Blepharoplasty or Botox? Maybe That’s Not the Right Question!

For more than fifteen years, men and women have been turning to Botox injections to smooth lines and wrinkles that cause their eyes to look younger. The informal use of this drug began fifteen years before that, when eye doctor Jean Carruthers was told by a patient being treated for blepharospasm that her worry lines disappeared when her therapeutic medication was injected into the muscles of her forehead. In essence, Botox has been used for cosmetic purposes since that early discovery in 1987. Formal FDA approval didn’t occur until 2002.

Since the use of Botox became popular, one might think that the need for blepharoplasty went right out the window. However, statistics indicate that the surgical rejuvenation of the eyelids is still widely popular. Is it because the results of blepharoplasty simply last longer than Botox injections? No. The reason that blepharoplasty is so popular is that this procedure achieves results that Botox cannot. Likewise, Botox treats concerns that cannot be addressed with blepharoplasty. Therefore, it’s not a question of how to handle the problems that affect the appearance of the eyes; it’s a matter of obtaining the right combination.

Blepharoplasty is for the Eyelids

Like Botox, the purpose of blepharoplasty is to make the eyes look younger. Unlike Botox, the way that blepharoplasty rejuvenates the eyes is by refining the eyelids. Blepharoplasty can focus on the upper eyelids, removing tissue that has become excessively loose. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty makes the eyelids look smoother and tighter. This procedure sometimes focuses on the lower eyelids, removing fat and skin that are forming puffy bags. By removing loose, sagging tissue in either part of the eye, blepharoplasty restores a more youthful appearance.

Botox is for the Eyes

The way that Botox refreshes the eyes is by relaxing the muscles around them. Wrinkles form because the movement of superficial muscles pulls on the skin. When we frown, the horizontal movement of the forehead muscles creates a vertical line between the eyes. The more we frown, the more frequently skin is pulled. At some point, the wrinkles that once disappeared stay put even when muscles relax (which they never fully do). When we use Botox in the muscles around the eyes, we can slightly elevate the brows, reduce crow’s feet and frown lines, and generally make this part of the face look friendlier and more energetic.

Discover how blepharoplasty and Botox together can give you the results you desire. Call the Eye Institute of Houston at (713) 668-7337.