In this article, Dr Chew answers some frequently asked questions on eye rejuvenation.
Do eye creams really work?
Every now and then the promises of eye creams offer consumers a glimmer of hope in eradicating the visible signs of aging at the eye area.
But the truth of the matter is that eye creams that claims to remove eye bags, banish dark eye circles simply do not exist. At most, a good quality eye cream or serum works to moisturise the under eye area, eliminating fine lines and help improve the skin tone.
For people with eye bags and do not want to undergo surgery. Are there effective non-surgical options?
Mild to moderate eye bags can be effectively treated with non-surgical options.
There are a variety of options available and range from RF, HIFU, lasers to dermal fillers. There are also specialised devices like the Morpheus 8 micro needle RF, and the Accusculpt fibre optic 1444nm laser which are effective in removing herniated fat that is associated with eye bags.
The term NILER (coined by Dr Chew in 2008) describes the laser assisted procedure to treat eye bags. What exactly is NILER?
NILER stands for Non-Incisional Laser Eye bag Removal. This is a laser assisted procedure (the use of fibre optic 1444nm laser) to treat eye bags through a process of laser lipolysis and laser assisted skin tightening. Dr Chew is the innovator and pioneer of NILER in this region. His skills in NILER has helped numerous patients achieved satisfactory results.
Essentially the procedure helps to “shrink” the eye bag by reducing the fat bulge and tightening the loose eye bag skin. Aesthetic outcome is further improved by HIFU undereye skin tightening and dermal fillers to correct the associated tear trough or groove when necessary.
Dark eye circles and tear trough are also other common eye conditions. What procedures would Dr Chew recommend for treating these conditions?
Dark eye circles cannot be treated effectively with creams. If pigmentation is associated with these undereye dark circles, lasers can be used to lighten it. If not, the use of dermal fillers can help diminish the dark eye circles as well as tear trough.
Tear Trough Depression refers to the sunken area under one’s eyes. It starts from the inner corners and extends downwards in a curve away from the nose. In contrast, the neighbouring area is thus raised and hence casts a shadow onto the depressed area. This makes the tear trough depression more easily visible. It also gives the impression of dark eye circles. In the case of existing dark eye circles, tear trough depression could therefore make it appear even more pronounced.
As lack of adequate sleep is a major cause of dark eye circles, people with tear trough depression can feel self-conscious as it makes them look fatigued and much older than they are. Other than dark eye circles, this condition is also typically associated with the thinning and lax infraorbital skin, orbital fat prolapse and volume deficiency in the anteromedial cheek as well as bone resorption. This therefore makes tear trough depression a challenging condition to treat non-surgically. While makeup can be used to colour correct the tear trough depression area for a visual illusion of uniform skin tone and smoothness of skin, it can often be a tedious process and could result in a cakey made-up look.
The most effective method of treating this condition is by using dermal fillers.
As tear trough depression can be of varying severities, it is essential to seek consultation with an experienced doctor to find out which treatment works the best for you.
Dr Chew is sought after for his multi-layer technique (MLT) in treating dark eye circles and tear trough depression. He does this by using a soft dermal hyaluronic acid filler to fill the depression and create a uniformly smooth surface in the area. Contact us for more information.
What can be used to treat droopy upper eyelids?
Droppy upper eyelids can be treated either singly or in combination using HIFU, RF, plasma, toxin , threads and fillers.
Dr Chew’s preferred go-to treatment is using the 2mm handpiece of the Ultraformer III HIFU to induce a non-surgical lifting of the upper eyelids as well as eyebrows. A series of 3 treatments is performed at monthly intervals to provide a good outcome.
Lastly, when should someone contemplate going for surgery to rejuvenate the eyes?
Generally, those who are seeking a more permanent solution, can accept downtime and risks associated with surgery can consider surgery. There will also be cases where non-surgical options are not viable and hence surgery may be the only option.