Overview of Eye Wrinkle Treatments:
Multiple modalities can be combined with laser treatment for eye wrinkles. It is essential to know what causes each area of concern around the eye and why our Doctors and therapists choose one modality over another. The three areas people most commonly seek treatment are 1. under-eye wrinkles, 2. crow’s feet (wrinkles at the side of the eye), 3. upper brow laxity (wrinkles and lines combined with drooping of the upper brow)
Treatment of Under-Eye Wrinkles
Under the eye, wrinkles are caused by a combination of volume (fat) loss beneath the eyes, repeated eye movement, inflammaging and sun damage. In Under-eye wrinkles, volume loss is often the determining factor.
The volume loss is caused by fat pads under the eye shrinking and sliding down the cheeks, leaving a deficit in the immediate under-eye area. This creates a shadowing or dark circle and a crinkling and bunching of skin on facial expressions. The repeated facial expression has less of an effect on the development of undereye wrinkles compared to crow feet. However, there is some impact.
- Dermal filler plumps and fills under the skin to treat under-eye wrinkles.
- PDO mono threads is a new emerging treatment to volumise under the eye, with specialised Avaderm thread treatments.
- Smoothing under eye wrinkles usually necessitates laser resurfacing.
- Crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkle laser treatment are frequently combined.
- Under-eye wrinkles occasionally benefit from tiny doses of anti-wrinkle injections.
- CO2 laser for under-eye wrinkles is limited because of the safety of treating up to the lid, and ocular shields must be worn.
- Collagen-stimulating treatments, including Tixel, PRP, skin needling, and radiofrequency resurfacing, are commonly combined with laser treatment of the under-eye area.
Laser for Under-eye Wrinkles
- Laser treatment for undereye wrinkles includes Tixel, CO2 laser, Pico Laser and fractionated RF.
- Tixel is superior because the lower lid can be safely treated to the margin.
- Eye laser treatment with Tixel provides skin tightening and collagen stimulation.
- Tixel combined with PRP can help improve the texture and quality of the skin in this area.
- Additional under-eye laser treatments include a vascular laser for dark circles.
Although eye cream is essential, you can usually extend the wrinkle cream on your face to the eye area. Also, ongoing sun protection with sunglasses to retard the progression of aging changes should always be included with any laser for wrinkles under the eye.
Crows’ Feet Wrinkle Treatment
Crows’ Feet are wrinkles that appear around the eyes and result from repeated expression, inflammaging and sun damage. The primary cause, however, is the result of repeated muscle movement seen when you smile, laugh, or squint. When you are young and your smile, your skin bounces back to smooth resting after expression. However, with time, the repeated expression results in a wear and tear type defect in dermal skin layers and the lines progressively become deeper and fixed. Fortunately, anti-wrinkle injections can soften crow’s feet, rejuvenating the appearance of the eye area. However, laser and other treatments may be combined and become especially important with more fixed expression sun-damaged lines and regions. All medical procedures should be carried out in tandem with home care. A good eye cream is recommended.
- Because these wrinkles are primarily caused by movement, anti-wrinkle injections (muscle relaxing) are commonly used in smoothing these wrinkles.
- Starting anti-wrinkle injections early prevents crow’s feet from progressing.
- As sun damage or aging changes to the skin increase, lasers should be added for maximal results.
- Lasers for crow’s feet include Tixel, CO2 laser, Pico Laser or fractionated rf.
- Additional modalities can include PDO mono threads.
- An eye cream with Vitamin A is essential (whether specialised or simply extending the wrinkle cream you use on your face to the eye area)
- Protection from ongoing damage and sun protection measures.
- Laser resurfacing is the preferred treatment for severely sun-damaged skin.
- Some people choose lasers because they dislike the idea of injection treatments.
Laser for Crow’s Feet Treatment
- Tixel laser is the most appropriate as it can safely treat the entire area, creating a rejuvenating effect right to the side of the eye. Tixel can be used in all skin types and is effective in fair skin types. Lower settings are used with darker skin types due to the heat response.
- Other lasers, such as pico laser, are best suited for skin of colour.
- Fractionated RF can also have an impact.
- Often laser treatment in the crow’s feet area is accompanied by anti-wrinkle therapies, PRP, dermal filler and even PDO threads.
- Co2 laser for crow’s feet can be used up to skin type 4
- Pico Laser for Crow’s Feet – people with colour, such as Asian skin or Fitzpatrick 4 skin types, respond better to Pico laser, inappropriate for Fair skin types as they have a suboptimal response.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections for Crows’ Feet
- a quick lunchtime procedure. Beginning early softens existing eye wrinkles and aids in preventing new ones.
- Anti-wrinkle treatments are typically initiated in people’s late twenties or early thirties.
- You can immediately resume your normal activities.
- However, you will see results within 2-7 days (depending on the type of anti-wrinkle injections you receive).
- As a result of the treatment, you may experience bruising and temporary eyelid or brow drooping
- The injections soften eye wrinkles for three to four months, at which stage you should retreat.
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