Got Lines and Wrinkles Around Your Eyes? Here’s the Truth About Your Treatment Options

Wrinkles and fine lines may be a natural part of aging but there are several ways you can do to slow down its effects and reduce its appearance. Fortunately, there are safe treatment options available to tighten loose skin and take years off your  eyes.

Your options for getting rid of fine lines around the eyes can range from topical products, anti-wrinkle injectables, to energy-based treatments. Not all are created equal; some can be more effective but may require multiple visits while others can be an annual session delivering gradual yet longer-lasting results. 

When combined together, these options may provide a well-rounded approach giving you visible results. To understand more about your options, here are some facts about the common treatments for wrinkles around your eyes:

Retinoids

Studies suggest that retinoids may help reduce wrinkles and fine lines by increasing cell turnover and collagen production as well as preventing collagen breakdown. This means retinoid helps to accelerate the exfoliation process of the skin by removing damaged skin cells while increasing the formation of new, healthy cells. 

It can also soften rough skin patches, fade age and dark spots, and stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin. 

Some products with retinoid may claim that you’ll see results within weeks, but the truth is it can take about 3 months or more of regular use to see noticeable improvements. You may also experience dryness and flakiness, so you will have to start slowly and be under your aesthetic doctor’s supervision as much as if possible. 

Vitamin C (Serum)

With regards to anti-aging, Vitamin C is well-known as an effective antioxidant. It protects the skin from sun damage and free radicals – the two common causes of wrinkles and fine lines.

Vitamin C is also central to the formation of collagen as the absence or lack of it may cause you to develop wrinkles faster. As a serum, Vitamin C is suggested to help fade dark spots, smooth out wrinkles, prevent fine lines, and stimulate collagen production.

There is no doubt about the benefits of Vitamin C serum, but since it’s only applied on top of the skin, it will take several months to see noticeable improvements.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox)

Botox is a brand name for Botulinum Toxin, a US FDA cleared injectable treatment that is commonly used for treating dynamic wrinkles or those that are formed due to repetitive facial expression. 

This treatment can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet), frown lines (angry 11s or glabella lines), and horizontal forehead lines.

It works by temporarily blocking the signal from a nerve to muscles so that wrinkles formed by muscle contraction (like smiling and frowning) relaxes and softens. 

The whole procedure takes less than 30 minutes and may involve the use of topical anesthetic cream to improve patient comfort. There is also no downtime needed, so you can immediately go back to your normal routine.

The results of the treatment can last between and three to six months, but it is likely to last longer with repeated injections. Just be sure to avoid lying down and do not manipulate the area at least four hours after the treatment. 

We also advise our patients to avoid drinking alcohol and doing any strenuous exercise at least 24 hours after their procedure. This is to avoid the spread of Botox on areas where they shouldn’t be and to avoid the risk of bruising on the injection site.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a US FDA-cleared non-invasive face lifting procedure that naturally can lift and tighten the skin on the face, on the brow, and under the chin. It has also received the European CE mark for non-invasive dermatological sculpting and lifting of the upper and lower face, neck, and décolletage.

This works by bypassing the surface of the skin to deliver the right amount of ultrasound energy. This triggers a natural response under the skin, jumpstarting the regenerative process that produces fresh, new collagen. This then allows the skin to achieve a visible yet natural lift over time.

It offers gradual tightening and firming of the eye area, which results in a natural lift of the skin over time. An initial effect can be seen after the treatment, but significant results appear a period of two to three months. You can see further improvements up to six months after the treatment.

Ultherapy is an annual treatment that can help slow down the effects of aging, similar to maintenance treatment for youthful skin. It is also like putting more collagen in your collagen bank, as this essential protein depletes over time.

Read our previous post to learn more about Ultherapy and the things you can expect, before, during, and after the procedure. 

Exilis Ultra

Exilis Ultra is a US FDA-cleared skin tightening treatment that combines the power of ultrasound technology with radio frequency to tighten loose skin and enhance collagen production. It can treat the skin around the eyes, the cheeks, jawline and other smaller areas of the face and body.

This treatment features a small handpiece that emits heat energy to reach deeper layers of skin. The heat stimulates collagen production, which then softens/reduces wrinkles, restores volume, and tightens the skin around the eye area without going under the knife.

Exilis also has a big applicator that sends heat to go deeper into the fat layer to disrupt fat cells, triggering the process of natural cell death. It also has a cooling feature that makes it safe to be used on different parts of the body (including neck area) that requires tightening or contouring.

At Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore, you can combine Ultherapy with Exilis Ultra to further enhance the skin tightening and lifting results. When combined with Botox and the right skin care, these anti-aging treatments can help you achieve a tighter, more youthful skin without surgery or downtime.

If you want to learn more about these eye wrinkle procedures, contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our Harvard-trained aesthetic doctor, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.