While many studies have already proven the countless benefits of acupuncture, I am quite doubtful with its effectiveness in terms of removing the wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.  First and foremost, these signs of aging are caused by many factors including sun damage, tissue laxity, and pull of gravity.

But despite some critics, one doctor who offers facial acupuncture still insists that by creating a “little scar formation, it would be possible to lift the sagging skin and address other signs of facial aging.”

Some also claim that the acupuncture needles can encourage the body to produce natural collagen, which is a type of protein responsible for making the skin youthful and plump.

The cost of acupuncture for the removal of facial aging is almost the same, if not more expensive, than most traditional non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments such as laser, soft tissue fillers, and Botox injection.  Also, patients should consider that it requires monthly maintenance that costs around $150.

Meanwhile, the average cost for the first few sessions of facial acupuncture is $1,000.

Whether facial acupuncture really works—or it is just another media hype—patients should remember that facelift surgery is often the most ideal solution to the signs of aging because it provides a longer lasting effect.  By contrast, non-surgical treatments (e.g., laser skin resurfacing, Botox, and soft tissue fillers) must be repeated every six months to two years in order to maintain the youthful appearance.

But regardless if facelift surgery or non-surgical treatment is used, all facial rejuvenation treatments do not stop the aging process.

Traditional facelift surgery can remove 10 to 15 years off from face, with its result lasting a decade or so.  After this period, a patient may need some kind of revisions such as “isolated” facelift including brow lift, eyelid lift, etc.

“Because I am a woman and wants to look young,” she said.

Meanwhile, the journalist claimed that she is practicing healthy lifestyle but despite of this, she said that it did not make any difference with her aging appearance.

As a major cosmetic surgery, facelift usually involves quite a lengthy recovery.  However, Burley was back in front of the camera just three weeks after the procedure probably because she chose a less invasive form of facial rejuvenation surgery and also with her talented make-up artists who can cover up the residual bruises.

During the first few days of her recovery, the mother of one said she has experienced “post-surgical blues” because of the swelling and bruising associated with facelift surgery, symptoms she compared to being in a “car crash.”

Burley said she did not feel intolerable pain during her first few days of recovery although she described her experience as “deeply traumatic.”  Meanwhile, Dr. Tarick Smaili, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon who did not treat the newscaster, said that it is “not uncommon for patients to experience post-surgical blues.”

“Some patients become slightly depress and anxious because of the swelling and bruising.  But because these symptoms drastically subside after a couple of days or weeks, the post-surgical blues disappear.  Such negative feelings may also be triggered by general anesthesia as it wears off, medications, and residual pain,” Smaili added.

But after the swelling and bruising subsided, Burley said she was “thrilled with the result” and even described the cost of her facelift as “money well spent.”  However, she did not reveal the exact amount of her surgery.

Several years ago, Burley had an eyelid surgery to remove the excess skin and fats around her eyes to make the organ appear more rejuvenated and younger.

To achieve the most desired result, the journalist said that doing one’s research and choosing the right surgeon can be very helpful to anyone considering having facelift surgery.

While the newscaster said she did not want to be a “poster girl” for cosmetic surgery, she encouraged people considering the procedure to “go ahead” as long as they have conducted months of research and planning.

Burly said she had spent several months researching about facelift surgery, planning her operation, and selecting the right surgeon.

The 56-year-old actor, who was known for his role in the critically acclaimed movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, admitted to have an eyelid surgery in a television interview.  He said that his first cosmetic surgery was conducted in 1989 while shooting an action-comedy film.

“As I grew older, my eyelids began to droop,” he was quoted saying.

Eyelid surgery has always been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for men in the US.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), about 31,000 male patients had the procedure in 2010 alone.

