Eye Rejuvenation

Our dermatologists have over 20 years of clinical expertise in the field of cosmetic dermatology. Our team covers all aspects of eye rejuvenation including surgical, injectable & energy-based devices.

Our portfolio of over 35 devices covers the very latest CO2, erbium, fractional lasers as well as energy devices including Tixel, RF & HIFU. 

Rejuvenation is about improving three aspects of aging. This applies to every area, including the periorbital or eyes. 

1. Skin tone: Eyelid laxity, upper/lower or both, can be tightened with surgery, lasers, or other non-surgical options such as Tixel or HIFU.
2. Skin texture or quality. Skin on the lids or surrounding the upper & lower eyelids can be improved with lasers or deep chemical peels. Surgery does not correct skin quality. 
3. Volume; as the name suggests, replaces fat loss in the area. Surgery & lasers do not replace volume.

Tear trough (TT) filler is an injectable treatment that’s used under the eyes to help provide volume, reducing dark circles, shadows & wrinkles. The most common filler is typically made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring molecule. HA is a gel-like substance that gives volume & hydration. When injected into the under-eye areas, hyaluronic acid-based fillers increase fullness & reduces the trough area.

Tear trough or TT fillers ideal for those who would like to improve the under-eye area without lasers or surgery. An ideal candidate for dermal fillers includes-

• Mild to moderate laxity under the yes
• Skin is relatively thick
• A clear area of volume depletion is seen
• Realistic expectations are essential for this area, as the results depend on your anatomy, ethnicity & other factors including pigmentation & vascularity

For those who aren’t candidates for this treatment, there are other options to address the under-eye area, such as laser treatments or surgery.

The best laser for rejuvenation is the CO2 laser, the Ultrapulse by Lumenis. This laser can be used in the fully ablative setting to erase the deepest wrinkles. We often use the fractional setting directly after to deliver columns of laser into the deeper tissues. 

Patients suitable for deep resurfacing include-

• Deep etched static wrinkles
• Sun damage
• Marked laxity of the upper & lower lids
• Downtime of 8-10 days
• Light skin types 1-2, Australian/European descent

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Applied appropriately, fractional lasers can give between 75-85% of the results of deep fully ablative lasers. The most common combination we use is the Fraxel HD or high density setting, coupled with deep fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. This treats the upper & lower eyelids & the surrounding skin. 

This is called Hybrid laser resurfacing. Suitable candidates include-

• Moderate to severe eye wrinkles
• Laxity of the upper & lower lid
• Downtime of 5-7 days
• Fair skin types

To see if you are a suitable candidate, book a FREE consultation with our nurses. T&C apply.

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Lasers are great for skin rejuvenation in the context of improving laxity & static wrinkles (wrinkles at rest). Though lasers generate collagen, they do not generate fat. 

For volume loss correction, dermal fillers give the best & most predictable results. 

Tixel is a fractional device that delivers controlled heating to the eyelid skin. This results in collagen contraction & synthesis. Tixel is used to treat mild skin laxity. It can be safely used in all skin types. The best part of Tixel is the super-fast recovery of only 1-4 days. 

Book a FREE consultation with our nursing team to see if Tixel is right for you. T&C applies.

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Our clinicians at Cutis Dermatology perform over a dozen peels daily, for the past 15 years! Hopefully this will give some insight into what peels are appropriate for eye rejuvenation. Without fluff-

Deep peels including Jessner TCA or phenol offer the best results. Downtime ranges from 7 to 10 days. It is an epic peel, but so are the results. This is done under partial sedation in an operating theatre.

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Superficial peels including AHA, glycolic & lactic acids are best for anti-aging prevention. They can be useful as a maintenance or prevention treatment for the eye area. Downtime is zero. 

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Dermatologists apply microneedling to specific conditions, eye rejuvenation is not one of them. Microneedling causes too much collateral trauma in the thin under eye area. This results in bleeding, especially if combined with Growth factor injections or platelet rich plasma. The resultant bruise can deposit iron (from blood cells). This leads to a phenomenon known as post-treatment purpura. In the worst-case scenario, it makes dark circles worse. 

We are not anti-micro needlers as we do employ this treatment where appropriate (hair loss & drug delivery into the dermis). It is not the best treatment for eye rejuvenation. 

Our dermatologists are trained in fat transfer, with over a decade of experience. Fat can be used in the eye area, however there are pros & cons of this procedure. 

Pros: Natural substance, no Tyndall, has the potential to rejuvenate skin via nanofat & adipose stem cells. 

Cons: Unpredictable absorption, results not as predictable as HA dermal fillers. Simple laser procedures give better results.

To see if you are a candidate for this highly specialized procedure, book an appointment with our specialist dermatologists. 

Though eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty can give outstanding results, our dermatologists are careful in selecting the correct candidates for this procedure. Ideal candidates include-

• If you have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision. *
• If you have excessive, sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin.
• If you have lost the definition of your upper eyelid crease.
• Puffy pouches of fat in lower lids along with tear troughs that create a tired and aged appearance

*A Medicare rebate applies to upper eyelid surgery whereby vision is impaired by excess skin. 

Scars are a normal outcome of surgery; however, your dermatological surgeon will conceal them within the natural eyelid creases. The precise location and pattern of your incisions and the resulting scars will be discussed during your consultation.

Potential risks during blepharoplasty include infection, bleeding, irritated eyes, visible scarring & blurred vision. It is not uncommon to have dry eyes for 1-4 weeks. This is due to a marked decrease in skin laxity after the procedure.  During your consultation we will thoroughly discuss all these possible complications with you, including the solutions & treatments. 

Eye cream should be used with purpose. They can function as an anti-aging cream, or as a solution to help correct specific problems. 

Anti-aging: Look for retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, & peptides.

Eye creams for dark circles: Look for caffeine, vitamin K, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, & peptides. The results following eye cream for dark circles are marginal at best. 

Just don’t do it. Plasma is a great treatment for warts & skin tags, it is not appropriate for the under-eye area as it causes too much collateral damage to the surrounding tissues. This can result in thermal burns & pigmentation. In the worst-case scenario, it leaves atrophic scarsor divots & depressions.