3 Treatments You Need to Know About for Under Eye Issues
Under eye bags, hollowing, dark circles….on and on. This problem continues to be one of the most dreaded and expressed by our patients. Whatever you want to call it, the ‘condition’ created by aging around and under the eye results in one of the most requested treatments.
First, let’s talk about what happens to create the problem. Under the eye frequently is the first sign of change in the aging face. And don’t let the word ‘aging’ fool you into thinking OLD is only 60+. We have seen the issue in many 30- somethings. Loss of volume or soft tissue in the area accentuates the sagging, wrinkled skin as gravity does what it does best- pulls down. The natural volume loss can be exacerbated by weight loss, sun damaged skin, smoking and simple, genetics. The depression created is called the ‘tear trough’, a creek bed for tears, so to speak. A shadow, from the various contours of the eyeball and under eye, usually occurs in the trough, creating even more of an aesthetic issue.
So what can be done about the tear troughs? To correct the cause of the problem we restore the volume loss with dermal filler. By replacing volume and filling the depression, the shadow, or dark circles, can be greatly minimized. Treating this area with one of the hyaluronic acid fillers, Restylane®, Juvederm®, or Belotero®, usually yields the best results. It is about a 20-minute office procedure with very little discomfort. The side effects may include bruising, swelling and redness for a few days. When filler is not indicated in extreme cases, surgical repair of the condition may be needed for the best results. Don’t worry, we have become pretty good at recommending the best treatment option, all things considered. The last thing we want to do is a procedure that will not yield a great result!
In addition to treating the obvious cause of the problem, we also must address the skin itself. As you know, the under eye skin is thinner and more fragile than other facial skin. It frequently is the first area to form tiny fine lines or crepey skin. For this reason, there are specific products, eye creams, that address under eye skin. Currently, there are several very effective products on the market and it is our job to help you choose the best one for your eyes. The common ‘secret sauce’ of a great eye product is its ability to enter the skin and deliver its active ingredient to the proper depth needed for restoration to occur. This is the reason I do not recommend spending a dime on over-the-counter eye products to correct under eye issues. By the time you have noticed the problem, it is already time for a strong, medical grade product. Some of our favorites include: Revision’s DEJ, ZO’s Hydrafirm, Obagi’s Elastaderm and Epionce’s Eye Repair Cream.
One additional treatment that has proven to be excellent to strengthen under eye skin is micro-needling. Basically, this procedure is one that aerates the skin with tiny micro-punctures of the dermis, followed by infusing a serum or product directly into the skin, thus achieving the greatest effect. The most impressive results are seen with a series of this 30 minute, no-downtime office procedure.
If you begin to feel like ‘bag eyes’, there are options for treatments! At Spa Medical, we would love the opportunity to have an honest, frank discussion with you concerning your eyes!
~Terri Harper, APRN, FNP-C
