When it comes to treating the eyes, surgery and aesthetic medicine are not mutually exclusive, but are seen as different possibilities for a tailor-made solution. What are the different possibilities offered by these 2 medical practices to open up and soften our eyes, while maintaining a natural face?
Hyaluronic acid injections
The injection of hyaluronic acid is particularly used for people who have a hollowing of the upper eyelid that reveals the edge of the orbital bone or a “hollow valley of tears”, and dark circles under the eyes (from the root of the nose to the cheekbone). This medical procedure involves the injection of this filling product (a natural component of the skin that is very well tolerated by the body and non-allergenic) by your Aesthetic Surgeon at his or her surgery. It is carried out without anaesthetic and without any special preparation or precautions on your part, which makes it very practical. What’s more, the hyaluronic acid injection is quick: generally 30 minutes are enough. It can therefore be carried out during your lunch break, allowing you to return to the office “unseen and unheard of”, with rejuvenated, refreshed eyes, because the effect is immediate!
Hyaluronic acid injections should be renewed every five to six months.
Botulinum toxin injections (botox©)
Botulinum toxin injections have a dual action: preventive and corrective on expression lines, crow’s feet (outer corner of the eye) and frown lines (vertical lines on the forehead caused by frowning). It can be performed as soon as the first signs of ageing appear. It is also indicated for slowing down ptosis of the upper eyelid (drooping eyelid) and keeping the eyebrow high. The skin around the eyes is very thin. Repeated movements (10,000 eyelash beats a day) and frowning cause the skin to wrinkle. The injection of botulinum toxin will temporarily “weaken” the muscles around the eyes and have an effect on the wrinkles that have already set in.
Botulinum toxin injections can also have a preventive effect, and can help to delay ptosis of the upper eyelid. Your eyes will open up, become larger and look more rested.
Your plastic surgeon will carry out the session in his or her surgery. Like hyaluronic acid injections, it does not require any special preparation or precautions on your part. It generally lasts around 30 minutes and can also be carried out during your lunch break. It should be repeated every four to five months, as the effect is temporary but nonetheless spectacular.
Blepharoplasty: cosmetic surgery of the eyelids
When the signs of ageing are too marked to achieve a satisfactory result with other, less invasive techniques (very drooping upper eyelids, very large bags under the eyes, excess skin, wrinkles and fine lines or very pronounced dark circles), it is necessary to resort to a surgical procedure: blepharoplasty. This procedure permanently eliminates a crumpled, tired look from the eyes, without any risk to your visual acuity.
Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. During blepharoplasty of the upper eyelids, the skin and muscle are very discreetly excised in the crease of the upper eyelid in order to “tighten” it, thus “erasing” the tired appearance. If there are internal pockets of fat, they will be reduced during this procedure for an impeccable result. Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelids to fill in the hollow just below the eyelid. Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelids to fill the hollow just below the eyelid. The skin is gently excised flush with the eyelashes, excess fat is removed and the skin is “re-draped” to eliminate bags and reduce hollows.
These two procedures can be performed alone or during the same operation. This rejuvenation surgery is quick and easy. Each operation lasts approximately 45 minutes, for a total of one and a half hours if both are performed. Blepharoplasty can be performed under local or general anaesthetic. The hospital stay is just one day. During the week that follows, a little swelling and bruising may appear. At the end of this period, your cosmetic surgeon will remove the stitches and you will be able to return to your normal social life. The final results will appear approximately one month after the operation.
The advantage of this operation is that it is permanent. This technique can be used on its own or, more often than not, in conjunction with other medical techniques, such as botulinum toxin injections (described below).
