Eyes

The upper portion of the eye can be broken down into two units – (1) the eyelid and (2) the eyebrow. An upper blepharoplasty (also called “upper bleph” or “eye lift”) involves the gentle reduction of the eyebrow skin, leading to reduction of upper lid heaviness and excess skin or fat deposits.

Upper blepharoplasty is used to treat excess folds of the upper eyelid skin, baggy upper eyelids and overused muscles that strain to lift sagging upper eyelid skin. The result is more refreshed, youthful and open eyes. In certain patients, an upper blepharoplasty can be performed simultaneously with an endoscopic brow lift, discussed below.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty reduces puffiness of the lower eyelids. It treats under-eye bags, drooping lower eyelids and excess fat deposits in the eyelids.

For decades, surgeons traditionally used external incisions to rejuvenate and lift the lower eyelids. Although aesthetically pleasing in the short term, a large percentage of these patients were found to suffer long-term consequences, as the lower lid slowly retracted in response to the scar.

The upper portion of the eye can be broken down into two units – (1) the eyelid and (2) the eyebrow. The eyebrow represents the thickened area on or above the upper eye socket bone, frequently (but not always) demarcated by the eyebrow hair.

An endoscopic brow lift involves the gentle lifting of the outside portion of the brow, creating a more youthful shape to the brow. It can be performed simultaneously with an upper blepharoplasty, discussed above. The procedure is performed using a fiber optic camera through hidden, minimally invasive incisions in the hair. Under full visualization, the brow is gently released from its deeper attachments and repositioned in a more aesthetically appropriate position.

During an endoscopic brow lift, Dr. Cabin makes an incision above a patient's temples. Dr. Cabin next inserts a fiber optic camera that enables him to perform the procedure below a patient's skin. He then examines the treatment area and makes a small incision into a patient's eyebrow. At this time, Dr. Cabin loosens or removes muscle, pulls tissue and skin upward and stitches up the treatment area.

A typical endoscopic brow lift requires about an hour to complete. Patients sometimes experience swelling and bruising in the initial days after an endoscopic brow lift, and these symptoms may last for three to seven days. Additionally, the end results of an endoscopic brow lift often remain visible for up to 10 years.

Another option for brow lifting is the chemical brow lift (discussed below), which involves elevating the brow using small amounts of Botox®. Although temporary, the correct application of Botox® can achieve similar results to a surgical brow lift.

A chemical brow lift provides a non-surgical alternative to an endoscopic brow lift. It is commonly used to address frown lines, forehead wrinkles and other visible signs of aging in the eyes and face.

The eyebrow is continuously acted upon by opposing muscles, which relax or contract to elevate or lower the brow in the formation of facial expressions. One the main muscles in this dance is the orbicularis oculi muscle, which acts to pull the brow downward. By applying micro doses of Botox® to the upper corner of this muscle, the muscle’s ability to pull down on the brow is gently reduced, resulting in a slight elevation of the brow. This can achieve a similar result to a surgical brow lift, albeit a temporary one (Botox® needs to be re-applied every 3-4 months).

A chemical brow lift delivers full results within days of treatment. Also, there is a shorter recovery time, fewer side effects and reduced risk of infection following a chemical brow lift in comparison to an endoscopic brow lift.

To address potential wrinkling of the lower eyelids, Dr. Cabin believes in using the Dot Deka CO2 laser to powerfully resurface and rejuvenate the skin (as opposed to a high-risk surgery involving external, lower lid incisions). Patients will generally opt for a full facial resurfacing, leading to a comprehensive and powerful result, and ensuring that the lower lids are balanced with the remainder of the face.

A Dot Deka laser resurfacing treatment session usually requires around 10 minutes to complete. Following a Dot Deka laser resurfacing treatment, a patient can resume his or her daily activities within three days.

The number of required Dot Deka laser resurfacing treatment sessions varies based on the patient. Dr. Cabin also monitors a patient's recovery to ensure optimal Dot Deka laser resurfacing treatment results.