Eyelid lift is a complex of hardware, injection, and manual manipulations designed to rejuvenate and model the periorbital region (the area around the eye). This part of the face is considered a zone of increased sensitivity, so non-surgical aesthetic eyelid correction is a difficult task even for a highly experienced, highly trained professional. Microsurgical cosmetology and aesthetic medicine today offer a number of effective methods for eyelid lift: radio wave lift, bio-reinforcement with yarns, contouring, photo rejuvenation, micronductive therapy. You can select the most appropriate technique only after a visual examination of the problem area, studying the patient’s medical history, goals, and ideas about what the end result should be.
Peculiarities of periorbital lifting
The region of the eyelids, also called the periorbital zone (which is not entirely true because the tear sample, palpebral fissure, and conjunctival sac also belong to the periorbital space in addition to the eyelid) is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body with a thin dermal layer andminimal subcutaneous fat. The eyelids are muscle-tissue folds bounded by the conjunctiva and cartilage tissue. They are located around the eyes and perform several functions at the same time: they protect the cornea and retina from the negative effects of environmental factors (ultraviolet radiation, dust, etc. ), cleanse the connective tissue membrane due to continuous wetting with tear fluid, 
Prevent eye sclera from dehydrating the cornea.
In the area of the eyelid, the skin is several times thinner than the rest of the face, making it more prone to age-related and stressful changes that become noticeable in most people after 30 years. At this age, the process of natural dehydration of the body begins, as a result of which the epidermal cells lose moisture and the skin loses its elasticity, loose and sagging. Men and women over the age of 30 develop the first signs of aging in the periorbital zone: hypodynamic folds, mimic wrinkles, creases in the outer corner of the eye ("crow's feet").
Eyelid lifting is a complex task that can only be performed by a highly trained physician with excellent knowledge of the topographic anatomy of the eye, as improper actions can not only cause new defects but also severely damage vision function. The fact that the eyelids are involved in the formation of corneal eye focus and optical geometry, as well as in the regulation of intraocular pressure, therefore, improperly performed plastic surgery and lifting can cause visual function disturbance (in some cases irreversible).
Who needs eyelid lifting
Elevation of the periorbital zone has no strict medical indication (except for surgical correction, which is often used to treat conditions that interfere with the normal functioning of the visual organs) and is usually performed at the patient’s request to eliminate visible aesthetic defects. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons show the following errors so adversely:
- strong overhang of the supraorbital fold;
- Excess skin in the infraorbital musculocutaneous fold;
- drooping to the outer corner of the eye;
- periorbital protrusions (fatty hernias);
- periorbital edema (sachets);
- vascular pathologies leading to the appearance of rosacea and dark circles under the eyes;
- hypodynamic wrinkles;
- "crow's feet" (creases in the corner of the eye);
- strongly pronounced infraorbital grooves;
- "aging eyelid" (wilting and looseness of the skin of the eyelid).
Eyelid lift also helps to create a fresher and more open look, improving overhanging skin and periorbital fat bags and improving the overall tone of the area.
The timely application of various methods of rejuvenation around the eye helps to solve one of the main tasks of periorbital lifting - to hide age-related changes with skin age and to get rid of visual defects characteristic of skin biological aging while reducing epidermal cell functional potential.
Important! Aging and heavy eyelids are a fairly serious aesthetic defect that can ruin even a young and attractive face. For some, signs of skin aging may appear even before the age of thirty (e. g. , in obese patients or individuals with endocrine system pathology). Cosmetics are generally ineffective in correcting existing problems and are only suitable for preventing premature aging, so the only effective way to do this is periorbital lifting.
Eyelid lift surgery
The operation to lift the skin of the upper and lower eyelids is called blepharoplasty. This is a kind of radical lift in the periorbital zone, in which the effect of tightening and rejuvenation can be achieved by completely removing excess skin and oily hernia in the eyelid area.
Unlike non-surgical methods of eyelid lifting, blepharoplasty allows not only to correct the defects of aging skin and improve the appearance of this area, but also to correct the shape and form of the eye and get rid of various pathologies.
