There is a wide choice of treatments available to restore the eye area back to its youthful, former self, and it starts with relatively minor treatments such as Botox, to surgical procedures such as a brow lift or blepharoplasty.
Botox
Botox expert, Nicky Naylor, recommends Botox for crow’s feet. ‘Botox is fantastic for crow’s feet as it stops the activity in the purse string muscles which tighten with age and cause lines’, she explains. ‘It makes such as huge difference and just stops the creasing movement’.
But is Botox just for women in their 30s and 40s? ‘Not at all’, says Nicky. ‘Botox even works on very deep lines. I have many clients in their 60s and it still works really well’. Nicky recommends repeating the treatment before the muscle movement starts to come back, about four months. £210 for both eyes at The Harley Medical Group.
Facial fillers
Botox does not work so well for crepiness under the eyes, and most experts recommend using facial fillers instead, especially in the ‘tear trough’ lines, just under the lash line. ‘If you inject small amounts of filler very deep into the skin, it hydrates and fills in the lines’, explains Nicky Naylor. From £150.
Fillers can also be used to revive sunken upper eyelids. Consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon, Raman Malhotra, explains that while surgery can be used to improve the appearance of heavy or hooded lids, the sunken look, caused by the loss of volume in the soft tissue of the upper eyelid, may start to look more hollow. The filler is injected into the upper eyelid and lasts for up to twelve months.
e-Matrix
A brand new treatment for reducing fine lines and crepey skin under the eyes, is e-Matrix, a non-laser, non-light based treatment that uses radio frequency as its energy source, and is delivered via a hand piece. ‘The treatment creates microscopic holes in the epidermis and the heat damages the dermis which creates new collagen,’ explains cosmetic medical practitioner, Dr Elizabeth Dancey. This method of skin rejuvenation is known as sublation, a new term in cosmetic medicine, which destroys some of the tissues which in turn enable them to heal themselves. The treatment is painless and because healing is so rapid, make-up can be worn straight away. £400 for both eyes at Bijoux Medi-Spa.
Peels
Face peels are not always associated with the eye area, but in fact, they are a very gentle and effective treatment. ‘Peeling is great for around the eyes, and you can use it all over the eye, even on the eye lid,’ says Dr Dancey. ‘It’s old fashioned but it’s so safe and predictable. Since the recession we’ve seen a real resurgence in peels as they’re a less expensive alternative’. A glycol eye peel costs £120 at Bijoux Medi-Spa.
Heat dermabrasion
For loose skin around the lower eye area, instead of using a peel, cosmetic surgeon, Mr Azhar Aslam, uses heat dermabrasion. ‘I have used this technique for several years, and although it is not that well known, it is a great treatment’, says Mr Aslam. Heat is applied to the lower eye area which tightens the skin and encourages new skin formation. ‘I consider it to be superior to laser, which is far more aggressive and has high risk of complications’, explains Mr Aslam. ‘This treatment can be performed within a few minutes with very quick recovery time’. From £150 at Linia Cosmetic Surgery.
