MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Q: I am entering my 50s and my eyelids are starting to droop, which makes me look like I’m always going to fall asleep. Some of my friends have had an eyelid tuck, but in my honest opinion, the results don’t look natural because their eyes look strangely pulled. Are there other non-surgical options?

 

A: Drooping eyelids are part of the normal ageing process. When the skin’s collagen and elastic fibres decline in both quality and quantity, the skin under the eyebrows finds it difficult to hold the eyelids. As the muscles supporting them weaken, they give in to gravity and look weighed down. In addition to that, as you grow older, fat accumulates around the eyes so the eyelids become heavier. This can happen even to those who are not overweight, since this fat accumulation is generally not related to diet and weight.

Treatment is necessary, not just for aesthetic purposes, but because extremely droopy lids can affect your vision. 

There are many ways to lift up the sagging lids, and non-surgical approaches are, thankfully, also available. While blepharoplasty, or what you refer to as an “eyelid tuck”, is a common way of treating droopy eyelids, few people can afford the expense, the pain and the downtime it involves, not to mention the likelihood of the results looking unnatural.

Botox injections can help elevate the eyebrows slightly, raising the skin of the upper eyelid to perk up, but results typically last from three to six months. Another alternative is using fillers to lift up the corners of the eyebrows to pull the lids upward, but again, results don’t last very long. 

A good way to “wake up” the lazy skin tissue to stimulate collagen production is the Ultra Therapy programme, which is the only device that is FDA-approved for lifting eyebrows and neck skin. 

It works by sending safe ultrasound waves into the skin to focus on the deep tissue. This gently heats the targeted area and stimulates the skin’s natural ability to produce collagen. The external skin gradually tightens, including those once-droopy lids, after just one treatment.

Remember that prevention is always better than cure, so the best non-surgical way to slow down the appearance of droopy eyelids is to avoid salty food, drink a lot of water, and get enough sleep. This will slow down the ageing process in general and keeps you healthy and youthful for longer from top to toe.

 

 

Thanisorn Thamlikitkul MD is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her to info@ romrawin.com