Blepharoplasty is effective in severe ophthalmic diseases such as entropion (protrusion of the lashes and the rim of the eyelid toward the eyeball) or exophthalmos (displacement of the eyeball outside the orbit). There are a total of three types of blepharoplasty: upper, lower, and circular.
table. Types of Radical Periorbital Lift
| Operation Type | Section area | What diseases can be corrected |
|---|---|---|
| Supraorbital blepharoplasty | A skin incision made along an orbital or tarsal fold of the upper eyelid. | Removes excess skin, subcutaneous fat and muscle plastics. |
| Suborbital blepharoplasty | Transcutaneous or subcilial incision is performed. | Removal of periorbital edema, bags under the eyes, fatty hernias. |
| Circular blepharoplasty | Simultaneous eyelid surgery on both sides. | Solving problems common to all types of blepharoplasty. |
Tightening of the periorbital zone is performed strictly in a hospital setting, excluding the possibility of an outpatient procedure. The patient receives general anesthesia and the average duration of the procedure is about 3 hours. A significant disadvantage of this method of eyelid lifting is the postoperative period, which, although short-lived (approximately two weeks), is characterized by pain, the need for regular dressings and antiseptic treatments, and significant restrictions on regime and professional activity.
Important! The advantage of surgical blepharoplasty is that it not only tightens the skin of the eyelids, but can also perform muscle tissue plastic surgery, which cannot be achieved with hardware and other minimally invasive methods.
Tightening the periorbital zone without surgery
Surgical augmentation of eyelid surgery, although a highly effective method of radical rejuvenation of the area around the eyes, experts advise that it be used only in patients with an older age (after 40 years) who have marked signs of aging and age. associated deep skin lesions. Prior to this age, while tissue hydrodynamics are within the normal range, there are a number of less traumatic methods to correct existing problems, while the effectiveness of most of these techniques is in some cases comparable to the outcome of surgical plastic surgery.
Injection (contour) plastic
contour plastic surgery is perhaps the safest method for non-surgical lifting of the skin of the eyelid, according to the technique it belongs to mesotherapy procedures. Contouring is the subdermal injection of special implants called fillers.
These are compositions in the form of a homogeneous and viscous suspension or gel based on components that have a high degree of affinity for the body's own tissues. These can be:
- hyaluronic acid;
- calcium hydroxyapatite;
- collagen (a peptide synthesized by fibroblasts that is a major component of the extracellular material of the dermis that provides its flexibility and ability to stretch); polymers based on acrylic and methacrylic acid;
- high molecular weight oxygenated silicone; poly-lactic acid;
- tripolyphosphoric acid salts, etc.
The most popular and desirable fillers for periorbital augmentation are hyaluronic acid-based formulations. These are biodegradable (absorbable) skin implants that not only compensate for the lack of tissue in this area, but also help eliminate wrinkles - one of the main visual signs of facial aging. The benefits of hyaluronic fillers include a high hypoallergenic effect and excellent results that can be evaluated immediately after implantation. Hyaluronate is bioresorpted within a few weeks, after which the injections must be repeated.
Biosynthetic implants based on polylactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite retain their properties for 1-2 years.
RF boost
A radio wave or radiofrequency lift is a non-surgical lift of the area around the eye with high efficiency.
Among the hardware techniques required for minimally invasive lifting of the skin of the upper and lower eyelids, RF lifting takes the leading position, as it not only achieves an immediate firming effect, but also significantly improves the condition of the skin in the periorbital zone.
Radio waves that penetrate the dermis to the desired depth heat the epidermal cells to a collagen condensation temperature of about 60 ° C. Thermal energy heats the skin tissue, resulting in partial retraction of the collagen skeleton, resulting in loose collagen fibersthey shrink again and assume their characteristic spiral shape, which is the lifting effect.
