There’s a reason why eyelid surgery has surged by 70% over the past year. As we get older, drooping and sagging eyelids become a reality for many individuals. In the past, people struggling with this usually cosmetic condition simply had to accept it.
However, advances in surgery and access to healthcare mean that, for many people, eyelid wrinkles are becoming a thing of the past. To understand your different treatment options for sagging eyelids, you first need to understand what causes the condition.
Luckily, this guide will give you a quick tutorial so you can understand more about both the condition and your options for treating it.
What Causes Eyelid Wrinkles and Sagging?
Eyelid wrinkles and sagging are typically a normal part of aging. As we get older, the collagen found in our eyelids begins to break down. This is usually caused by repeated exposure to sunlight, and it results in our eyelids losing their elasticity.
As such, they begin to sag. On top of this, fat pads that encompass the eye area can begin to herniate as we get older. This causes them to extend past the muscle, which can cause unsightly drooping.
Now, as we mentioned, typically, this condition is a natural part of aging. However, some things can hasten the onset of eyelid wrinkles and sagging. For example, smoking cigarettes can promote eyelid wrinkles.
The same goes for things like eyelid surgery, trauma, and contact lenses. All of these things loosen muscle tension around your eyelids, which can cause wrinkles and sagging. Similarly, some people are simply born with genetic features like hooded eyes and droopy eyelids.
Treatments for Eyelid Wrinkles and Sagging
If you want to fix your eyelid wrinkles and sagging, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are a variety of both surgical and non-surgical options available to you. In this section, we’ll go over a few of your options.
However, we recommend scheduling an appointment with your doctors to find the best option for your specific needs. They might also be able to recommend some facial exercises for improving things naturally.
Botulinum Toxin Injections
The term botulinum toxins can sound kind of scary, but keep in mind that this is just the scientific name for brands like Botox and Dysport. When injected, these products will decrease the amount of wrinkles you have and tighten skin to address sagging.
Injectables do this by weakening some of the muscles around your eyelids that tend to drag them down. Just keep in mind that this isn’t a permanent solution. You will need to schedule regular injections to get the most out of it.
Hyaluronic Acid Gel Fillers
Hyaluronic acid gel fillers can provide some volume around parts of your eyelids and cheeks that might be lacking. Keep in mind that this only applies to sagging in the lower part of the eyelid.
While there’s no denying that this can help with the appearance of hollowness, it’s also not the best solution on the market. That’s because it can sometimes contribute to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
Chamomile Tea Bags
Placing chamomile tea bags under your eyes won’t get rid of any dark circles. But they can reduce the amount of inflammation around your eyelids.
This is typically caused by a buildup of oils and dandruff, which the tea bags help remove. It’s a great natural solution if you can’t afford any of the professional treatments.
Surgery
As we mentioned at the start of our article, baggy eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Typically, the procedure can only be performed using local anesthetic.
The procedure involves cutting the crease found near the upper part of your eyelid. From there, the surgeon will remove any excess skin. If there are pockets of bulging fat, they’ll remove those too.
After leaving enough skin to ensure that your eye can close, they’ll seal you up. Any scarring from the procedure will be hidden in the crease above your eyelid. Keep in mind that this can also be done to the bottom eyelid.
However, with these procedures, only fat can be removed, not skin.
How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?
The cost of eyelid surgery can be quite expensive. Because it’s usually a purely cosmetic procedure, most health insurance plans won’t help cover it. As this resource notes, the average cost of the surgery tends to be around $4,000.
However, keep in mind that this just covers the cost of the procedure. It doesn’t include things like room facilities and anesthesia. What’s more, this only covers the cost of the upper eyelids.
As such, if you’re getting both the upper and lower sections done, the procedure can easily double in cost. For many people, the cost of eyelid surgery is worth the cosmetic benefits that come with it. However, for others, it might represent too much of a cost.
Are Eyelid Wrinkles and Sagging Serious?
The good news is that most of the time, eyelid wrinkles and sagging aren’t serious. They’re usually purely related to cosmetics. Granted, this can affect people’s self-esteem.
However, from a medical standpoint, it’s not a huge cause for concern. That being said, if the eyelid sagging gets bad enough, it can cause some problems with people’s vision. This can appear in the form of a light shadow in the upper part of an individual’s eyelid.
In these cases, surgery might be the best option, especially if you rely on your vision for work. We recommend exploring this resource to learn when you should begin to worry about your eyelids.
Ready to Fix Your Eyelids? Contact Popp Cosmetic Surgery PC
Here at Popp Cosmetic Surgery PC, we know how these types of cosmetic problems can affect people’s self-confidence.
That’s why we’re dedicated to providing you with the knowledge and resources you need to make a change in your life. So whether you want to address your sagging eyelids or get a different cosmetic procedure, we can help.
Are you ready to fix your eyelids? Schedule an appointment online or call us at (402) 391-4558 to get started.
