Non-surgical blepharoplasty – a revolutionary scalpel-free lifting method

Eyelids may droop due to age. This problem often appears around the age of 40–50. It is caused, among other things, by natural skin ageing processes, during which the skin gradually loses its firmness. With age, the muscles and ligaments that support the eyelid also weaken. On the other hand, it can also be one of the potential symptoms of certain neurological disorders, including damage to the oculomotor nerve (III), Horner’s syndrome, or neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia.

The problem most often affects both eyelids and, in extreme cases, can interfere with proper vision.

Drooping eyelids are also encouraged by:

• genetic predisposition — the structure of the eyes depends on genetic factors, which can also influence the tendency toward drooping eyelids;
• unhealthy lifestyle — excessive sun exposure, smoking, stress, lack of sleep, and significant weight fluctuations over short periods can cause the eyelid skin to lose elasticity;
• chronic eye rubbing or wearing contact lenses — factors that may accelerate the stretching of the delicate skin and eyelid structures;
• swelling and inflammation — recurring chalazia (a chronic but painless lump on the eyelid caused by a blocked sebaceous gland), styes (an acute and painful inflammation of a gland on the eyelid, usually bacterial, appearing as a red and tender lump on the eyelid margin), or severe allergies can further strain the eyelid;
• neurological and muscular issues — eyelids may also droop as a result of specific disorders in nerve signal transmission, including conditions such as myasthenia, damage to the oculomotor nerve, or Horner’s syndrome (a rarer condition associated with damage to the sympathetic nervous system).

Blepharoplasty is another name for surgical eyelid correction, one of the most commonly performed procedures in plastic surgery. It is a popular treatment because it not only significantly rejuvenates the eye area, but also improves the field of vision.

Surgical eyelid correction takes about 1 hour and is usually performed under local anaesthesia (the patient remains conscious but feels no pain). The surgeon makes an incision in the crease of the upper eyelid, removes excess fat tissue and redundant skin, and then closes the wound with fine sutures. The patient returns home on the same day. Swelling and bruising typically subside after about 7 days.

Depending on the patient’s needs, the procedure may focus on specific areas, which is why we distinguish:

• upper eyelid surgery — the most commonly performed, used for drooping skin and heavy eyelids;
• lower eyelid surgery — focused on removing so-called under-eye bags;
• combined eyelid surgery — addressing both upper and lower eyelids during one procedure.

Patients most often choose blepharoplasty when they are dealing with:

• excess skin on the upper eyelids that prevents makeup from staying in place;
• a constantly tired or sad appearance of the eyes and the entire face;
• a feeling of heavy eyelids;
• eyelids that restrict the field of vision;
• pronounced under-eye bags and dark circles.

As a result, the face gains a more rested and noticeably younger appearance. Upper eyelid correction offers not only aesthetic benefits. Significant drooping of the eyelids can limit the field of vision, especially peripheral vision, making activities such as driving or reading more difficult. In such cases, surgical removal of excess skin from the upper eyelids becomes necessary.

The cosmetic market has embraced an innovative device that allows patients who would otherwise qualify for surgery to undergo an eyelid lift without a scalpel.

It is a small, handheld medical device that generates a plasma beam. The Plasma IQ procedure performed with it creates controlled thermal micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating intense regenerative processes. The device is ideal for lifting even delicate areas of the skin, such as the eyelids and the eye area.

The plasma beam leaves tiny scabs on the skin, causing epidermal sublimation — that is, its evaporation — without damaging the basal layer of the dermis or surrounding tissues, and without bleeding. The skin around the treated points also contracts immediately, producing a tightening and lifting effect.

The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes, and the sublimation spots, with a diameter of less than 1 mm, remain visible for up to 10 days after the treatment.