How Can I Make My Eyes Look Younger?

By Susan K Buenaventura, MS, MD

The Sendi Center for Cosmetic Surgery

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How Can I Make My Eyes Look Younger?

Over time, eyelids of both men and women can develop a heavy, tired look. This is often hereditary. The upper lids can develop excess skin that looks and feels heavy and can even start to affect your vision. Often patients develop deep lines in their forehead from constantly raising their eyebrows to counteract this heaviness. The lower lids can become baggy due to excess fatty pockets protruding under the skin. This can be corrected with eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty.

Blepharoplasty involves surgery to remove the excess skin from the upper eyelids. On the lower eyelids, the three small fatty pockets are removed along with a conservative amount of skin. Small stitches are placed in the upper and lower eyelids. The patient relaxes with cool compresses on their eyelids and sutures are removed within a week. It is normal to have some bruising.

The surgery takes about two hours and can be done as an outpatient procedure. You would need a week or two off of work to let the area heal.

There is little if any pain afterwards. It is wise to have an eye exam prior to undergoing blepharoplasty. Results are visible right away and look very natural.

There are also many non-invasive options that have no downtime if you are not open to surgery or perhaps don't need surgery yet, but want to improve the area.

First, you should condition your eyelid skin with an eye cream as this skin is very delicate and requires daily care. Many topical treatments can help with dark circles as well.

To tighten skin, radiofrequency treatments like Thermage are effective. This takes about an hour and involves gently warming the skin around the upper and lower eyelids, which results in collagen stimulation and skin tightening.

Filler injections can also be done to improve the appearance of the lower eyelids. A new product called Neotensil can be applied to the lower lids to help tighten the skin temporarily. It acts by putting some compression along the lower lid.

Don't forget your Latisse. This medication will help your lashes grow longer and thicker and is available through your plastic surgeon or dermatologist's office. Healthy eyelashes help protect your eyes and are the “bow on the package” after your eyelids have been rejuvenated.

Whether your choice is surgery or a non-invasive option, you can expect more youthful looking eyelids.