Are Fillers Better than Blepharoplasty?
- Posted on: Mar 15 2020
Many adults start to feel concerned about the appearance of their eye area when tissue loses firmness. The eyes are a delicate area that, when the skin starts to loosen, looks saggy and tired. It is important to know that the cosmetic concerns presented by the skin and tissue changes around the eyes don’t have to be permanent. We have two common options for correcting these concerns: dermal fillers and blepharoplasty. Because blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure, many people assume that using dermal fillers to refresh the eye area is a better option. This may not be true for everyone. Here, we discuss details of the procedure to help you see the differences.
The Procedures
Blepharoplasty eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes about two hours. Healing occurs over about two weeks, after which the eyes look brighter, more open, and refreshed for several years. The appearance of the eyes never reverts to how it was before surgery. However, aging and sun damage will cause some degree of change over time. Blepharoplasty tightens the skin and muscle of the eyelids using careful tissue repositioning and excision techniques. The procedure can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids. While blepharoplasty can eliminate troublesome undereye bags, even those that are severe, the procedure may not completely eradicate all fine lines in the skin around the eyes.
Dermal filler treatment is performed in the office in less than half an hour. The procedure does not require any form of anesthetic for patients to tolerate injections very well. The inclusion of a numbing agent in dermal filler products helps. It is important to understand that dermal fillers do not get rid of undereye puffiness. The way fillers work is by adding volume to the skin. By plumping the crease below the eye, at the upper cheek, undereye bags disappear. They do this by tethering to water molecules. Over time, sometimes a few years, the particles of hyaluronic acid (a naturally-occurring sugar) break down. This means treatment must be repeated to continue addressing concerns related to aging eyelids. Also, dermal fillers are only applicable to the undereye area. They are not used to resolve puffiness or sagging of the upper eyelids.
The question is not whether or not dermal fillers are better than blepharoplasty. It is whether dermal fillers or blepharoplasty are right for you. Discover the answer! Call 908.879.7297 to schedule a consultation in our Chester, NJ office.
Posted in: Dermal Fillers