A sight for sore eyes – about droopy eyelids and how to treat them.
Sagging or droopy lower eyelids can leave people feeling less attractive. Although first thought to be just another one of the many signs of ageing, people now agree that there are factors that may leave us predisposed to the condition.
Here we take a look at what causes droopy eyelids and the possible treatments available.
What are droopy eyelids?
Droopy or sagging eyelids are also known as periorbital puffiness, which is essentially the swelling of tissue in the lower lid of the eye.
This can happen for different reasons, including being overweight and having a diet that includes a high intake of salt and regular consumption of alcohol.
The protrusion of periorbital fat however, which is the fatty tissue stored within the bags under the eye, has often been thought of as a natural part of the ageing process as the skin becomes less elastic and sags.
What causes droopy eyelids?
At first, medical professionals thought that drooping lids happened as a natural part of our body ageing.
However, a study conducted by Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands and published in JAMA Dermatology, showed that there are other factors to be considered.
The biggest of these factors is the genetic predisposition to saggy eyelids. The study showed that 61% of people questioned had inherited their saggy eyelids from previous family members.
Other factors include the gender of the patient (with more men expected to have the condition than women), as well as nationality and lifestyle.
For instance, those with a lower BMI (body mass index) have less chance of developing these fatty deposits, whereas those who are more overweight or highly fatigued have a higher likelihood of occurrence.
What treatments are available?
If you have rather unsightly sagging eyelids that are taking their toll on your self-confidence as you get older, there are options available to reduce their appearance or get rid of them altogether.
For those wishing to avoid surgical treatments, there are non-surgical options available, including injectable fillers which can improve the hollow appearance of ageing eyes.
Laser surgery is another popular option. This works by gently resurfacing the eyelids creating new and tighter skin in place of the older, saggier skin.
If the fat protrusion is more severe, then blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can be the preferable method of treatment. Although a more invasive surgical procedure, it is also the most effective and works by removing the fat from the lid entirely and tightening the leftover skin.
Treatments for droopy eyelids at London Facial Surgery
With a huge array of options available, there is no need to suffer with unsightly bags.
London Facial Surgeons are a highly-motivated and passionate team who are ready to help you achieve the aesthetics you want to help improve both your confidence and quality of life.
Click here for information about eye lift (blepharoplasty).
Click here for information about dermal fillers.
Click here for information about laser resurfacing.
Click here to book a consultation.
