Do your eyelids have bags or droop down? Do you always look like you stayed up too late?

Unfortunately, the skin around our eyes is very thin and delicate. As a result, it can be one of the first areas on our face to show signs of aging.

Saggy, baggy eyelids can give you the appearance of being tired or angry, even though you feel great and are making amazing strides in your career. Drooping upper eyelids can also cause functional problems and keep you from opening your eyelid all of the way, impairing your vision.

In a recent interview with More magazine, here’s what one woman said about her eyes the year she turned 50:

“My undereye bags started bugging me. They became the feature that said “old” when I looked in the mirror. I invested in countless eye gels that promised to shrink puffiness, but if they made a difference, I couldn’t see it.”

We often hear this same thing when patients come in to talk to us about the area around their eyes.

“I never thought that I, of all people, would get an eye lift,” said Jane Gauer, in her Ladies Home Journal interview, “It’s not my style. I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of woman who applies mascara at red lights on the drive to my job as a kindergarten teacher.”

However, she continued “Not only was the loose, sagging skin on my upper eyelids making me look older than my 50 years, but it was also drooping over my lashes. This made my eyes feel heavy all the time.”

Like these women, under-the-eye bags and drooping eyelids may cause you to feel self-conscious or annoyed about your appearance.

A blepharoplasty or eye lid lift can address several different aesthetic and functional problems with your eyes, including (but not limited to):

• Sagging or drooping eye lids
• Puffy deposits or bags under your eyes
• Wrinkles in your lower eyelids
• Sagging lower eyelids that may show the white of the eyes below the iris

In a blepharoplasty, the upper or lower eyelids are tightened by making incisions along the natural creases of the upper eyelids or the inside surface of the lower eyelids. We remove the extra skin and fat from the area. As a result, you will have much less sagging and drooping in your eyelids, which results in a brighter, more awake appearance.

Recovery time from this procedure can be as little as a few days, though it will likely take two to three weeks for you to completely recover. Some swelling and bruising is common, but can be addressed with cold compresses, and discomfort can be managed with a mild pain reliever.

Upper eyelid surgery may be covered by your insurance. We can discuss this with you during your initial consultation. Lower eyelid surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and is generally not covered by insurance. However, we offer third-party financing so you can set up a payment plan.

Here is what Jane had to say about her procedure:

“Now, almost a year later, I firmly believe getting an eye lift was a wise decision. I’d always worried that indulging myself might fundamentally change who I am. And the surgery did transform me, but in a wonderful, unanticipated way. The experience inspired me to take better care of myself inside and out: I got highlights and a new haircut, and I’m more motivated than ever to slim down. I’ve dropped more than 10 pounds so far and I can’t wait to lose more.”

If you are interested in having a blepharoplasty, click here to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cole or call us at 360-865-4941. The two of you will review your expectations and discuss the best procedure for you to achieve your desired results.

One of the most common questions we get in our office from our patients is, “Do I need a facelift?”

Many women and men are using a variety of methods to achieve a more youthful appearance. Botox and other injectable fillers are becoming more popular – these non-surgical treatments are great if you have frown lines, crow’s feet, and furrows between the eyes, especially in your 30s and early 40s.

However, if you – like many people – suffer from loose, sagging skin on your jawline and neck, then a face lift is one of the most effective procedures available to achieve a more youthful look to your face.

As we age, the contour lines in our faces become less defined. And, the wrinkles and furrows that result from age-related sagging skin become increasingly pronounced.

With a face lift from Cole Aesthetic Center, your loose skin can be tightened up for a more refreshed, rejuvenated look. A face lift tightens everything on the face from your cheekbones to your collarbones. The muscles in your face can be lifted as well, so that your face can develop a stronger, younger-looking contour. And Dr. Cole is an expert in elegant, natural results!

If you are considering a facelift, you may be a good candidate if your facial skin is loose and sagging, particularly along the jaw line or under the chin.

A facelift can correct many things to improve your appearance, including:

• Sagging in the midface
• Deep wrinkles below the lower eyelids
• Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
• Fat on the cheeks or chin that has fallen or is displaced
• Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw – this is called a “turkey wattle” or “double chin.”

Schedule a consultation with us – we can talk about your face, skin, and the outcome you’d like to achieve. A face lift may not be a standalone solution for the results you desire. As you discuss your options with Dr. Cole, he may recommend that you combine the face lift with a brow lift or an eye lid lift. He may also incorporate injectable fillers or laser treatments.

The goal in all of this is to help you refresh your face and give your appearance a natural youthfulness. The professionals at Cole Aesthetic Center will discuss all your options with you to put together a plan to achieve the look that you want. We look forward to seeing you – schedule your appointment today.