As people age, their eyelids stretch and the muscles that support the eyelids begin to weaken, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can result in the accumulation of excess fat both above and below the eyelids. The excess fat can cause skin to sag under the eyes as well as cause the eyebrows to sag. The sagging skin not only contributes to the appearance of advanced aging, but it also can impair vision. There are a number of steps that can be taken to improve sagging skin under the eyes.
Step 1
Eat a healthy diet and get a normal amount of sleep. The amount of sleep a healthy adult needs varies. Some adults need only seven hours, while others need more than nine. A healthy diet provides the nutrients and energy for optimal growth and development. While sleep and diet may not directly treat sagging skin under the eyes, a healthy lifestyle can improve the health of the body. A healthy lifestyle includes eating right, getting the right amount of sleep, not smoking, controlling weight and exercising regularly.
Step 2
Use a skin cream that is meant to tighten the skin. Skin cream ingredients that can help to tighten the skin include Coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid and phytessence wakame, according to Buzzle.com.
Step 3
See a cosmetic or plastic surgeon and have a treatment called Thermage performed. Thermage is a nonsurgical, noninvasive cosmetic treatment that uses radio-frequency waves to promote the tightening of the inner layer of the skin, or the dermis layer.
Step 4
See a plastic surgeon if the sagging skin does not tighten up with skin cream, Thermage and a healthy lifestyle. The surgeon may suggest a treatment called blepharoplasty if other treatment options have not provided satisfactory results. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat, muscle and skin. It is a procedure specifically designed to treat sagging skin. Blepharoplasty is normally performed on an outpatient basis.
Tips and Warnings
- Creams meant to firm up the skin can be used on other parts of the face to give it a more youthful appearance.
- The smoothing out of skin as a result of Thermage treatment requires a period of time that varies from patient to patient. Some patients see skin tightening within a few months, while for others the effect may take six months. While creams may help to slow the aging process, time eventually overcomes cosmetic solutions.
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