Non Surgical Eye Lift
Non Surgical Eye Lift Options: Making the Decision with Your Dermatology specialist
As people age, a common problem they may face is drooping eyelids and sagging skin around the eyes; however, many people cannot afford the expense of cosmetic surgery to repair this issue and instead look to non surgical eye lift treatments. The appeal of such treatments often comes from the fact that not only are they less expensive, but may be an overall better option for those who have sensitive skin or just prefer to avoid cosmetic surgery. If you have been considering a non surgical eye lift, the best way to make a decision about treatment is to do so with a skin specialist who understands your concerns and has multiple treatment options available to help you at his or her disposal. Many factors have to be taken into account, because the skin around the eyes is so thin and sensitive, that even topical solutions, if chosen inaccurately, can lead to long term problems and skin discoloration. Non surgical eye lift treatments also come with a number of side effects of which you should be aware of before you decide on a procedure, and it’s important not to lull yourself into a false sense of security just because you’re not going under the knife. In either case, they can provide a much faster, safer and easier alternative to surgical eye lift procedures.
The Ten Minute Eyelift
This non surgical eye lift treatment is truly a ten-to-fifteen-minute procedure that uses radiofrequency to correct drooping eyelids and the sagging around the eyes. If you choose this procedure, it will likely be performed at a skin care clinic or a doctor’s office and it’s important that you chose your specialist wisely. During the non surgical eye lift, the skin care specialist will mark the hooded area of each upper lid to target it, and then apply a small amount of gliding gel to the area. Once the area is ready to treat, the skin specialist will use a radiofrequency application on the area he or she is marked until the energy causes the drooping, loose skin to contract and the true eyelift can be seen.
You will be able to return to normal activities almost right away with this type of non surgical eye lift, although the treated areas will have to be cared for with ointment to keep the skin from drying out. These lines will heal completely in about a week and are unlikely to become infected. If you are highly prone to infections or have other skin conditions that affect the area around the eye, then this may not be the best option for you.
Fractional Laser Eye Lifts
Another non surgical eye lift treatment option utilizes fractional laser technology. Whist many skin clinics claim that this can help with sagging and drooping skin around the eye, we find that it’s benefit is more so to be found in treating fine lines and superficial textural concerns around the eye, like sun damage. During this type of treatment, a skin specialist will numb the eyelids with a topical anesthetic blocking ointment and then, depending on the type of laser being used, insert small plastic shields beneath the eyelids to protect the retinas before using a laser applicator to target small areas of the skin around the eyes that create invisible thermal lesions. This causes the skin in the area to go through a repair process and renewal while the energy of the laser may also stimulate collagen production to tighten skin naturally, but not as specifically as the radio frequency procedure option.
The duality of this non surgical eye lift treatment results in both immediate and long-lasting results for maximum effect. While you will need to repeat the procedure three times for optimal results, the treatments are performed on an outpatient basis, which means they require no hospital stay or extended downtime for healing. In fact they are completely no downtime procedures.
After undergoing this non surgical eye lift, you may experience redness, puffiness, and some irritation, but you should be able to resume normal activities within 24 hours. Most of the side effects that are caused by this treatment subside after one-two days, but depending on your skin type, you may experience little to no swelling at all. While many doctors are still studying the long-term effects of fractional laser treatment as a non surgical eye lift option, some say that with a proper skin care regimen, the results can last up to five years.
Having Realistic Expectations
While there a number of non surgical eye lift treatments available, there are two things that you should keep in mind as your skin specialist helps you make a decision: your expectations and your budget. While some insurance companies may cover an eye lift procedure if a drooping eyelid is obstructing your vision, they are for the most part considered cosmetic procedures that you will have to pay for out of pocket. Your skin specialist can advise you about the cost of these non surgical eye lift treatments and may be able to provide extended payment options in some cases.