The eyelid lift is a complex of material, injection and manual manipulations aimed at rejuvenating and modeling the periorbital region (the area around the eyes). This part of the face is considered an area of increased sensitivity. Therefore, non-surgical cosmetic eyelid correction is a difficult task even for a highly qualified specialist with extensive experience. Microsurgical cosmetology and aesthetic medicine today offer several effective methods of lifting the eyelids: lifting by radio waves, bio-reinforcement with threads, contour plastics, photorejuvenation, microcurrent therapy. You can choose the most suitable technique only after a visual examination of the problem area, studying the patient's medical history, goals and ideas about the end result.
Features of the periorbital lift
The eyelid region, also known as the periorbital area (which is not entirely true, since the lacrimal apparatus, eyelid fissure and conjunctival sac also belong to the periorbital space, in addition to the eyelids), is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body with a thin layer of dermis and minimal subcutaneous fat. The eyelids are musculo-cutaneous folds, delimited behind by the conjunctival and cartilaginous 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. ), clean the membrane of connective tissue due to aconstant wetting with tear fluid, 
prevent drying of the ocular sclera and cornea.
The skin in the eyelid area is several times thinner than 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 body's natural dehydration process begins, as a result of which the epidermal cells lose moisture, and the skin loses elasticity, becomes loose and flabby. It is in the periorbital area in men and women over 30 that the first signs of aging are formed: hypodynamic folds, mimic wrinkles, folds at the outer corners of the eyes ("crow's feet").
Eyelid lift is a complex task that should only be performed by a highly qualified doctor with excellent knowledge of the topographic anatomy of the eye, as improper actions can not only cause new defects, but alsoseriously impair the function of the organs of vision. The fact is that the eyelids are involved in the formation of the ocular focus and optical geometry of the cornea, as well as in the regulation of intraocular pressure, therefore, improperly performed plastic surgery and facelift can cause disruption of the eye. visual function (in some cases irreversible).
Who needs an eyelid lift
Lifting the periorbital area has no strict medical indications (except for surgical correction, which is often used to treat conditions that interfere with the normal functioning of the organs of vision) and isusually performed at the request of the patient in order to eliminate visible aesthetic defects. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons include the following shortcomings with such drawbacks:
- strong overhang of the supraorbital fold;
- excess skin in the infraorbital musculo-cutaneous fold;
- falling from the outer corners of the eyes;
- periorbital protuberances (fatty hernias);
- periorbital edema (sacs);
- vascular pathologies leading to the appearance of traces of rosacea and dark circles under the eyes;
- hypodynamic wrinkles;
- "crow's feet" (folds in the corners of the eyes);
- strongly pronounced infraorbital grooves;
- "aging eyelid" (wilting and sagging skin of the eyelids).
Eyelid lift also helps to make the look fresher and more open by correcting overhanging skin and pockets of periorbital fat and improving the overall tone of the area.
Timely use of various methods of rejuvenation of the area around the eyes helps to solve one of the main tasks of periorbital lift - to hide age-related changes in the skin and get rid of visual defects characteristic of thebiological aging of the dermis against the background of a decrease in the functional potential of epidermal cells.
Important! Aging and heavy eyelids are quite a serious cosmetic flaw that can ruin even a young and attractive face. For some, signs of skin aging in this area may appear even before the age of thirty (for example, in patients who are underweight or in a person with pathologies of the endocrine system). As a rule, cosmetics are ineffective in correcting existing problems and are only suitable for preventing premature aging, therefore, the only effective method of treating this defect is periorbital lift.
Eyelid lift surgery
An operation to lift the skin of the upper and lower eyelids is called blepharoplasty. This is a kind of radical lifting of the periorbital area, in which the tightening and rejuvenating effect is achieved by completely removing excess skin and fatty hernias in the eyelid area.
Unlike non-surgical eyelid lift methods, blepharoplasty not only corrects skin aging defects and improves the appearance of this area, but also corrects the shape and shape of the eyes, as well asto get rid of various pathologies.
Blepharoplasty is effective for serious ophthalmic diseases such as entropion (bulging of the eyelashes and the edge of the eyelid towards the eyeball) or exophthalmos (displacement of the eyeball out of the orbit). In total, there are three types of blepharoplasty: upper, lower and circular.
Table. Types of radical periorbital lift
| Operation type | Cutting area | What 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 plastic. |
| Infraorbital blepharoplasty | A transcutaneous or sub-ciliary incision is made. | Elimination of periorbital edema, bags under the eyes, fatty hernias. |
| Circular blepharoplasty | Simultaneous eyelid surgery on both sides. | Solves problems common to all types of blepharoplasty. |
The operation to tighten the periorbital area takes place strictly in a hospital setting, excluding the possibility of outpatient intervention. The patient receives general anesthesia and the duration of the operation is on average about 3 hours. A major drawback of this eyelid lift method is the postoperative period, which, although short (about two weeks), is characterized by pain, the need for regular dressings and antiseptic treatment, and severe restrictions. on diet and professional activity.
Important! The advantage of surgical blepharoplasty is the ability not only to tighten the skin of the eyelids, but also to perform plastic surgery of the muscle tissue, which cannot be achieved using equipment and other minimally invasive methods.
Tightening of the periorbital area without surgery
Surgical eyelid lift is a very effective method of radical rejuvenation of the area around the eyes, but experts advise to resort to it only to patients of the older group (after 40 years) with pronounced signs of aging andprofound age-related skin changes. Before reaching this age, while tissue hydrodynamics are within the normal range, there are many less traumatic ways to correct existing problems, and the effectiveness of most of these techniques in some cases can be compared. to the result of surgical plastic.
Plastic injection (contour)
Contour plastic is perhaps the safest method of non-surgical eyelid skin tightening, depending on the technique it belongs to mesotherapeutic procedures. Contouring is a subcutaneous injection of special implants called fillers.
