Gravity and Aging – What It Does to Your Skin and Eyelids and Ways to Defy It
Skin is an amazing organ that not only makes you look good by covering up all the inner workings of the body, but it also breathes, excretes waste, acts as a cooling system, gives protection from solar radiation and a host of other functions. However over time, the skin loses its elasticity due to sun damage, loss of water, ingested toxins and other factors, and begins to sag and wrinkle under the pressures of both gravity and aging.
When elasticity is lost, the skin loses its ability to bounce back when muscles contract and wrinkles are formed. Also, the skin sags as a result of gravity and problems such as ptosis occur. Ptosis is the sagging of eyelid skin which can eventually interfere with your vision if not corrected.
Aponeurotic ptosis is the most common form droopy eyelids, caused by aging. Over time, the tendon-like tissue which is used to lift the eyelid muscles stretches and begins to sag over the eye due to the effects of gravity. Both eyes can be affected by ptosis, but it is often worse over one particular eye. Dermatochalasis can accompany ptosis or can be present on its own and manifest as excessively redundant skin of the upper or lower lids. It may also interfere with vision and occasionally cause headaches.
Treating Wrinkles and Sagging Eyelids
Many people inquire about treatments for facial wrinkles and sagging eyelids and, with today’s technology, there are various options to eliminate or correct such problems with minimally invasive procedures. Following are some of the most common options:
- Blepharoplasty – This is the process of correcting sagging eyelids through surgical modification. Excess skin and fat are removed and the surrounding tendons and muscles are strengthened.
- Botox – Botox is commonly used for both facial wrinkles and droopy eyelid problems. Botox is injected under the skin, providing artificial elasticity which smoothes out wrinkles as well as helping to lift sagging eyelids when injected above the eyes.
- BOTOX® Cosmetic – BOTOX® Cosmetic gained FDA approval in 2002. It is an injectable form of Botox which is given by prescription for self injections. Both Botox and BOTOX® Cosmetic are mainly used for the “frown” wrinkles on the forehead and over the eyes. Botox injections are do not only reduce and eliminate wrinkles of aging skin but also a great way to prevent wrinkles from developing in the first place.
- Wrinkle Fillers (Dermal Fillers) – Wrinkle fillers, or injectable gels, are injectable treatments of hyaluronic acid used for eliminating wrinkles such as “laugh” wrinkles around the mouth and nose, or filling out cheeks, lips and other parts of the face. These revolutionary treatments are essentially painless and help avoid invasive and costly cosmetic plastic surgeries. The main products used are Restylane®, Perlane, Juvéderm® with Restylane® and Perlane needing to be administered again after 4.5 to 9 months and Juvéderm® lasting up to a year. The products mixed with lidocaine result in comfortable and painless treatments.
- RADIESSE® Volumizing Filler – This product is growing in popularity for several important reasons. RADIESSE® is the only FDA approved injectable filler product which not only replenished volume, but also stimulates the growth of the skin’s natural collagen which is what provides elasticity. Also, clinical results for RADIESSE® show that it lasts a full year or more and can be mixed with lidocaine to reduce the pain caused by injection.
If aging and gravity are playing havoc on your face and you are concerned about facial wrinkles, or have a problem with sagging eyelids, talk to your eye doctor and find out which treatments are most recommended for your particular situation.