Medical or surgical blepharoplasty?

Why is the skin of my eyelids sagging?

The skin of the eyelids is extremely thin. As a result, when it becomes dehydrated, the fat between the eyelid and the orbital bone disappears. Dark circles then appear and shadow the eyes. Other changes are also visible, such as bags under the eyes. In the same way, the upper eyelids droop and partly cover the eyes, giving the face a more tired expression, while the lower eyelids develop discoloured dark circles.

What is a medical blepharoplasty?

Medical blepharoplasty is a non-invasive way of filling the under-eye circles. It involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the hollows. Hyaluronic acid is a large molecule produced naturally by the skin. Known for its moisturising and volumising properties, it can be injected into the lower eyelids to fill them. The procedure leaves no scar and requires no time away from social life.

What is a surgical blepharoplasty?

Surgical blepharoplasty is an operation to fill the under-eye circles and to correct sagging skin around the eyelids. Depending on the indication, different procedures can be used:

• Lipofilling, which is the transfer of the patient’s own fat. Taken from the abdomen or the back of the knees, the fat is cleaned and then injected into the eyelids to fill hollows and tighten the skin.
• Nano-lipofilling. This state-of-the-art technique is similar to lipofilling. It isolates the stem cells contained in the fat and injects them into the eyelids, naturally stimulating the blood supply and the production of collagen.
• Addition blepharoplasty, which combines lipofilling with the removal of excess skin from the eyelids.
• Transconjunctival removal of under-eye bags, when bags appear in addition to the dark circles.

Which type of blepharoplasty should I choose?

Every technique has its advantages and its drawbacks.

Medical blepharoplasty, for example, is minimally invasive and leaves no scar. Its results are also temporary, which leaves room for touch-ups if they are not satisfactory. Hyaluronic acid, however, is rarely indicated for hollow under-eye circles, because it is difficult to remove from the eye area. It can also show through the skin of the eyelids, which is very thin, and then takes on a bluish appearance caused by the refraction of light.

Surgery, for its part, is extremely effective: the results are lasting and need no touch-ups. The use of advanced technology and state-of-the-art techniques makes the procedures as effective and as minimally invasive as possible. Scars are barely visible. There is always a risk of complications, however, and a poor result is very difficult to put right. Surgery also requires several days to a week away from social life, depending on the type of operation.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the field, Dr Hayot can advise you on the type of blepharoplasty best suited to you. An initial consultation will allow him to examine your eyelids and understand your needs, in order to propose tailor-made solutions and a personalised treatment plan.