Post Your Face: "People Think I Have Smeared Mascara Under My Eyes"
In our weekly Post Your Face column, Dr. Robert Freund answers readers' cosmetic surgery questions, and shows them how they'd look if they underwent the enhancement. To post your own face, visit postyourface.com.
The Patient's Question: My deep set eyes are so dark, people think I have smeared mascara under my eyes. As for my wrinkles, my idea of cosmetic surgery has been to stick my tongue into the area of the fold to smooth it out!
Dr. Freund's Answer: For 51 years old, you are not looking bad. Long Island's great beaches have certainly created some sun damage, but it is never too late to start using good sunblock and caring for your skin with a good antioxidant and Retin-A after summer is over. More on that later.
I agree about your hollowed out lower eyelids and cheeks. As we age, the face typically undergoes some atrophy -- tissues sag and the fat that gave you plump cheeks goes away. I suggest you re-inflate the cheeks and lips with a fat transfer that takes fat from your tummy or hip and replace the lost fat in your face. Techniques for fat transfer have improved in recent years, and filling the face is now commonplace.
Do not confuse the fillers like Restylane and Juvederm with fat. These off-the-shelf fillers are good for fine lines and wrinkles but will not adequately correct the lost volume under your eyes. My favorite way to replace the volume of your face is with the Viafill Fat Transfer System, which can be administered under local anesthesia. I routinely allow the patient to observe the process with a mirror. A full face fat transfer typically costs $2,500. Downtime from swelling can be from 4-10 days and there are no incisions or stitches.
As for the sun, the most important thing for your skin at this time of year is a good zinc oxide sunblock. My favorite is EltaMD, available in physicians' offices. They have just come out with a spray-on Zinc Oxide. Don't worry about the SPF ratings but be sure to focus on ingredients. Finally, regardless of the time of day or activity level, reapply the sunblock every 2 to 3 hours.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Freund, MD, FACS
The health or medical information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions.
The Patient's Question: My deep set eyes are so dark, people think I have smeared mascara under my eyes. As for my wrinkles, my idea of cosmetic surgery has been to stick my tongue into the area of the fold to smooth it out!
The patient before (left) and after (right) the suggested cosmetic surgery procedures. Courtesy Photo
I agree about your hollowed out lower eyelids and cheeks. As we age, the face typically undergoes some atrophy -- tissues sag and the fat that gave you plump cheeks goes away. I suggest you re-inflate the cheeks and lips with a fat transfer that takes fat from your tummy or hip and replace the lost fat in your face. Techniques for fat transfer have improved in recent years, and filling the face is now commonplace.
Do not confuse the fillers like Restylane and Juvederm with fat. These off-the-shelf fillers are good for fine lines and wrinkles but will not adequately correct the lost volume under your eyes. My favorite way to replace the volume of your face is with the Viafill Fat Transfer System, which can be administered under local anesthesia. I routinely allow the patient to observe the process with a mirror. A full face fat transfer typically costs $2,500. Downtime from swelling can be from 4-10 days and there are no incisions or stitches.
As for the sun, the most important thing for your skin at this time of year is a good zinc oxide sunblock. My favorite is EltaMD, available in physicians' offices. They have just come out with a spray-on Zinc Oxide. Don't worry about the SPF ratings but be sure to focus on ingredients. Finally, regardless of the time of day or activity level, reapply the sunblock every 2 to 3 hours.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Freund, MD, FACS
The health or medical information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions.
Filed under: Beauty, Skin & Body, Makeovers
Tags: cosmetic surgery, CosmeticSurgery, dark under eye circles, DarkUnderEyeCircles, Dr. Freund, Dr. Robert Freund, Dr.Freund, Dr.RobertFreund, fat transfer, FatTransfer, fine lines, FineLines, lip injections, LipInjections, post your face, PostYourFace, SPF, sun damage, sun protection, SunDamage, SunProtection, undereye circles, UndereyeCircles, Viafill, wrinkes
Tags: cosmetic surgery, CosmeticSurgery, dark under eye circles, DarkUnderEyeCircles, Dr. Freund, Dr. Robert Freund, Dr.Freund, Dr.RobertFreund, fat transfer, FatTransfer, fine lines, FineLines, lip injections, LipInjections, post your face, PostYourFace, SPF, sun damage, sun protection, SunDamage, SunProtection, undereye circles, UndereyeCircles, Viafill, wrinkes
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Disbeliever, 7-25-2010, 8:06PM
Warning-The second photo has GOT to be a fake...the woman's hair is EXACTLY the same in both photos. Don't believe everything you see on the internet!
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