Non-Surgical Eyelift
People with sagging eyelids often complain that it makes them appear old, tired, and haggard, which often prompts them to turn to cosmetic surgery. In particular, those looking to get eyelifts done should consider instead the numerous benefits of non-surgical eyelifts. In San Jose, CA, and other states on the West Coast, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has reported that eyelid surgery is one of the top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures done for 2013, with 73,534 cases, roughly 34% of the more than 215,000 cases of eyelid surgery done nationwide.
In the past, patients have traditionally turned to Blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure where an incision above the eyelid is made and excess sagging skin is removed. This procedure is usually done with local anesthesia and takes about 1–3 hours to perform. Even though it is a relatively simple procedure and the complications are low, there are still problems: asymmetric scars or abnormal healing causing an undesired effect, double or blurred vision, light sensitivity, downtime with temporary swelling and bruising, temporary or permanent difficulty closing the eyes while sleeping, ectropion (a medical condition that causes the lower eyelids to sag), and generally requiring further surgical intervention.
At Rejuvé, we are pleased to offer several noninvasive, nonsurgical options for patients who want to regain a more youthful appearance around their eyes. Keep reading to learn more about Ultherapy, the Madonna Eyelift, and EMface.
Ultherapy
The latest treatment that Rejuvé offers for restoring a more youthful eye is Ultherapy, which is an FDA-approved, non-surgical, and non-invasive skin tightening treatment that uses focused sound waves (ultrasound) and the body’s own natural healing process to lift and tone loose, sagging skin. Ultherapy specifically targets the deep tissues below the skin that are usually only addressed with invasive procedures, but it works without surgery.
The Ultherapy technology uses ultrasound imaging in real time, which allows Dr. Tang to actually see the layers of tissue being targeted during treatment. This helps to ensure that the energy is being deposited precisely where it will be most effective. Unlike a surgical eyelift, Ultherapy has no downtime, and the change is subtle and natural looking. The procedure induces a healthy revitalization of tissue below the skin for a natural, noticeable effect that you can see. The treatment takes just 60-90 minutes in our offices.
Another benefit of Ultherapy is that because it works on tissue well below the surface of the skin, it can be combined with other treatments that work on the surface layers for a full rejuvenation that could be likened to a non-surgical facelift. Ultherapy can be used in conjunction with injectables and with laser treatments. Dr. Tang can help you determine what procedures may be most helpful to get you the results you want. Click here to learn more about Ultherapy, including videos and before-and-after photos.
The Madonna Eyelift using the SmartXide Dot CO2 Laser
The Madonna Lift is a non-surgical alternative for improving drooping skin, wrinkles, and those telltale signs of aging around the eyes. By using the latest in fractional CO2 laser technology, the skin around your eyes will be rejuvenated for the younger look you desire.
What is the Madonna Lift?
The Madonna Lift is the newest way to treat the wrinkles and saggy, lax skin around the eyes. Dr. Tang uses an advanced fractional CO2 laser known as the SmartXide DOT to treat these problem areas.The fractional laser treats the deep layers of the skin around your eyes to plump up wrinkles, tighten the skin, lift sagging brows, and improve appearance — all without any surgical incisions.
How does it work?
Smartxide DOT Therapy employs the latest fractional technology, which treats only a fraction of the skin at a time. The laser uses specially modulated beams of light about the width of a human hair to penetrate into the skin. These beams of light destroy and contract the old collagen within the wrinkles and incite the body’s natural wound healing process to create new, youthful collagen in the skin. This causes the wrinkles around the eyes to plump up, tighten, and soften.
What does the Madonna Lift feel like?
You may feel tingling or heat in your skin as the laser is applied. However, Dr. Tang can easily help you manage any potential discomfort. Before beginning the treatment, Dr. Tang will work with you to determine the numbing cream or other anesthetic that may be used to make your treatment comfortable.
Who is a good candidate for the Madonna Lift?
The Madonna Lift can be used on most patients with drooping eyelids, brows, and wrinkles around the eyes. Additionally, the laser used for the Madonna Lift has been cleared by the FDA for use on all skin colors. That said, there are different options available when it comes to regaining a youthful eye, and an in-person consultation with Dr. Tang is necessary to determine what treatment would best help you to achieve the results you desire.
How long does it take?
The Madonna Lift takes only a few minutes, though you may need some additional time to apply topical anesthetic prior to the procedure.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments needed will vary from patient to patient, depending on the results you are trying to achieve. However, most patients see improvement right away and full results are seen after 3–5 treatments.
Is there any downtime from the Madonna Lift?
Your skin may be red and puffy right after the procedure, but this usually fades after a day. Makeup can be applied immediately after treatment allowing you to resume your normal daily activities right away.
Is the Madonna Lift safe for my eyes?
