Eyes are the Window to the Soul

You are probably familiar with the old adage “the eyes are the window to the soul.”  It is said that the eyes convey a person’s intentions, emotions and inner spirit to others, but they can also communicate a lifetime of sun worship, heavy smoking and even drinking. Because the eyes are one of your first features to show signs of aging, they convey a good deal about your lifestyle choices – both good and bad. The skin around the eyes is incredibly delicate and even more prone to wrinkling than other facial areas. As we age, the fragile skin on the upper and lower lids begins to lose elasticity, giving one a perpetually tired appearance.

In truth, puffy or tired looking eyes is a common complaint among middle-aged men and women, who often turn to plastic surgery to restore a more youthful-looking appearance.  Even the most skilled of make-up artists can do little to camouflage loose crêpey skin on the upper lids and prominent under-eye bags.  Fortunately, there are new techniques in eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, that provide beautiful, lasting results for patients who want to wake up looking “bright eyed.”

Upper and lower blepharoplasty

Excess skin (and occasionally fat) in the upper eye lids gives a heavy, aged appearance. If friends or co-workers are constantly asking if you’re sick or haven’t been sleeping well, it may be time to have a closer look at eye rejuvenation. Most of the time, an upper eyelid surgery is purely cosmetic, but in more severe cases, this extra skin can actually impede vision.

Individuals who are bothered by puffy bags under the eyes, or loose skin, may be candidates for a lower blepharoplasty. Surgical techniques may include a transconjunctival approach, in which a tiny incision is placed inside the lower eyelid to remove fatty deposits that create the look of under-eye bags or puffiness.

Alternatively, those who are bothered by extra sagging skin below the eye would fare better with a transcutaneous lower eyelid surgery, where incisions are placed on the outside of the lower eyelid. The majority of patients who undergo lower eyelid surgery opt for general anesthesia, though local anesthesia with sedation is also offered.

Injectables to fill in tear trough area

Some patients may not be good candidates for blepharoplasty, or would rather test the waters with a less invasive procedure. Patients who have dark hollows under the eyes may benefit from injectable fillers, such as Restylane or Juvederm. Unlike the effects of surgery, dermal fillers are temporary and carry a lower risk of complications.

It’s important to note that while dermal fillers add volume, they do nothing to help skin laxity. For this reason, patients with sagging, wrinkled skin and puffy under eye bags are best served with traditional blepharoplasty.

Eyelid surgery in New York City

Do your eyes constantly make you look tired, frustrated, sad or older than you really are? NYC plastic surgeon Dr. B. Aviva Preminger understands these aesthetic concerns and is proud to offer her patients a host of rejuvenating procedures to restore a more youthful appearance to the eyes.

To learn more about eyelid surgery in Manhattan with Dr. Preminger, please call our office today to schedule a private consultation. 212-706-1900