most common reason people choose eyelid surgery. Their eyes make them look old and tired. 

When Eyelid Surgery Should Include a Brow Lift

Often as we age, the fullness we see in our upper eyelids is not skin and fat excess; instead, it is a the eyebrow which has lowered and is crowding the upper eyelid. One can see this by looking in the mirror and raising eyebrows. If the “extra” skin and fat disappear, a brow lift may be what is necessary to regain that youthful look.

People are often surprised to see that once the eyebrow is lifted, the upper eyelid area is empty due to fat loss covered by the drooping eyebrow. Fat grafting can add back that youthful softness combined with the brow lift. Another telltale sign that a brow lift may be necessary is deep, transverse wrinkles of the forehead – from raising your eyebrows constantly and subconsciously to see better. Those wrinkles can disappear after the brow is lifted, and eyebrow-raising is no longer needed to see.

Why Fat Grafting To Eye Area Corrects Hollowed Out Look

As we age, the amount of fat around the eye tends to atrophy and slowly disappear. Older individuals can develop a hollowed-out appearance due to fat loss and increased orbit size. Increased orbit is due to bony loss; both cause the eye socket to appear more sunken. Strategically placed fat grafts to the upper and lower eyelid-cheek junction can repair this issue, achieving a refreshingly natural and non-surgical look.

Where To Find a Plastic Surgeon for Your Blepharoplasty, Fat Grafting, or Browlift in Raleigh, NC

Choose an experienced plastic surgeon from Raleigh, North Carolina Dr. Zenn certainly meets the criteria. Aside from his exceptional training and experience, he is known for facial cosmetic procedures like eyelid surgery, brow lift surgery, and facial fat transfer around the eye. In fact, Dr. Zenn has been named one of the Top Plastic Surgeons in the US for blepharoplasty surgery by Newsweek for 2022 and 2023.

Contact Zenn Plastic Surgery via our contact form or call us directly at (919) 480-3885 for more information or to schedule your consultation.


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