As I’ve written about before, I’ve seen more problems with fillers placed under the eyes than successes. The only times I’ve found fillers under the eyes to be useful is in the case of young individuals who have true hollowing under the eyes. Otherwise, the idea of “camouflaging” lower lid bags with fillers usually results in more problems than solutions. In my practice, I help many patients from around the world with Malar Mounds, eyelid Festoons and lower lid bags. As a result, I’ve witnessed more and more patients coming to visit me recently with fillers placed under the eyes. This … [Read more...]
Best Practices
Is There a Role for Fillers for Under-Eye Bags?
The aging process can lead both men and women to develop dark circles under their eyes. There are a number of different things that cause these dark circles, but one of the most common causes is the shifting of fat from around the eyes to under the eyes. What Are “Bags,” And How Can They Be Fixed? As we age, certain natural changes occur to our faces in general and our eye region in particular. First, the eye socket changes and enlarges, allowing the fat around the eyes to shift to a more forward location, as shown by research performed by Dr. Robert Shaw at the University of … [Read more...]
Reversing Restylane Under the Eyes
Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane®, Juvederm® and Belotero® have been a wonderful tool for doctors and their patients seeking facial rejuvenation. They can be used to fill in wrinkles, levitate deep lines and fix deeper skin folds. When used in special ways, they can help the rebuild sunken parts of the face such as deflated cheeks, shrinking lips, falling brows and jaw lines, and in very specific cases to fill out sunken areas underneath the eyes. How Fillers Work Restylane® and the other types of hyaluronic acids are very useful because of the nature of their molecular … [Read more...]
10 Tips for Choosing the Right Cosmetic Surgeon
People looking to have cosmetic surgery or a cosmetic procedure done often don’t know the right questions to ask to ensure they’ll get the care and results they desire. We tend to inherently trust doctors, but there are times when it’s necessary to dig a little deeper and ask important questions to make sure your doctor’s approach lines up with your expectations. Here are 10 insider’s tips to determine whether the surgeon you’re considering is the right one for you: Tip #1: Look for specialization Because the demand for cosmetic procedures is high, doctors are joining the industry … [Read more...]
11 Important Things Patients Should Know About Injectable Filler Treatments
Injectable fillers have become a large part of many cosmetic practices in the United States. This has been driven by the ease of use and impact injectable fillers can have on reversing the signs of facial aging. In a skilled hand, these products can lead to dramatic results for patients. But in less skilled hands, these products can lead to either less dramatic results on one end of the spectrum or facial distortion and scarring on the other end. Types of Injectable Fillers There are a number of different types of injectable fillers, and more are coming into the market every year. … [Read more...]
Problems with Fillers Under the Eyes
One of the most common causes for dark circles under the eyes is fullness due to fat changes that occur in and around the eyes as we age. The advent of facial fillers such as Juvderm®, Restylane®, Belotero®, Radiesse®, Artefill®, Fat, Silicone, and Sculptra® has proven very useful in reversing age-related changes in the face from volume loss. Many doctors also use these fillers to camouflage the appearance of dark circles under the eyes (also due to a lack of fat, which causes a sunken appearance to the under-eye area). I myself have used fillers in this region to address this specific … [Read more...]
How Cosmetic Procedures Got a Bad Rap
(and How We Can Fix It) When you think of someone who’s “had work done” (first of all, let me say how much I dislike that phrase!), what do you think of? Exaggerated cheekbones? Eyebrows arched so high they look permanently surprised? Overly plump lips? Unfortunately, these are the images that come to mind for too many people when they think of cosmetic procedures— and the reason why so many are averse to the idea of considering procedures for themselves. There’s a stereotype that cosmetic procedures only achieve unnatural, almost comical results that look nothing like a “normal” person. … [Read more...]
The Myth About Cosmetic Treatments and Vanity
One of the things that can keep people from seeking out cosmetic treatment is the notion that it’s somehow “vain” or “shallow” to have these procedures done. I am always saddened when I hear that and eager to reassure patients that this is a false stereotype. It’s true, unfortunately, that there is a stigma around cosmetic procedures, but it’s largely due to those cosmetic surgeons who've gotten it all wrong—those who have created exaggerated, unnatural-looking results based more on current beauty trends or patients’ extreme desires than on restoring a patient’s underlying beauty. When … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Eyelid Surgery Nightmares
Woman Can’t Close Her Eyes After Botched Procedure I saw this Today Show news segment the other day: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy I immediately recognized this story as being a good point of discussion for the readers of my blog. I've written before that the eyes are one of the most critical areas of our face, not only for vision purposes but also for communicating with others. Because we look at one another’s eyes so often during conversation, when our eyes and eyelids change, it can make a big difference in the way others perceive … [Read more...]
Botox Injections: Problems and How to Avoid Them
Botox® is a very safe treatment that can alleviate or repair medical and cosmetic conditions for many patients. While Botox® was first used for medical purposes as described in my previous blog post, the unanticipated side effect of smoothing facial wrinkles for those initial medical patients led to its unprecedented use for cosmetic purposes. Over the years, Botox® treatments have become more widespread, and today many medical professionals have jumped on the Botox® bandwagon, offering treatments to their patients. With this increase in the number of practitioners using Botox® and the … [Read more...]