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New Rejuvenation Option

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Fractional Laser Offers New Rejuvenation Option

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is currently the industry standard for reducing the evidence of aging around the eyes. This surgical procedure is not likely to be replaced by non-invasive treatments any time soon. However, doctors in Italy have documented evidence that fractional laser rejuvenation can provide a significant level of enhancement for some patients without the side effects and downtime associated with surgery. Individuals in their mid-forties without severe sun damage or excess eyelid skin tend to have the best outcome. Most patients in the study experienced an improvement of more than 25%.

What Issues Does This Treatment Address?

The term “periorbital” refers to the area of the face around the eyes. The skin below the eyebrows and on the eyelids is very delicate. It tends to begin showing signs of age earlier than the rest of the face. These effects may include drooping, wrinkling, and photoaging (sun damage). The goal of laser treatment in this area is to tighten the skin, reduce age spots, and smooth out wrinkles. Lasers are thought to produce these effects by promoting the generation of increased amounts of collagen in the skin tissue.

One important factor measured by the Italian study was the treatment’s ability to raise the eyebrows. Lifting the brow away from the eyelid reduces the appearance of drooping skin. The degree of lift for patients treated with periorbital fractional laser rejuvenation was slight but detectable (at least 1-2 millimeters). So far, the patient follow up process is showing that the results tend to last for some time.

Treatment Procedure Overview

The patients’ eyes were protected with a metal shield and the skin being treated was coated with a topical anesthetic. Upper and lower eyelids and crow’s feet creases at the corners of the eyes were all targeted for treatment. A low power setting was selected for each patient’s initial session with the option to use a higher setting for subsequent sessions if needed. On average, patients only underwent 2 sessions 3-4 weeks apart.

Most reported feeling no discomfort at all. No patients described their pain level as more than “tolerable”. Downtime after the procedure was 24 hours with some swelling and redness lasting for several more days. Post-procedure, patients were given a topical anti-biotic ointment to apply for 3-4 days. 85% of patients receiving the fractional laser treatment reported their results as “very good”. For individuals who do not yet require the extensive rejuvenation provided by blepharoplasty, this is a potential stop gap treatment that dermatologists may begin recommending.