What Causes Eye Wrinkles?

• Thin Eyelid Skin-the skin of our eyelids is the thinnest skin on our face and is most susceptible to sun damage and aging changes.

• Eyelid Muscle Action- Because the skin of the lid is so thin, it is easily deformed by the underlying muscle, the Orbicularis Oculi. When this muscle contacts it pulls the eyelid skin into folds and wrinkles. As the eyelid skin ages and looses collagen, these wrinkles and lines become permanent.

• Sun Exposure-The upper portion of our face, the forehead, eyes and cheeks get the most sun exposure of any area of the body. UV radiation from the sun destroys collagen in the skin and causes aging changes including skin wrinkles.

How Do We Remove Eye Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet?

• Quiet the Muscle Pull -Botox™ is truly a miracle drug for treating wrinkles around the eye. Botox™ weakens the muscles of facial expression, allows the muscle to relax, and results in the disappearance of the lines and wrinkles caused by the muscle pull. Small amounts work very well and are safe to use on the crow’s feet.

• Resurface or Remove Sun Damaged, Aged Skin-New fractional laser resurfacing can be done on the peri-ocular (around the eyes) skin to remove wrinkles and crow’s feet. Newer fractional Erbium laser resurfacing results in much quicker recovery-5-7 days, than older CO2 laser resurfacing which often took 3 weeks to heal. Eye protection is required during treatment.

• Non-ablative fractional Laser resurfacing-Non-ablative Erbium Laser treatments do not peel the skin so there is minimal recovery time. These techniques can be uses in the crow’s feet area but not on the eyelid. Eye protection and 4 treatments 3-4 weeks apart are required.

Do Not Have Injections of Soft Tissue Fillers or Fat Around the Eyes

Many doctors inject fat or fillers around the eyes. I do not-filler injection beneath the lower eyelid is a “blind procedure”-the doctor cannot see where the needle is and what structures are near the injection. Blindness has been reported following injection of a soft tissue filler around the eye in England. The companies that make the fillers do not recommend injection around the eye. I have seen patients with permanent lumps that had to be surgically removed after misplaced fat injections beneath the lower eyelid.

Non-surgical methods are the Best for Treating Eye Wrinkles and Crow’s Feet

The plastic surgery operation called a blepharoplasty does not remove eye wrinkles. Blepharoplasty does remove puffiness and bags and dark circles under the eyes.

But eye wrinkles and crow’s feet are not corrected with Blepharoplasty. The non-surgical methods including Botox™ and laser resurfacing or a chemical peel are necessary to correct these skin aging changes around the eyes.

Start Early

Prevention is the best cure! Wear sun block, UV protection sun glasses and a visor or hat when out in the sun-especially at the beach or near the water, at high altitudes, and around the snow.

If you see crow’s feet start with Botox™, you will see immediate results. Eye wrinkles that Botox™ does not remove can be removed with the fractional Erbium laser.

Find an Experienced Professional

Be sure to consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced specifically in eyelid rejuvenation. I suggest consulting two doctors before you choose, trust your “gut feeling” about who you can trust with your delicate and oh so important eyes.

For more information on eyelid rejuvenation please call 978-369-4499 or email us. read our free newsletter to keep up to date on the newest aesthetic, non-surgical rejuvenation and plastic surgery techniques. Read Save Your Face to learn how to prevent facial and eyelid aging.

Dr. Seckel
Concord, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Facelift-Contact Dr Seckel

While Plastic Surgery is truly a much more comprehensive field including reconstructive surgery following burns, cancer surgery, and birth defects, the image most often projected in the media is that of image or beauty enhancement and non-surgical and surgical facial rejuvenation of otherwise normal people by surgery.

Blepharoplasty-Contact Dr Seckel

Revolutionary technological advancements in the past decade have significantly impacted the field of Plastic Surgery creating a shift from traditional surgical procedures to new non-surgical methods for correcting aging changes and improving appearance.

Laser Resurfacing-Contact Dr Seckel

Today Botox® injections can remove crow’s feet, frown lines, worry lines, and help lift the sagging brow. Prior to Botox® major facial surgery such as a brow lift and blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) were performed to correct these aging changes.

Botox-Contact Dr Seckel

New fillers such as Restylane® and Radiesse® are injected into the nasal-labial fold, lips, and marionette lines, those deep lines running from the lips down around the mouth and chin. Previously, a face lift was performed to correct these lines.

Fillers-Contact Dr Seckel

Skin tightening technology such as aluma, ActiveFX, LuxIR, Titan® and Thermage® are becoming better and can improve facial sagging in 30% patients if used early before the sagging is severe. Many patients choose to have one of these techniques rather than a face-lift. Many other new exciting techniques for laser restoration of skin collagen (Laser Genesis®) and improvement in skin wrinkling, removal of pigment, and removal of red spots and blood vessels on the face are already in use today.

These dramatic advances coupled with increasing public awareness of the importance of sun protection, a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, stress reduction, and a healthy lifestyle undoubtedly will impact the Plastic Surgery practice of the future. The Plastic Surgeon of the future will still have to be a highly skilled, knowledgeable surgeon, but I predict he/she will need to be an expert in the newer laser, light, pharmacological, and lifestyle therapies as well.

Plastic Surgery is becoming more non-surgical with every new technological advancement. The 6-step facial rejuvenation program encompases all the new non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques. For questions read Save Your Face, or contact me.

Dr Seckel