Eyes

The eyes are a window into your soul, and the first to show the true signs of aging. The dynamic wrinkles caused by the repetitive movement of facial muscles (i.e. smiling or frowning) cause the most common wrinkles around the eyes.

As a person ages their skin becomes thinner and the fat cells get smaller. The thinner skin in combination with less volume leads to more noticeable wrinkles and sagging.  This is even more apparent if you loose a lot weight, as the fat cells cannot fill-in the space. This results in deep furrows, exaggerated smile lines and generally tired look.

Regular exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB (see Sun Damage section, What is Sun Damage of the Skin?), from sunlight accounts for most of the premature skin aging (photoaging) we see. Some patients in their early 20s already have signs of sun damage, making their skin look older and damaged. The amount of damage to the skin caused by the sun is determined by the total lifetime amount of radiation exposure and the person’s pigment protection.

What Treatments are Available for Eyes?

Voluminous cheekbones and full eyes have always been a sign of youth and beauty. With age our cheeks begin to lose volume, and the areas under the eyes begin to look hallow and more pronounced, adding years to our appearance.

Before
 After
Under Eyes/Tear-trough: Collagen & Botox
Dr. Melamed is an expert in using longer-lasting dermal fillers (such as Juvederm Ultra Plus and Perlane) to provide volume, fullness and definition to your face. The treatment is quick and you will see the change right away. Results can last from 6 to 12 months or longer depending on the type of dermal filler used.For patients with dynamic wrinkles such as forehead creases, brow furrows or eye lines (crow’s feet) produced by specific facial expression muscles repeatedly creasing the skin, the treatment of choice is Botox or Dysport.  Botulinum toxin is a sterile, purified protein produced from the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, in the laboratory. Botox/Dysport injected in small amounts into facial muscles binds to the nerve endings supplying the muscle and prevents nerve impulses from traveling to the muscle. When injected into muscle, it weakens the muscle around the area injected for a typical period of several months. The weakening temporarily reduces or eliminates previous skin creasing and new skin creasing is avoided.


For patients with more extensive wrinkles and signs of aging Dr. Melamed will use a combination of different treatments, including:

  • Botox muscle relaxation: results last 3-4 months. Treatments will reduce or eliminate dynamic wrinkles, and prevent future wrinkles. Treatments are quick and easy.
  • Collagen (NASHA) volumizers: results last 6-18 months. Treatments will add volume, making your face look fuller more youthful. Treatments take 30 minutes and will have 1-2 days of redness afterwards.
  • Fat transfer volumizers: results last a lifetime. Treatments will add volume using your own fat. Treatments are done as an out-patient surgical treatment by a Certified Cosmetic Surgeon. Using your own fat as a volumizer creates a natural augmentation for the face, especially for the lips and mouth region.
  • Laser DermaSurfacing:  results last 3+ years or more. Treatments will take away the damaged and wrinkled skin, leaving you with youthful and vibrant skin. It is a new beginning. Treatments take 60 minutes and will have 4-7 days of redness afterwards.
Before
 After
Crow’s Foot Treated with Botox

What is the Best Treatment for You?

Expectations of any facial wrinkle therapy must be realistic. While an expectation for the complete and permanent removal of facial wrinkles for those persons considering treatment may be attractive, it is unrealistic, due to the ongoing nature of wrinkle formation and the currently available methods for treatment. The patterns and severity of facial wrinkle formation are highly individual.

Dr. Melamed will evaluate your individual needs and provide you with a comprehensive recommendation. The goal is to improve or reduce the appearance of wrinkles and to give you a fresh look. The final choice will be up to you depending on the location and extent of your wrinkles, the desired duration of the results, and the tolerance for potential side effects. All of these treatments provide additional and complimentary aesthetic benefits when combined with another facial rejuvenation procedure such as facelift, browlift, blepharoplasty or DermSurfacing.

Are there any alternative treatments?

If you are looking for more permanent improvement then you may want to consider a SpaceLift (performed by Dr. Mark Berman), which involves adding your own fat into the mid-cheek area to add volume.

If you have any questions about various eye treatments including Botox, Dysport and DermaSurfacing or SpaceLift or any other procedure or would like to make a Complimentary Consultation please schedule and Online Appointment or call toll free 1-88-88-West LA (310-473-1734).