How can I tighten the skin under my eyes?

WHY IS THE SKIN UNDER MY EYES WRINKLED?

With age, skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles appear, contributing to a crumpled appearance under the eyes. Several factors contribute to this crumpled appearance:

• Skin pigmentation: a genetic and hereditary factor, explained by excessive melanin production.
• Loss of elasticity: caused by reduced elastin production.
• Over the years, the dermis thins, reducing skin tone.
• Fatty, bony and muscular changes in the infraorbital area: loss of volume due to reduced malar support.
• Repeated movements: laughter, facial expressions and so on.

Rejuvenating the eye contour area is possible thanks to the various effective cosmetic surgery techniques that meet this demand.

LOWER BLEPHAROPLASTY TO TIGHTEN THE SKIN UNDER THE EYES

The lower blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes bags of fat from under the eyes and tightens the wrinkled skin and the structure of the lower eyelids. It reduces excess skin while restoring a youthful, rested look to the eyes, and is akin to an “eye lift”.

• Objectives: this technique aims to reduce creases and the depth of the hollow line, and to lighten the darker colour of the dark circle.
• The scar: the surgeon closes the incision with very fine non-absorbable sutures, removed after one week. The scar is placed discreetly either under the ciliary rim (the eyelashes), in the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane lining the inside of the eyelid) or behind the eyelid.

Through these incisions, excess muscle and fat are removed, leaving the patient looking taut and rejuvenated.

Micro lipofilling can be combined with a lower blepharoplasty, in particular to fill a hollow dark circle, and a nano lipofilling for a coloured dark circle.

PINCH BLEPHAROPLASTY TO TIGHTEN THE LOWER EYELIDS

As soon as the presence of wrinkled skin under the eyes is noticed, pinch blepharoplasty is quickly recommended, to prevent the after-effects and complications that can appear, such as dark circles, and that then require further treatment.

Pinch blepharoplasty is the equivalent of a rapid, minimally invasive lower eyelid blepharoplasty, which does not involve the subcutaneous tissues of the skin. Without major surgery, it effectively rejuvenates the eyelids and the eyes by correcting wrinkled skin, simply by pinching out the excess skin, without detaching either the skin tissue or the orbicularis muscle.

This is a minimally painful and generally well-tolerated procedure, performed under a short general anaesthetic, lasting around 30 to 45 minutes, with no overnight stay. With this technique the skin is not detached and the tissues are not cleaved, which limits bleeding and inflammatory reactions. Slight bleeding or oedema is generally reported as a side effect.

It is recommended for people with crumpled, folded or wrinkled eyelids, provided the skin is not excessively fatty.

WHICH TECHNIQUE TO CHOOSE FOR TIGHTENING THE SKIN UNDER THE EYES?

Dr Hayot, a specialist in eye rejuvenation, has been performing blepharoplasty for over 30 years. Thanks to his experience and his interest in procedures that give the most natural results possible, he can offer tailor-made solutions following a clinical examination designed to assess the various criteria involved:

• Fatty bags under the eyes
• The firmness of eyelid skin
• Skin colour
• Eyelid cartilage tone

This makes it possible to make an informed choice about the treatment options best suited to the particularities of each face.

The eye specialist also works with laser scalpels, which call for extremely delicate handling but deliver commensurate results, with virtually concealed scars.