How do you achieve a more youthful face if you are not ready for or interested in a facelift? Can you get great results without a facelift? We say, “Absolutely.” Short of a facelift, we recommend three effective procedures for a more youthful, refreshed look.

BLEPHAROPLASTY

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of your eyelids. It helps reduce the look of tired eyes from your lower lids and removes drooping skin from your upper lids. You can focus on just the upper or lower lids, or address both at the same time.

CO2 LASER RESURFACING

CO2 laser treatment aims to improve the appearance of the skin by removing the top layer and stimulating the formation of new skin cells. CO2 Laser Resurfacing is used to tighten the skin and to treat fine lines. It also treats wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, and scarring.

FAT TRANSFER

Facial fat transfer uses a person’s own existing body fat to restore volume to and plump sunken or sagging areas of the face. This procedure is used to treat deep creases on the forehead or between the eyebrows as well as hollow areas under the cheeks and eyes. It can also aid with contouring around the nose, temples, upper lip and the jaw.

Each of these procedures requires confirmation that you are a candidate, as well as some downtime.

This patient had all three of these procedures: lower eyelid surgery with fat grafting and CO2 laser resurfacing of the skin around the eyelids.

When Should You Choose a Facelift?

While we have described some effective procedures for facial rejuvenation, sometimes these methods don’t do the trick.

Maybe you have tried injectables and chemical peels for a while, and they do not provide the long-term results you want. Or perhaps laser or radio frequency treatments just are not achieving what you want.

Whatever the reason, facelift surgery can achieve results that non-surgical results cannot match. Facelift surgery can reposition and lift facial tissues, which is something non-surgical options cannot replicate. It can also remove excess skin, which can roll back the clock on the face by years.

It has been said that eyes are the gateway to the soul. They are also the center of the face, and can communicate to others how we think and feel.

As we age, loose skin and dark circles under the eyes can make us look tired and fatigued. Fortunately, these issues can be addressed with safe and relatively painless procedures performed by a trained professional. Let us take this opportunity to introduce you to the newest member of our team!

Jane S. Kim, MD is a board-certified and fellowship-trained oculofacial surgeon who specializes in surgical and non-surgical procedures around the eyes, brows, forehead, and mid-face. She has special interests in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, revision eyelid surgery, and Asian blepharoplasty.

“The key to looking refreshed and rested is choosing the right option for the right patient, whether that is skin care, injectables, surgery, or some combination thereof.”

 

Dr. Kim is committed to patient care. Her expertise lies in both functional and cosmetic surgery of the upper and mid-face, with special attention to the region around the eyes. She also specializes in non-surgical facial rejuvenation, including dermal fillers, neurotoxin injections, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels.

DR. KIM SPECIALIZES IN:

Before and After Images of some patients who have seen Dr. Kim to improve their eyes. If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Kim, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Kim’s CONSULTATION FEE will be waived through March 31, 2025.

 

Are you noticing excess or loose skin around your eyes? When it comes to lifting and tightening the skin in this area, we have two approaches, one surgical and one done with a laser. Often our recommendation for optimal results is to combine the two.
 

SURGICAL APPROACH: BLEPHAROPLASTY

Blepharoplasty is intended to enhance the upper and/or lower lids, to create a more refreshed, youthful look. For the upper lid, the procedure involves making an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid, and then removing and reshaping the skin, muscle, and fat that deflate and droop with age and sun exposure.


Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelid. As people age, the tissue that holds the fat in place can loosen and the fat can protrude, giving the appearance of bags under the eyes. These bags can be repositioned and reshaped.

THE MAGIC OF CO2 LASER RESURFACING

CO2 laser resurfacing is an excellent way to tighten skin and reduce discoloration of the skin around the eyes.

This laser tightens minor excess skin on the eyelids, reduces of signs of aging in the eye area, and the completely renews the skin. And with the CO2 laser we can tailor treatment according to the nature and extent of photodamage, wrinkling, skin type and individual requirements for recovery time.


When considering a fractional CO2 laser for the eyes, remember that the effects can take up to 8-12 weeks to see, so plan accordingly!
This procedure can be done on its own or in conjunction with eyelid surgery.

The fractional CO2 laser creates tiny “columns of thermal destruction” in the skin that stimulate the growth of new, healthy skin cells to replace old, damaged cells. This procedure treats wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, age spots, and acne scars. Instead of removing skin layers with chemicals, the CO2 laser removes skin layers by vaporization. 

 

During your treatment, one of our physicians will apply the Fractional CO2 laser to the area chosen for resurfacing. The laser will eliminate surface damage, while concurrently heating the underlying tissue, causing it to increase collagen production. Depending on the scope of the treatment area, your laser session may take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

 

WHAT DOES THE CO2 LASER TREAT?

The Fractional CO2 laser is used to address a wide range of skin conditions, including:

In addition, the Fractional CO2 laser can be used to treat other visible areas of the body, such as the neck, chest, or hands.

BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES

 

Eyelid surgery, or “blepharoplasty,” has become incredibly popular since the pandemic thanks to the “Zoom Boom,” and to increased mask requirements, which make the upper face and eyes a focal point during everyday conversation.

Blepharoplasty is intended to enhance the upper and/or lower lids, to create a more refreshed, youthful look. For the upper lid, the procedure involves making an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid, and then removing and reshaping the skin, muscle, and fat that deflate and droop with age and sun exposure.Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelid. As people age, the tissue that holds the fat in place can loosen and the fat can protrude, giving the appearance of bags under the eyes. These bags can be repositioned and reshaped.

This patient had a lower eyelid surgery with free fat grafting and CO2 laser to the eyelid skin.

Does insurance cover cosmetic eye procedures?

Generally, cosmetic services are not covered by medical insurance. But in some cases, like the patient shown below, if an eyelid’s drooping is severe and affecting vision, upper eyelid surgery may be covered. Simple tests can determine whether the condition warrants insurance coverage.

Diagnosis: Ptosis

This patient presented with droopy eyelids, also called ptosis (toh-sis), that may occur due to trauma, age, or various medical disorders. Ptosis can affect one or both eyes, and can be present at birth or develop later in life.

This patient had ptosis repair and upper blepharoplasty. 
Depending on the severity of the condition, droopy upper eyelids can block or greatly reduce vision depending on how much it obstructs the pupil. This patient had ptosis repair (covered by insurance) at the same time as an upper blepharoplasty. This was followed by a CO2 laser treatment to the eye area.

Dr. Karlin, Dr. Daines, and Dr. Madorsky perform eyelid surgery. Please call our office to schedule an appointment, or use the in our website.

Dark circles under the lower eyelidsare common in men and women. Often accompanied by bags, dark circles can make you appear older and tired. Fortunately, there are options to improve the appearance of the undereyes.

 What causes dark circles?
There are a number of contributing factors, including

What can be done to address dark circles?

This patient in her twenties had Restylane-L injected under her eyes to reduce the pigmentation and hollow appearance.

All of our providers are available for injectables. Additionally, our PAs are available for free consultations on skin care, injectables and lasers.