“You look so tired.”
Does this sound all too familiar to you?
If so, you are not alone. A common complaint among our patients is that their friends tell them they look tired, even when they are not. Often, aging around the eyes is to blame for a constantly tired appearance.
The way our eyelids age is largely genetically programmed. Patients can see it coming, because their parents aged in the same way. And because the eyelids contain the thinnest skin on our bodies, this area is often the first to start showing signs of aging.
The good news is that these bothersome effects of aging—including unwanted comments about how tired you look—can be improved significantly with eyelid rejuvenation treatment.
Rejuvenating the Upper Eyelids
In the upper eyelids, the typical cause of a tired appearance is excess, sagging skin. Frequently, the brow position has also dropped a little, so we evaluate that as well when designing a treatment plan.
During an upper eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, we will remove excess, sagging skin on the upper lid, usually also removing small amounts of fat. This will really freshen up the upper eyelid area, correcting the “heaviness” that contributes to a tired look.
There is an upside to the eyelid skin being so thin—it heals extremely well. Most patients have a very quick recovery with virtually no pain. The tiny scar is usually hard to find after a few months. Most patients are back to work in just 5 to 7 days after their procedure.
A Little About Lower Eyelid Surgery
The lower eyelid area is a little more varied in how it ages. We’ll often see lax, excess skin that causes a droopy appearance, prominent fat that makes the eyelid look puffy or tired, or skin wrinkling that contributes to an overall aged look. Many patients have a combination of these issues, so our treatment approach will vary somewhat depending on the individual.
Typically, the game plan involves some skin trimming, as well as fat removal or re-positioning. If the skin is in good shape, we may simply remove excess fat from inside the eyelid to reduce puffiness. Otherwise, a small incision is made just below the eyelashes to remove the excess fat and re-drape the skin for a smoother appearance.
If skin wrinkling is your primary concern, we can often achieve excellent results with skin resurfacing, either with a chemical peel or CO2 laser treatment, without any surgical intervention.
Discussing the Details of Your Treatment Plan
Whenever a patient comes in complaining about tired eyes, we look closely at the entire eyelid region to identify the unique changes that have occurred as a result of aging and determine the best treatment approach.
It’s normal for your upper and lower eyelids to age at different rates, so we will help you decide whether to treat the upper, lower, or both eyelids during the same procedure. It’s also common to include eyelid surgery along with other facial procedures, such as a facelift, to rejuvenate the entire face and eyelid area for a comprehensive approach.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when finding the right approach to refresh the eyes. We’ll be glad to help you learn more about your options at a personal consultation. We look forward to talking to you!