Here’s What Happens To Your Eyelids As You Get Older

Your eyes are one of the first features that other people will notice about you, so it makes sense that you would want to maintain beautiful eyes for as long as possible. However, aging can undermine the appearance of your eyes. In this blog, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Min Ahn describes what kind of changes people can expect to notice around their eyes as they get older, as well as a few cosmetic procedures that are successful at rejuvenating their appearance.

Your Upper Eyelids

Your skin gradually becomes thinner and less elastic in many areas, with your upper eyelids being no exception. Loose, excess skin and surplus fat all contribute to drooping eyelids that hang lower over your eyes, creating a condition known as “hooding.” Simultaneously, your lids appear puffier, which can make you look perpetually tired.

Another common change is the lid losing its crease. Whereas younger faces have a strong line that distinguishes the eyelid from the brow, older faces have a less prominent crease and less fat that can make your eyes seem more sunken. (Note: Many ethnically Asian people do not have this crease.)

Your Lower Eyelids

Surprisingly, the signs of aging underneath your eyes have less to do with aging skin and can largely be attributed to diminishing bone density. With age, the bone in this area slowly atrophies, which results in bulging eyebags. Sagging facial fat can also congregate below the eyes, which only exaggerates the bulging. As the bags become more prominent, your eyelids start to appear looser overall.

Your Cosmetic Solutions

Aging is inevitable, but that does not mean that you must settle for having older-looking eyes. The most comprehensive way to rejuvenate your eyelids is with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Upper blepharoplasty carefully removes a small amount of skin and fat from your upper lids to eliminate sagging and puffiness. This helps your eyes to open more fully. Lower blepharoplasty repositions (and sometimes removes) fat below the eyes to achieve a smoother, more rested appearance. Although these procedures are separate, you may decide to combine upper and lower blepharoplasty depending on your cosmetic goals.

If you have early signs of aging below your eyes, you may wish to try an injectable treatment like Juvéderm or Restylane, which can add volume to your undereye hollows and smooth out this skin to reduce bags. However, these are temporary solutions that require periodic touch-ups two or three times per year to maintain the results.

Schedule a Consultation

Cosmetic procedures are a great way to elevate your eyelids and stop looking like you are exhausted all the time. To learn more about your options from New England’s leading facial plastic surgeon, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Ahn at the Aesthetic Wellness Center online or by calling 508-366-2020.