These are preparations in the form of a homogeneous, viscous suspension or gel based on components that have a strong affinity for the body's own tissues. These can be:
- hyaluronic acid;
- calcium hydroxyapatite;
- collagen (a peptide synthesized by fibroblasts and which is one of the main elements of the extracellular substance of the dermis, which ensures its elasticity and its ability to stretch);
- polymers based on acrylic and methacrylic acid;
- high molecular weight oxygenated silicone; polylactic acid
- ;
- salts of tripolyphosphoric acid, etc.
The most popular and demanded fillers for periorbital lift are preparations based on hyaluronic acid. They are biodegradable (absorbable) dermal implants, which not only compensate for tissue deficiency in this area, but also help remove wrinkles - one of the main visual signs of aging on the face. The benefits of hyaluronic fillers include high hypoallergenicity and excellent results, which can be enjoyed immediately after implantation. The bioresorption of hyaluronate occurs within a few weeks, after which the injections must be repeated.
Biosynthetic implants based on polylactic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite retain their properties for 1 to 2 years.
RF lifting
Radio wave or radiofrequency lifting is a non-surgical procedure to lift the area around the eyes with a high degree of efficiency.
Among the material techniques of minimally invasive lifting of the skin of the upper and lower eyelids, the RF-lifting occupies a leading position, because it not only allows to obtain an immediate tightening effect, but also to considerably improvethe condition of the skin in the periorbital area.
Radio waves, penetrating into the dermis to the required depth, heat the epidermal cells to the temperature of densification of collagen, which is about 60 ° C. Under the influence of thermal energy, the dermal tissueheats up, partial retraction of the collagen structure occurs, as a result of which the loose collagen fibers shrink again and take 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 ptosis, etc. ), and the result obtained lasts up to 1-2 years. To achieve a stable rejuvenating effect, you will need to perform about 6-10 procedures with an interval of at least 7-10 days.
Bio-reinforcement with nets (wire lifting)
Thread lifting is a procedure for rejuvenating the area around the eyes, based on the implantation of special cosmetic threads of various metals and synthetic materials under the skin, as a result of which a new collagen skeleton is formedin the subcutaneous layers. The intervention is quite effective and makes it possible to deal with the problem of “aging of the eyelid”, periorbital fatty hernias, phenomena of gravitational ptosis and other phenomena characteristic of skin aging.
There are several types of threads for the lifting thread. Precious metal threads are in great demand in cosmetology. These wires are platinum or gold and are designed to strengthen the upper layers of the dermis. The gold threads not only provide a visible lifting effect, but also stimulate cell metabolism, improving the delivery of nutrients, oxygen and vitamins to dermal cells. The major disadvantages of precious metal wires are the high risk of detachment and the inability to use many cosmetic procedures, for example, post-reinforcement photothermolysis.
Liquid mesothreads are mainly used to combat small hypodynamic folds, correct "eyelid aging" and smooth the skin in the periorbital area. The duration of such a procedure does not exceed 20-30 minutes, but strengthening 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 eyelid thread lifters are Swiss, Polylactic, and Korean threads. The result after such strengthening lasts about 2-3 years.
Fractional photothermolysis
Fractional photothermolysis is another effective method of non-surgical skin tightening of the upper and lower eyelids. This is a type of laser rejuvenation in which a fractional laser generator (for example, an erbium laser) is used to influence the problem area. The beam generated by this device is dispersed in many streams and, when it hits the skin, forms a large number of zones of microthermal treatment, in which the main effect takes place, therefore, the surrounding tissues
do notdo not heat up and are not injured.
A distinctive feature and at the same time the main principle of action of fractional photothermolysis is to heat the skin to a temperature of 250-300 ° C, which experts call an evaporation procedure. Old, pathologically modified and destroyed cells under the influence of such a temperature are destroyed and evaporated, while natural neocollagenesis is activated and the activity of fibroblasts, which synthesize the main components of the extracellular matrix - peptides (collagen and elastin), increases.
The result of fractional laser resurfacing is a noticeable tightening of the skin of the eyelids, smoothing out wrinkles and folds, restoring the hydrodynamics of the periorbital tissues and improving the general condition of the skin in this area.
Impulse currents (microcurrents)
Microcurrent therapy refers to minimally traumatic eyelid lift methods, but a major drawback of this method is the short duration of the result (no more than 4 months). The clinical outcome of using microcurrent therapy to lift the periorbital area is due to the following properties of pulse currents:
- normalization of lymphatic flow. The lymphatic drainage effect, which has pulse currents on the skin, improves the movement of lymph, prevents its stagnation and helps to lighten dark circles under the eyes;
- stimulation of metabolic processes.Activation of cell metabolism has a positive effect on the transport of oxygen and nutrients and on the appearance of the skin (the skin becomes smooth, acquires a healthy appearance);
- restoration of muscle tone.The muscles of the eyelids are quite weak, and additional stimulation allows you to achieve a tightening effect.
The standard duration of the course is 10-20 procedures, while in most cases it becomes necessary to repeat the procedure after a few months.
Before and after photos
Conclusion
Eyelid lift is a difficult, but at the same time achievable task, for which modern aesthetic medicine offers a large number of effective methods, including minimally traumatic manipulations with a low probability of complications. The most effective and safe method of periorbital lifting is decided individually after discussing with the patient, diagnosing the problem area and studying the data of the medical history.
The use of surgical techniques is primarily indicated for patients with pronounced signs of aging in the area around the eyes, for whom the use of gentle techniques is ineffective and is unlikely to give a stable positive result. It is preferable for people with the first manifestations of the “century of aging” to choose minimally invasive methods with a low degree of tissue trauma and a short recovery period.