The Fix for Aging Eyes

Sagging of the skin around the eyes, known as dermatochalasis, is a relatively common concern for both women and men. It usually starts in the mid-forties to early fifties. In addition to skin laxity, folding occurs from years of facial movement, because everyone relies on the muscle complexes around the eyes and in the forehead to show emotion.
Depending on how you feel about wrinkles, a little wear on the skin is a normal and natural side effect of aging. However, if you’re someone that may feel self-conscious about these minor changes, you’re probably curious about the options that are available to assuage these concerns.
Oculofacial plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Lensink is a firm believer in only seeking out cosmetic and surgical treatments when necessary, but he also recommends preventive methods that can help mitigate the signs of aging for as long as possible. The fix for aging eyes doesn’t usually come as a single solution, but in multiple steps that work in concert to fight the weakening of these soft tissues.
Youthful eyes are characterized by a slightly upturned corner and lifted brows or reduced spacing in between your bottom lash line and the fullness of your cheeks, accented by full, long lashes. As soon as a hollow space forms beneath the lower eyelid, or wrinkles in the upper eyelid cause a downturned corner, you may look older than you feel.
We offer a variety of options to restore a more youthful look to aging eyes, all of which can be customized to meet your specific needs.

Our Fixes for Aging Eyes

Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery

Tissues surrounding the eyes are some of the most sensitive, mainly because they’re a delicate part of the body — even when you’re young. A little extra care can save a few years of wrinkles and bags under the eyes, and may even prevent some drooping of the eyelids. However, if your upper and lower eyelids have started to sag, eyelid surgery may be an option for you to consider.
It’s not uncommon for this loose skin around the upper lids to adversely affect your vision. As a result, Dr. Lensink can raise the eyelids and cut away the extra skin and fatty tissues. Lower eyelid surgery can also reduce the look of bags or hollow spaces.
After surgery, you’ll need to be as gentle as you possibly can when applying creams or makeup around the eyes, and be mindful to resist the temptation to rub your eyes.

Laser Resurfacing

One of our favorite nonsurgical options to fix aging eyes is laser skin resurfacing. We use a CO2 laser (the UltraPulse™ CO2 Laser by Lumenis) to break through damaged skin cells, to refresh the skin and promote natural healing processes, reducing fine lines. Advanced wrinkles are softened by an increase in collagen and elastin production as new cells find their way to the surface.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

If you’re not sure you need surgery, or just have minor wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, and brows, BOTOX® injections are quick and relatively painless. The best way to stop wrinkles from forming is to prevent muscle contractions through a safe neurotoxin injection. This treatment takes less than 20 minutes, and you’ll see your wrinkles fade temporarily in a few days. Botox can last up to four months.

LATISSE®

Long, thick lashes will always be a mark of beauty, but if you’re someone that has thin or short eyelashes, LATISSE® will fix that. Latisse is a prescription-only serum that promotes eyelash growth by thickening and lengthening your eyelashes. It’s not a quick change, but you’ll definitely see the difference over a few months of at-home applications, which Dr. Lensink will demonstrate during your consultation.

Ready to discuss your options?

Now that you’re aware of the options that are available to rejuvenate aging eyes, call Dr. Lensink’s office at (530) 229-7700 and let us help you find the option that’s right for you!