During the treatment, Dr. Tang will protect your eyes with protective shields allowing for safe treatment of the lids and brow area.
How long will the results last?
Results vary from patient to patient but as your body continues to heal and create new strong, healthy, and elastic collagen in your lids and around your eyes, you should continue to see improvement for up to six months after your last treatment. Results should last for several years but, as your skin continues to age, it is recommended you prolong the results with a good skin care regimen and daily protection from the sun.
Aluma
Introduced in August 2005, Aluma was the first breakthrough treatment to spare patients from having to undergo surgery to correct sagging, drooping eyes. It is FDA-approved for lines and rhytids (wrinkles) to improve sagging skin and uses not laser beams but bipolar frequency energy to tighten the skin. This heating stimulates new collagen and elastin growth, which are the essential building blocks to healthy skin. The bipolar frequency allows the device to treat the skin above the eyes for a firmer, tighter, and younger looking skin.
The Aluma uses a suction device to initially draw the skin into the tip, then releases a small burst of energy. Patients undergoing the treatment describe this burst of energy as a warm sensation. There is no pain involved and no pre-treatment required. It takes about 10 minutes to perform the entire treatment with several passes, though multiple treatments are required to have the desired effect. The end result is that the treatment provides a “mini” lift for the drooping eyelids. Aluma also improves firmness and skin texture around the eyes and improves lines and wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet). Additionally, it can also be used to tighten the skin on the neck, arms, or even the abdomen.
The downside of Aluma is that it does not provide as dramatic of a lift as compared to surgery and does not last as long as surgery. It does require maintenance treatments every 6–12 months. Still, for patients who are not ready for surgery or are looking for a more natural approach and small improvement, Aluma could be a perfect fit.
During your complimentary consultation, Dr. Tang will go over the details of the treatment and determine whether you can benefit from Aluma.
EMFace
There are four important things every patient should know about the EMFace procedure. These are the following:
- It’s non-invasive (no incisions, sutures, or surgery required)
- It is a device developed specifically to help lift the face and lift the eyebrows
- It utilizes two advanced technologies: radiofrequency (RF) energy, and high intensity facial electromagnetic stimulation (HIFES)
- This treatment provides a natural-looking lift
The EMFace procedure is designed specifically to treat lines on the forehead, wrinkles on the face especially around the eyes, as well as facial folds and creases. In other words, EMFace effectively improves wrinkles and skin laxity on the face, targeting the forehead, eyebrows, cheeks, and jawline.
How does EMFace facial treatment work?
Using the combined RF and HIFES technologies, the treatment simultaneously works on the muscles and tissues beneath the skin, as well as the dermal and subdermal layers of the skin. As the HIFES technology strengthens the targeted muscles and tissues underneath, RF energy that is deposited on the dermal and subdermal layers of the skin is transformed into heat to stimulate collagen and elastin production thus resulting in a natural-looking lift and rejuvenated skin at the same time.
The muscles and tissues that the EMFace facial treatment targets are of particular interest because these are the same muscles and tissues that were once only accessed through a surgical facelift. Collectively known as the Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System or SMAS, this muscle plane or muscle group is separated from the skin and then repositioned to give the face a lift during a surgical facelift.
But thanks to the latest innovations in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, the SMAS can now be accessed and manipulated without surgery through the EMFace procedure. In a nutshell, the EMFace facial treatment works on skin, muscles, and tissues to give patients a non-surgical facelift that can take years off their face. The results are also natural-looking, so you won’t look like you had undergone any surgical facelift or cosmetic procedure. It is placed specifically on the muscle elevators of the forehead and cheeks which lift the eyebrows which can help to open up the eyes, while helping to lift the cheeks to allow for a more defined jawline while lifting the chin.
How is the EMFace procedure performed?
EMFace in the Bay Area, whether EMFace in Saratoga, EMFace in Los Gatos, or EMFace in San Jose (or elsewhere), is a no-hands procedure as it uses applicators to simultaneously rejuvenate the skin and strengthen the underlying muscles and tissues. There is a special applicator for the forehead and separate applicators for the cheeks.
Once the gel applicators are placed on the forehead and cheeks, the doctor will adjust the settings accordingly to achieve best results. Basically, heat and energy impulses (per second) settings are adjusted according to the targeted areas and the patient’s skin condition.
Four 20-minute sessions, spaced at two to 14 days (depending on the patient’s needs and treatment response), are recommended to achieve the best results. Optimal results are achieved about 90 days from your last 20-minute session.
Apart from its effectiveness, what makes the EMFace in Saratoga or EMFace in San Jose Bay Area (or elsewhere) treatment a favorite among patients is the fact that there is no downtime or recovery needed. Patients can go about their day right after their sessions as if they hadn’t just undergone any type of cosmetic treatment.
During your complimentary consultation, Dr. Tang will go over the details of the treatment and determine whether you can benefit from EMFace.