Say Goodbye to Droopy Eyes: Restore Youthfulness to Your Face
For some individuals, the overall face may still appear aged or fatigued even without issues like facial wrinkles or deep nasolabial folds. This could be due to droopy eyes or ptosis, which leads to a sad-eyed look. It affects your appearance and might lead to vision problems in the future. This blog post will discuss the causes of this condition and explore non-surgical and surgical methods for ptosis correction.
What Causes Droopy Eyes or Ptosis?
Droopy eyes, or ptosis, refer to a condition where the outer corners of the eyes droop significantly lower than the inner corners. The eyelid skin at the outer corners may appear puffy with fat accumulation, leading to hidden double eyelids or downward-slanting eyes. This makes the face look sad, less vibrant, and older, significantly affecting a person’s confidence and image. As eyes are a prominent facial feature that people notice first, having droopy eyes can make you appear fatigued or older, impacting your quality of life.
Types of Ptosis
- Droopy eyelids due to sagging skin: Caused by the laxity of the skin and tissues around the eyes, leading to drooping outer corners and wrinkles.
- Ptosis from eyelid muscle weakness: Occurs due to weakness or degeneration of the levator muscle, which lifts the upper eyelid. When this muscle weakens, the eyelid can droop and partially cover the eye, making the eyes appear smaller and the outer corners droopy.
Ptosis Causes
- Aging: As we age, the skin and tissues around the eyes lose elasticity and firmness, leading to sagging.
- Genetics: Some individuals have a genetic predisposition to ptosis, making them more prone to droopy eyes.
- Loss of Collagen and Elastin: These substances keep the skin elastic and firm. Reduced production with age leads to easier skin sagging.
- Loss of Subcutaneous Fat: Fat under the skin keeps it plump. Losing this fat causes the skin to sag, including around the eyes.
- Sunlight and Pollution: Prolonged exposure damages skin structure, accelerating sagging.
- Insufficient Sleep: Lack of rest accelerates skin deterioration, including the eye area.
- Stress: Stress affects hormone production, impacting skin health and elasticity around the eyes.
Methods for Ptosis Correction
There are several ways to correct droopy eyes, from proper skincare and using antioxidant-rich products to avoiding risk factors and undergoing aesthetic procedures that provide noticeable results. Here are some methods:
1. Ultherapy Treatment Around the Eyes
Ultherapy is a technology that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production beneath the skin, especially around the eyes. This method helps lift and tighten the skin and tissues around the eyes, raising the outer corners without surgery. Results are immediately visible by 20% after treatment and become more apparent over 2-3 months.*
2. Thread Lifting for Eyelid Correction
Thread lifting involves inserting special dissolvable threads under the skin to lift and tighten the tissues around the outer eyes. This method provides immediate results with less risk than surgery. The threads gradually dissolve over 6-8 months or more, depending on the type used and individual aftercare. However, the lifting effect may last longer because the threads stimulate new collagen under the skin.*
*Results may vary by individual.
3. Eyelid Surgery and Double Eyelid Creation
For those with droopy eyes and undefined or absent eyelid folds, double eyelid surgery combined with outer eye lifting can solve both issues simultaneously. This method creates an eyelid fold and lifts the outer corners, making the eyes appear brighter and more dimensional. Although it involves surgery, it provides clear and long-lasting results.
4. Sub-Brow Lift Surgery (Hidden Scar Under Eyebrow)
This surgical technique lifts the outer eyes by removing excess skin and hiding the scar under the eyebrow. It’s suitable for those with significant ptosis who desire noticeable results. The surgical scar is concealed under the eyebrow hairs, making the scar virtually invisible after healing.
Ptosis may not be a severe health issue, but it’s a condition that can affect your quality of life. For those who prefer a non-surgical approach without the downtime and want to avoid scars, you can opt for the Ulthera treatment program at Privato Clinic. We use the Ulthera SPT device, which is recognized as the Gold Standard by the US FDA and is trusted by dermatologists. Our team of specialists have over 10 years of experience in providing comprehensive care for all skin issues, including lifting droopy eyes. Services are available at our three Privato Clinic locations in Bangkok. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment for ptosis correction.
References:
Ptosis (Drooping eyelids). Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/disease-and-treatment/ptosis
Blepharoplasty vs Ultherapy brow lift. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://www.kensingtonmedical.co.uk/blog/blepharoplasty-vs-ultherapy-brow-lift