Droopy Eyelid
Conditions
What are Droopy Eyelids?
Droopy eyelids, which is formally known as ptosis or blepharoptosis, is a condition where the skin sags below its natural position surrounding the eye. This condition can impact your appearance by making you look tired and older.
Although droopy eyelids usually does not indicate anything serious, there is a small chance that it is the sign of an underlying illness.
What causes droopy eyelids?
Typically, droopy eyelids is a result of the natural aging process, but there are many other reasons you may be afflicted with this condition. Some of the causes include serious medical conditions, so before you explore any treatment plans, it is recommended to consult with your regular doctor to rule out any health concerns.
Here are the common reasons for drooping eyelids:
- Aging process
- Sleeplessness
- Allergic reaction
- Infection
- Genetics
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Migraines
- Horner syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
- Nerve injury
- Brain tumor
- Certain types of cancer
What are the symptoms of drooping eyelids?
Excessive sagging of the eyelids could be a condition that is constant, progressively worsens, arises once in a while, or it very well may be an issue that’s plagued you since birth. It is also a condition that can be unilateral or bilateral. This means that the condition could affect one eye or both eyes.
Besides the cosmetic concerns that accompany droopy eyelids, this condition could lead to impaired vision. When this condition is left untreated there is the potential that the heaviness of the sagging skin could eventually lead to the inability of fully opening your eyes.
If you are experiencing double vision, intense headaches, trouble breathing or swallowing, difficulty speaking, weakness in the arms and legs, crossing of the eyes or small pupils, you should seek medical attention to decipher whether or not you are suffering from a serious medical condition.
How can droopy eyelids be treated?
Once you have ruled out any serious medical concerns, it would beneficial to consult with an accredited doctor in aesthetic medicine to discuss your viable treatment options. Effective solutions to improve droopy eyelids include laser skin resurfacing, Botox injections and Juvederm injections.
Laser skin resurfacing treatments like the FotoFacial RF and the ReFirme are noninvasive procedures used to improve the overall condition of your skin. These laser treatments utilize bipolar radiofrequency and brightly-pulsed light beams to deeply penetrate the skin to stimulate collagen production. Increased collagen production will firm, smooth and restore the youthfulness of your skin. This process will improve the appearance of your drooping eyelids, but for a more drastic improvement, multiple sessions of the treatment will be necessary.
Injectables such as Botox and Juvederm have shown to have positive results when it comes to treating droopy eyelids. Botox injections are used to temporarily paralyze the facial muscles to prevent habitual muscle contractions which lead to wrinkles. For droopy eyelids, Botox can be used to contour the brow muscles in a way that leaves you looking refreshed and wide-eyed.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
For a less invasive alternative to blepharoplasty, many patients turn to laser skin resurfacing. Laser skin resurfacing eliminates damaged outer skin layers and stimulates the production of collagen around the eyes. A controlled beam of laser light removes the surface skin and reveals the unblemished skin underneath, resulting in a younger, healthier appearance. The natural effects of age, sun damage, and even some skin disorders can all be treated with laser skin resurfacing. Learn more about laser skin resurfacing.
ReFirme™
ReFirme™ is a non-surgical skin treatment that tightens and tones the skin. The procedure utilizes elÅs technology and is designed to effectively treat laxity of the jowls and neck, bags under the eyes, sagging brows, and nasolabial folds. ElÅs technology incorporates use of bi-polar radio frequency (RF) and optical energy to reduce the signs of facial aging.
BOTOX® Cosmetic
One of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedures of the last decade, BOTOX® Cosmetic is a quick and effective treatment that involves virtually no recovery time. BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments usually take less than 15 minutes and are much less invasive than traditional eyelid surgery. Injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic temporarily prevent the muscles around the eyes from contracting and creating wrinkles in the skin. The results of the procedures can last for up to four months.
