With August kicking off a new school year, chances are your calendar is brimming with activities once again. We know that busy schedules often lead to less sleep, and less sleep can lead to tired eyes. If your eyes tend to suffer the consequences from all that “go go go” you’re in luck. Dr. Biesman is an award-winning oculofacial plastic surgeon, which means the eye area is his specialty.
This month, we thought we’d address a few common issues that contribute to tired eyes, and share some great options we offer at our practice to address each one. Thanks to procedures like tear trough correction, eyelid surgery and forehead & eyebrow lifts, your eyes can look healthy, well rested and more youthful.
KICK DARK CIRCLES WITH TEAR TROUGH CORRECTION
Nothing is more of a dead giveaway from too little sleep than the dark circles under your eyes–it’s the thinnest layer of skin! A common trouble area we treat patients for is tear trough correction, which smooths the area that creates the appearance of dark circles. Some people are born with deep hollowing and others gradually experience this due to aging. No matter why you have tear trough issues, the result means eyes that always look tired, even when you’re not. To correct and create a more well-rested look for our patients, Dr. Biesman carefully injects soft tissue fillers to fill in the hollow area for a smoother transition with little to no pain. The process typically takes less than 30 minutes, patients can drive themselves home after their appointment and there is very little aftercare required.
FIGHT AGING AROUND THE EYES WITH BLEPHAROPLASTY
The proverbial “eyes are the window to the soul” may be true, but eyes are also one of the first places we see signs of aging. As gravity takes its toll, excess tissue in the eyelids begins to sag and can add a heaviness to the eye area and a lack of sleep can accentuate this even more! One possible solution to this problem is Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery. During this procedure, Dr. Biesman makes a small incision hidden within the eyelid’s natural fold to remove or reposition the sagging tissue. The surgery usually takes between 60-90 minutes and can be performed either in an outpatient surgery center or at our office. As you can see from the before and after photos, this procedure helps to rejuvenate the eyelid area and create an overall more youthful appearance.
FIGHT AGING WITHOUT SURGERY
Looking for another way to fight aging around the eyes that’s not surgery? Did you know that laser skin resurfacing can be done on the eyelid area of your skin? This treatment heats the layers underneath to promote collagen production, which stimulates the skin to heal in a more smooth, even appearance. This is a great option for patients who are wanting to reduce eyelid wrinkles and improve the appearance of their eyes overall.
COUNTERACT GRAVITY WITH FOREHEAD AND EYEBROW LIFTS
Sometimes the culprit of our heavy eyes isn’t actually caused by the eye area itself. Often, sagging eyebrows can contribute to the appearance of weighed-down eyelids. In fact, patients will often come to Dr. Biesman inquiring about eyelid surgery when they actually are in need of a forehead or eyebrow lift. In this procedure, Dr. Biesman uses tiny telescopes, inserted through small incisions hidden behind the hairline to elevate the eyebrows and eliminate deep forehead or frown lines. The best way to determine whether you’re a better candidate for eyelid surgery vs. a forehead or an eyebrow lift is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Biesman so he can assess your needs and advise what’s best for you.
Looking for some more tips to give your eyes a little TLC this season?
- Try sleeping on your back and using two pillows so that fluid doesn’t pool overnight, leaving you with dark, puffy bags.
- Minimize sodium intake. Similar to how sodium can cause bloating in the body, it also can cause puffiness under your eyes.
- Be gentle while removing your makeup. While it’s tempting to scrub it off with washcloth or towel, try to use gentle strokes in the same direction instead of pulling back and forth with force. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, you should always treat the eye area incredibly delicately.
- If you can’t get more sleep, cut back on alcohol. No real surprise here, but it only leads to inflammation and dehydration.
- Looking for an immediate solution to minimize tired eyes? Applying something cool to your eyes (like a cold washcloth or cucumbers) can help reduce constricting swollen under-eye blood vessels.
Whatever goals you have in mind to improve your eye area, Dr. Biesman is here to help. Call our practice to schedule a consultation, or visit our website to learn more about the services we offer at our practice. But also…try to get some sleep!