Eyelid lift is a complex of hardware, injection and manual manipulation aimed at rejuvenating and modeling the periorbital region (the area around the eyes). This part of the face is considered a zone of increased sensitivity, which is why non-surgical aesthetic correction of eyelids is a difficult task even for a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Microsurgical cosmetology and aesthetic medicine today offer several effective methods for lifting the eyelids: radio wave lift, bio-reinforcement with wires, contour plastic surgery, photorejuvenation, microcurrent therapy. You can only choose the most suitable technique after a visual examination of the problem area, study the patient's medical history, his goals and ideas of what the final result should be.
Periorbital Lift Features
The eyelid region, also called the periorbital zone (which is not entirely true as the lacrimal apparatus, the palpebral fissure and the conjunctival sac also belong to the periorbital space beyond the eyelids) is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body with a thin layer ofdermis and minimally subcutaneous fat. The eyelids are musculocutaneous folds, bounded by the conjunctiva and cartilage tissue. They are located around the eye and perform several functions at once: they protect the cornea and retina from the negative effects of environmental factors (ultraviolet radiation, dust, etc. ), cleanse the connective tissue membrane due to constant wetting with tear fluid, 
prevents drying of the eye scleraog cornea.
The skin in the eyelid area is several times thinner compared to other parts of the face, so it is more prone to age-related and stressful changes, which in most people become noticeable after 30 years. At this age, the process of natural dehydration of the body begins, resulting in epidermal cells losing moisture and the skin losing its elasticity, becoming loose and sagging. It is in the periorbital zone in men and women over 30 that the first signs of aging are formed: hypodynamic folds, mimicking wrinkles, folds in the outer corners of the eyes ("crow's feet").
Eyelid lift is a complex task that should only be performed by a highly qualified physician with excellent knowledge of topographic anatomy of the eye, as incorrect actions can not only cause new defects but also severely impair the function of the visual organs. The fact is that the eyelids are involved in the formation of the eye focus and the optical geometry of the cornea as well as in the regulation of the intraocular pressure, therefore, incorrectly performed plastic surgery and lifting can cause a disturbance of visual function (in some cases irreversible).
Who Needs Eyelid Lift
Periorbital zone lift has no strict medical indications (with the exception of surgical correction, which is often used to treat pathologies that interfere with the normal function of the visual organs) and is usually performed at the request of the patient to eliminate visible aesthetic defects. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons include the following shortcomings for such disadvantages:
- strong overhang of the supraorbital fold;
- excess skin in the infraorbital musculocutaneous fold
- hanging from the outer corners of the eyes
- periorbital protrusion (fat hernia);
- periorbital edema (sacs)
- vascular pathologies leading to the appearance of traces of rosacea and dark circles under the eyes;
- hypodynamic wrinkles;
- "crow's feet" (curls in the eyes)
- strongly pronounced infraorbital grooves;
- "aging eyelid" (withering and sagging of the eyelid skin).
Lifting the eyelid also helps create a fresher and more open look by correcting overhanging skin and periorbital fat bags and improving the overall tone of the area.
Timely use of different methods to rejuvenate the area around the eyes helps solve one of the main tasks of periorbital lifting - to hide age-related skin changes and get rid of vision defects that are characteristic of biological aging of the dermis due to a fallin the functional potential of epidermal cells.
Important! Aging and heavy eyelids are a rather serious aesthetic flaw that can ruin even a young and attractive face. In some, signs of skin aging in this area may occur even before the age of thirty (for example, in underweight patients or in a person with endocrine systemic pathologies). As a rule, cosmetic products are ineffective in correcting existing problems and are only suitable for preventing premature aging, so the only effective method to deal with this defect is lifting the periorbital.
Eyelid Lift Surgery
An operation to lift the skin in the upper and lower eyelids is called blepharoplasty. This is a form of radical lifting of the periorbital zone, where the effect of tightening and rejuvenation is achieved by complete removal of excess skin and oily hernia in the eyelid area.
