In the past, the only treatment for sagging eyelids and brows was to have them surgically cut and sewn tighter (blepharoplasty). Now there are non-surgical options including fractional laser or deep laser resurfacing to tighten your upper and lower eyelids, and Ultherapy® to lift and tighten your brows and eye area. These treatments can be done in combination or separately depending on your needs, but these problems often occur together, so we mention them in tandem here.
Laser Eyelid and Eye Brow Tightening FAQs
What is eyelid/brow tightening?
Laser eyelid tightening is a great alternative for people who suffer from mild to moderately loose eyelid skin but are not ready for surgical alternatives. Eyelid tightening can be performed on either the upper or lower lids, or both. Sagging eyebrows are resolved using Ultherapy®, an FDA approved ultrasound treatment, for lifting and firming the brow line. Ultherapy® can also be used to tighten and firm the skin around the eyes when only mild improvement is needed.
How does eyelid/brow tightening work?
Collagen is the supporting structure of your skin. The fractional laser stimulates the body’s collagen production by penetrating into the dermis in a high density dot pattern. This promotes a rapid healing response due to the presence of stem cells in the surrounding untreated areas, which will promote new collagen growth in the treated area. Alternatively, deep laser resurfacing will remove all the old skin so it can be replaced by younger tighter new skin.
Will this burn my eye?
There is no danger to your eyes. While Dr. Mudd uses a laser on the eyelid, your eye is protected by a metal shield. For your brow, Ultherapy® uses ultrasound with preset depth limits. The actual work is done above the brow, well away from any sensitive eye tissue.
What will laser eyelid tightening feel like?
For laser eyelid tightening, we will apply topical anesthesia or even inject local anesthesia beforehand and we can also use chilled air blown on your skin during the procedure. Your eyes will be protected using safety goggles. You may hear some minor popping or snapping as the outer skin layers are removed. Some people experience a sensation of heat, similar to the feeling of the hot sun directly on your skin in the summer, but no significant discomfort. This new skin will be sensitive to ultraviolet light so you will need to avoid the sun and tanning beds until it is fully healed.
What does an Ultherapy® treatment feel like?
The procedure is completely noninvasive. Although no local anesthetic is needed, we have various forms of sedation and cooling available since individual perceptions of discomfort will vary. You may experience a feeling of heat on the skin as the smooth applicator is applied while you recline in one of our comfortable chairs. The procedure takes about 15 minutes, depending on how much of the brow or eye area is treated. There is no down-time. You may have a slight flushing or temporary redness for up to 2 hours after your treatment. Rarely people experience slight bruising or mild swelling. Your skin will begin rejuvenating immediately, but your body’s natural rebuilding process takes 60-90 days to get the full result. This is when you will see the full results. Most people need only 1 treatment, although a second treatment can be done if greater results are desired.
How long is the recovery and when will I see results?
For eyelid tightening done with the fractional laser, the recovery time is about 3-4 days. Some patients elect instead to have a deep laser resurfacing treatment to tighten the eyelids. This treatment has a longer downtime but more dramatic results. Ultherapy® has no downtime and some people see some immediate brow lifting result, with further results noticeable in 2-3 months.
Is this "Laser blepharoplasty"?
No. “Laser blepharoplasty” is a confusing term because some doctors use it to describe eye procedures that include surgery, while others do not. The laser eyelid/brow procedures at the New You Center are all non-surgical procedures that just tighten the eyelids and brow.
