3 Ways to Rejuvenate Aging Eyes | Healthy Aging Month

September is Healthy Aging Month. Healthy aging should feel good. But as our skin, particularly around our eyes, ages, we may not like what we see.
 
The skin around our eyes is subject to various conditions that can make us less than satisfied with our appearance of aging. Our eyelids may droop, we may find fine lines and wrinkles around our eyes, or we may develop deeper frown lines, worry lines, and crow’s feet. While this may be perfectly acceptable to some, it may not be to others. Fortunately, we have options to rejuvenate our eyes and recapture that youthful look – and maybe even feel – again. 
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3 Procedures to Rejuvenate the Appearance of Our Aging Eyes

Treatment for aging eyes is dependent upon the condition causing concern or dissatisfaction, and only an experienced oculoplastic surgeon (ophthalmologist who specializes in plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures of the eye) can help you determine the right treatment or procedure for you.
 
Today, both surgical and non-surgical options exist to address our cosmetic eye concerns. Let’s take a look at options to address the look of our eyes:

1. Blepharoplasty: Blepharoplasty is the most common surgical procedure used to treat aging eyelids. During surgery, the oculoplastic surgeon will remove any excess skin and fat from the eyelid, as well as tighten connecting tendons and muscles to improve eyelid function.
2. BOTOX®: BOTOX is a non-surgical treatment that can be used to reduce wrinkles, including frown lines and crow’s feet, around the eyes. When BOTOX is injected into our muscles in small doses, it temporarily paralyzes or weakens them, preventing or limiting their ability to contract and thereby minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.
3. Restylane®: Restylane, a clear and biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) gel, is a non-surgical option used to treat deeper wrinkles. When injected into the deeper facial wrinkles and folds, it temporarily fills the space under the skin. Depending upon the individual, Restylane treatments can last anywhere from six (6) to 12 months.

 
These procedures are FDA approved, and while each has been shown to be safe and effective, it is important to work with an eye surgeon who not only preforms these procedures regularly, but also understands eye health and safety. Our oculoplastic surgeon specializes in these procedures, performs comprehensive examinations to understand your eye health and vision, and will speak with you about the appropriateness of each procedure for you based on your cosmetic concerns and eye care needs.
 
To learn more about each of these procedures, please visit our Oculoplastic Surgery page. If you would like to discuss the appearance of your eyes with our oculoplastic surgeon, please contact us to schedule an appointment. 

Protecting the Skin Around Our Eyes

This discussion may beg the question, are there ways to protect the skin around our eyes and maintain its appearance short of surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures?
 
Yes, and no.
 
Our skin becomes thinner and less resilient as we age. It’s composition changes whether we like it or not. But there are steps that we can take to protect our eyes and the skin around from the damaging effects of the environment and lifestyle choices, including:

1. Wearing wide-coverage sunglasses that will protect the skin around our eyes.
2. Wearing a brimmed hat to block the sun from our eyes.
3. Getting adequate rest / sleep.
4. Getting an appropriate prescription or refractive treatment to minimize or avoid squinting.
5. Following safe eye makeup and cosmetics usage.
6. Not smoking.

 
If you have questions or concerns about products (makeup, eye crèmes, etc.) that you use or would like to use on your eyes, or if you have concerns about the condition of your eyelids such as dryness or flaking, please contact us to make an appointment with your eye doctor. It’s better to ask and be safe, especially when it comes to your eyes and vision.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this series on healthy aging eyes for Healthy Aging Month. If you missed our articles on healthy aging eyes and diet and nutrition, exercise, and dry eye syndrome, you can find them on our blog. 
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