Unlike non-surgical methods of eyelid lift, blepharoplasty allows not only to correct the defects in aging skin and improve the appearance of this area, but also to correct the shape and form of the eye as well as get rid of various pathologies.
Blepharoplasty is effective for such serious ophthalmic diseases as entropion (bulging of the eyelashes and eyelid edge towards the eyeball) or exophthalmos (displacement of the eyeball outside the circulation). In total, there are three types of blepharoplasty: upper, lower and circular.
Table. Types of Radical Periorbital Lifts
| Operating mode | Section area | Which pathologies can be corrected |
|---|---|---|
| Supraorbital blepharoplasty | A skin incision made along the orbital or tarsal fold of the upper eyelid. | Removal of excess skin, subcutaneous fat and muscle plasticity. |
| Suborbital blepharoplasty | A transcutaneous or subciliary incision is performed. | Removal of periorbital edema, bags under the eyes, fatty hernia. |
| Circular blepharoplasty | Simultaneous eyelid surgery on both sides. | Solving Problems Common to All Types of Blepharoplasty. |
Tightening surgery in the periorbital zone takes place strictly in hospitals, excluding the possibility of an outpatient procedure. The patient receives general anesthesia, and the duration of the intervention is on average approx. 3 hours. A major disadvantage of this method of lifting eyelids is the postoperative period, which, although short in duration (about two weeks), is characterized by pain, the need for regular dressing and antiseptic treatment, and significant restrictions on the regimen and professional activities. .
Important! The advantage of surgical blepharoplasty is the ability not only to tighten the skin of the eyelid, but also to perform plastic surgery on muscle tissue that cannot be achieved using hardware and other minimally invasive methods.
Periorbital zone tightening without surgery
Surgical eyelid lift, although a highly effective method for radical rejuvenation of the area around the eyes, experts recommend resorting to it only for patients in the older age group (after 40 years) with marked signs of aging and profound age-related skin changes. Before reaching this age, while the hydrodynamics of the tissue are within the normal range, there are many less traumatic ways to correct existing problems, while the effectiveness of most of these techniques in some cases can be compared to the result of surgical plastic.
Injection (contour) plastic
Contour plastic surgery is perhaps the safest method of non-surgical tightening of the eyelid skin, which is related to mesotherapeutic procedures according to the technique. Contouring is the subdermal injection of special implants called fillers.
These are preparations 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, which is one of the main elements of the extracellular substance in the dermis, ensuring its elasticity and ability to stretch);
- polymers based on acrylic and methacrylic acid;
- high molecular weight oxygenated silicone;
- polylactic acid;
- tripolyphosphoric acid salts, etc.
The most popular and required fillers for lifting the periorbital are preparations based on hyaluronic acid. These are biodegradable (absorbable) skin implants, which not only compensate for tissue deficiency in this area, but also help eliminate wrinkles - one of the most important visual signs of facial aging. The benefits of hyaluronic fillers include high hypoallergenicity and excellent results, which can be understood immediately after implantation. Bioresorption of hyaluronate occurs within several 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 Lift
Radio wave lift or radio frequency lift is a non-surgical lift of the area around the eyes with a high degree of efficiency.
Among the hardware techniques for minimally invasive lifting of the skin in the upper and lower eyelids, RF lifting occupies a leading position, as it not only allows for an immediate tightening effect, but also significantly improves the skin condition in the periorbital zone.
Radio waves penetrating the dermis to the required depth heat epidermal cells to the condensation temperature of the collagen, which is approx. 60 ° C. Under the influence of thermal energy, the dermal tissue heats up, a partial retraction of the collagen frame occurs, which results in the loose collagen fibers shrinking again and gaining their characteristic spiral shape, which is the lifting effect.
RF lifting is suitable for correcting all age-related problems in the area around the eyes (crow's feet, hypodynamic wrinkles, eyelid sputum, etc. ), and the result obtained lasts for up to 1-2 years. To achieve a stable rejuvenating effect, perform approx. 6-10 procedures with an interval of at least 7-10 days.