TheRF lift is suitable for correcting all age-related problems around the eyes (magpies, hypodynamic wrinkles, eyelid ptosis, etc. ) and the result is lasting up to 1-2 years. To achieve a stable rejuvenating effect, you should perform about 6-10 procedures at least 7-10 days apart.
Bio-reinforcement with threads (thread lifting)
fiber lifting is a process of rejuvenating the area around the eyes based on the implantation of special cosmetic fibers made of various metals and synthetic materials under the skin, resulting in the formation of a new collagen skeleton in the subdermal layers. The procedure is quite effective and allows you to cope with “aging eyelids”, oily periorbital hernias, gravitational ptosis and other phenomena characteristic of aging skin.
There are several threads for lifting. Precious metal fibers are in great demand in cosmetology. These fibers are made of platinum or gold and are used to reinforce the upper layers of the dermis. Gold fibers not only provide a visible lifting effect, but also stimulate cellular metabolism, improving the supply of nutrients, oxygen and vitamins to skin cells. The serious disadvantages of precious metal fibers are the high risk of detachment and the impossibility of many cosmetic processes, such as photothermolysis after reinforcement.
Liquid mesh fibers are primarily used to overcome small hypodynamic folds, correct “aging eyelids, ” and smooth out skin in the periorbital zone. The duration of such a procedure does not exceed 20-30 minutes, but reinforcement with liquid fibers has many contraindications and is always accompanied by various side effects (swelling, bruising, redness). Experts believe that the most effective type of eyelid lift is Swiss, polylactic and Korean fibers. The result lasts for about 2-3 years after such confirmation.
Fractional photothermolysis
Fractional photothermolysis is another effective method to tighten the skin of non-surgical upper and lower eyelids. This is a form of laser rejuvenation in which a fractionated laser generator (such as an erbium laser) is used to affect the problem area. The beam generated by the device is scattered in many streams and, when it reaches the skin, forms a large number of microthermal treatment zones in which the main effect takes place, so that the surrounding
tissues do not heat up and are not damaged.
The distinguishing feature and at the same time the main principle of fractional photothermolysis is the heating of the skin to a temperature of 250-300 ° C, which is called by the experts an evaporation process. At this temperature, old, pathologically altered and dead cells are destroyed and evaporated, while natural neocollagenesis is activated and the activity of fibroblasts, which synthesize the main components of the extracellular matrix - peptides (collagen and elastin) - is increased.
Fractional laser rejuvenation results in noticeable tightening of the skin of the eyelids, smoothing of wrinkles and creases, restoring the hydrodynamics of the periorbital tissues and improving the overall condition of the skin in this area.
Pulse currents (microconductors)
microwave therapy refers to low traumatic methods of eyelid lifting, but a significant disadvantage of this method is the short duration of the result (up to 4 months). The clinical outcome of microconductive therapy for elevation of the periorbital zone is due to the following properties of the pulse currents:
- Normalization of lymph flow.Lymphatic drainage effect, which has a pulse current on the skin, improves lymph movement, prevents it from stagnating, and helps illuminate dark circles under the eyes;
- Stimulation of metabolic processes.Activation of cellular metabolism has a positive effect on oxygen and nutrient transport and skin appearance (skin becomes smooth, gets a healthy look);
- restores muscle tone.The muscles of the eyelids are quite weak and further stimulation allows the firming effect to be achieved.
The duration of a standard course is 10-20 procedures, while in most cases it will be necessary to repeat the procedure after a few months.
Before and after photos
Conclusion
Eyelid lift is a difficult but feasible task that modern aesthetic medicine offers a number of effective methods to accomplish, including low traumatic manipulations with a low probability of complications. Which method of periorbital augmentation will be the most effective and safest will be decided individually after talking to the patient, diagnosing the problem area, and studying medical history data.
The use of surgical techniques is primarily indicated in patients who have marked signs of aging around the eye and in whom the use of gentle techniques is ineffective and is unlikely to produce stable positive results. Individuals with the initial manifestations of the “aging century” are more likely to opt for minimally invasive methods with low tissue trauma and short recovery times.