Do you often have people commenting on how tired you look, despite you having had plenty of sleep? Unfortunately, some people are simply more susceptible to having tired looking eyes than others, and for those affected there is no amount of sleep that can rectify the problem. Luckily, we have plenty of cosmetic procedures available that can help to brighten the eyes and minimize unsightly under eye bags.
WHY DO I GET BAGS UNDER MY EYES?
Eye bags tend to be caused by a combination of genetics and aging. For most people, eye bags tend to show up during their mid-30s to 40s, but for some they can occur as early as their 20s. Your unique bone structure can effect the prevalence of eye bags, but they tend to be made worse by the loss volume and elasticity in tissues surrounding the eyes which occurs as we get older. So now we know why we get tired-looking eyes, what can we do to fix them?
TOPICAL EYE TREATMENTS
The color and texture of the skin around the eyes can be improved with topical treatments, which work to increase collagen density and strengthen the skin in order to plump up weakened tissues. Many of these treatments contain retinoids, vitamin C and other sophisticated growth factors which improve the health and elasticity of the skin.
Many topical eye treatments can be purchased over the counter, but for the best results it is recommended that you seek advice from a professional. An expert in skin and aging will be able to recommend more intensive products suitable for your skin type. Although more expensive, intensive topical treatments are likely to give more dramatic results than over-the-counter products, which tend to be a less powerful.
NEUROTOXINS
Neurotoxins such as Botox and Dysport are designed to smooth out skin, so it makes sense that they should be effective treatments for eye bags. Neurotoxins work to gently and temporarily paralyze muscles, which reduces the pull of the tissues around the eye in order to minimize the appearance of lines. When the pull is reduced for a significant amount of time, for example a year, it is possible for deeper set lines to be released. With this in mind, many physicians recommend neurotoxins for eye bags as they can give instant results as well as act as a preventative treatment against future aging and wrinkles.
PEELS
Chemical peels are designed to remove the very outer layers of skin to reveal smooth, youthful and healthy skin underneath. They’re a great way to minimize lines and wrinkles, but for eye bags we recommend avoiding the very mild, superficial peels as they tend not to affect the underlying structure of the skin and therefore cannot efficiently smooth out eye bags.
Most people with moderate under eye bags are best suited to medium peels, which penetrate the skin’s basal lamella in order to allow structural improvements of the tissues. Collagen and elastin densities are improved with medium peels and skin discoloration is evened out, leaving smoother, tighter skin. However, you should bear in mind that it takes two weeks for recovery after a medium peel, and even after the initial skin peeling is over, the face can remain red for up to two months.
Only those with very extreme wrinkles and sun damage should opt for deep peels, as the flaking and peeling process is very intense and not necessary for most tired eyes.
COSMETIC LASERS
Laser therapy is a brilliant way to resurface and tighten skin, and although it can be used on all areas of the body, it is a brilliant way to treat tired eyes and bags. Lasers work by heating the deep layers of dermal tissues to stimulate new collagen production, and the great thing about them is that aside from a little redness and mild inflammation, there are no painful or lasting side-effects. Fractora is one of our most popular laser treatments for dealing with tired eyes, as the device can be used to precisely treat the upper and lower eyelids where wrinkles tend to occur.
FILLERS
Dermal fillers are a brilliant way to add volume to the face and plump up hollow, sagging areas of skin. There are many different types of dermal fillers available, but one that is particularly effective for the under-eye area is Restylane, as it can create a very smooth, natural look when injected in the area between the eyelid and upper cheek.
WHICH SOLUTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
You’re certainly not short of solutions for your tired looking eyes, but the tough part is choosing the best one for you! We recommend taking advantage of our free consultations to discuss with one of our expert physicians all the options available. They’ll recommend the most suitable procedure based on budget, lifestyle and the severity of your tired eyes, so book an appointment today to take the first step towards brighter, more youthful eyes.