Bio-reinforcement with thread (wire lifting)
Thread lifting is a procedure for rejuvenating the area around the eyes, which is based on implantation of special cosmetic threads made of various metals and synthetic materials under the skin, thereby forming a new collagen frame in the subdermal layers. The procedure is quite effective and allows you to tackle the problem of the "aging eyelid", oily periorbital hernia, the phenomenon of gravitational ptosis and other phenomena characteristic of aging skin.
There are several types of wire lifting threads. Threads made of precious metals are in high demand in cosmetology. These threads are made of platinum or gold and are designed to reinforce the top layers of the dermis. Golden threads not only provide a visible lifting effect, but also stimulate cellular metabolism and improve the supply of nutrients, oxygen and vitamins to the skin cells. Serious disadvantages of wires made of precious metals are the high risk of detachment and the impossibility of using many cosmetic procedures, for example photothermolysis after reinforcement.
Liquid mesothreads are mainly used to combat small hypodynamic wrinkles, correct the "aging eyelid" and smooth the skin in the periorbital zone. The duration of such a procedure does not exceed 20-30 minutes, but reinforcement with liquid threads has many contraindications and is always accompanied by various side effects (swelling, bruising, redness). Experts believe that the most effective type of lifting of eyelid wire is Swiss, polylactic and Korean wires. The result after such reinforcement lasts for approx. 2-3 years.Fractionated photothermolysis
Fractional photothermolysis is another effective method of non-surgical tightening of the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. This is a type of laser rejuvenation where a fractionated laser generator (for example, an erbium laser) is used to affect the problem area. The beam generated by this device is scattered in many streams and forms a large number of microthermal healing zones when it hits the skin where the main effect takes place, so that the surrounding
tissues are not heated and are not damaged.
A distinctive and at the same time the most important principle of action for fractional photothermolysis is the heating of the skin to a temperature of 250-300 ° C, which experts call an evaporation procedure. Old, pathologically altered and destroyed cells under the influence of this temperature are destroyed and evaporated, while natural neocollagenesis is activated and the activity of fibroblasts is increased, which synthesizes the main components of the extracellular matrix - peptides (collagen and elastin).
The result of fractionated laser surface treatment is a noticeable tightening of the skin in the eyelids, smoothing wrinkles and creases, restoring the hydrodynamics of periorbital tissues and improving the general condition of the skin in this area.
Pulse currents (microcurrents)
Microcurrent therapy refers to low-traumatic methods of eyelid lifting, but a major disadvantage of this method is the short duration of the result (maximum 4 months). The clinical outcome of the use of microcurrent therapy to lift the periorbital zone is due to the following properties of impulse currents:
- lymph flow normalization.Lymphatic drainage effect, which has impulse currents on the skin, improves the movement of lymph nodes, prevents its stagnation and helps to lighten dark circles under the eyes;
- stimulation of metabolic processes.Activation of cellular metabolism has a positive effect on the transport of oxygen and nutrients and the appearance of the skin (the skin becomes smooth, gets a healthy appearance);
- restoring muscle tone.The muscles of the eyelid are quite weak, and further stimulation allows you to achieve a tightening effect.
The standard procedure is from 10 to 20 procedures, while in most cases it will be necessary to repeat the procedure after a few months.
Before and after photos
Conclusion
Lifting the eyelids is a difficult but at the same time possible task for which the solution modern aesthetic medicine offers a large number of effective methods, including low-traumatic manipulations with low probability of complications. Which method of lifting the periorbital is the most effective and safe is determined individually after conversation with the patient, diagnosis of the problem area and examination of data on medical history.
The use of surgical techniques is mainly indicated for patients with marked signs of aging in the area around the eyes, where the use of gentle techniques is ineffective and is unlikely to give a stable positive result. Individuals with the first manifestations of the "aging century" are better off choosing minimally invasive methods with a low degree of tissue trauma and a short recovery period.