Meanwhile, Chow said that he had eyelid surgery performed more than once, which is somewhat unusual since the result of the initial surgery typically lasts a lifetime.  In fact, if the sagging recurs, most plastic surgeons would rather recommend a brow lift instead of another eyelid lift.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that eyelid lift typically involves the removal of the sagging, loose skin and tightening the underlying tissue to rejuvenate the eyes.

“Once you remove the drooping skin, it is very unlikely for the problem to recur.  But then again, there is always some exception to the rule”, he said.

While “touch-ups” are possible after an eyelid surgery, Smaili said that repeating the procedure must be carefully done to prevent unnatural result commonly manifested by “fish eyes.”

Meanwhile, Smaili suggests the action star may be getting some Botox injection as an eyelid lift, while it can remove the drooping skin, “is not designed to smooth out the wrinkles, particularly the crow’s feet.”

“It is not uncommon for eyelid lift patients to ask for Botox injection and/or soft tissue fillers to remove the crow’s feet and hollowness especially in the lower eyelids”, Smaili added.

“But during surgical touch-ups, plastic surgeons should make sure that there is enough amount of skin left to allow their patients to close their eyes naturally.  You wouldn’t want to appear like Dinora Rodriguez who is a victim of botched surgery performed by an unlicensed practitioner.”

Rodriquez is the face of a new campaign by ASPS after her traumatic experience with an underground plastic surgery.  According to earlier reports, her surgeon performed eyelid lift even if she was only asking for breast augmentation.  She is now unable to completely close her eyes because too much skin was removed from her upper eyelids.

To remove or at least minimize the signs of aging around the eyes, plastic surgeons use blepharoplasty or what is more commonly known as eyelid surgery.  Depending on the location and amount of excess fats and skin, this procedure may involve the upper or lower eyelid, or sometimes even both.

If the procedure will involve both the upper and lower eyelids, doctors usually work first on the excess, drooping skin in the upper eyelids which in severe cases can even affect the vision of a patient.  This is done by making a discreet horizontal incision along the natural crease of the skin so the scars will not become noticeable.

Through the incisions, plastic surgeons can trim off the excess skin and fats and then tighten the remaining part to eliminate the sagging appearance.  And once the necessary alterations are completed, they will close the surgical wound using tiny sutures.

To remove the fatty deposits and excess skin along the lower eyelid, doctors make a horizontal incision in the lash line.  But if the bulging fats are the only problem, the surgical cut is usually made inside the eyelid that will enable surgeons to remove or redistribute them more evenly.

While the incisions are commonly created by a scalpel or surgical knife, some plastic surgeons use laser beam which is said to be more accurate and safer since it minimizes bleeding.

As a stand-alone procedure, blepharoplasty can make a drastic result, although this is commonly used to complement other facial rejuvenation surgeries such as face lift, neck lift, and forehead lift.

However, patients should remember that this procedure is only designed to remove the excess, loose skin and fats around the eyes but it cannot eliminate or reduce the appearance of wrinkles and furrows.  For this reason, they can ask for complementary treatments such as botox injection, facial fillers, microdermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.

As with any cosmetic surgery, blepharoplasty is associated with recovery and risk of complications, although patients can reduce these by carefully following their doctor’s pre- and post-operative advice which may include avoiding aspirin and other “blood-thinning” medications, quitting smoking, using eye cream to prevent infection, wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes and incision sites, and avoiding activities that may strain their eyes such as reading, using computer, and watching TV.

To counter the effects of aging in the eye area, plastic surgeons use blepharoplasty or what is commonly known as eyelid lift which typically involves incisions which are placed along the natural crease of the skin, lower lash line, and/or inside of the lower eyelid so the scars are hidden.

In case that blepharoplasty will involve both the lower and upper eyelids, plastic surgeons typically start the procedure by making a discreet incision along the natural crease of the upper eyelid, allowing them to remove the excess fats, muscle, and tissue that partly cover the vision and/or distort the appearance of the eyes.

To address the extra skin and fats in the lower eyelids, doctors create another set of incisions along the lash line.  But in case that the only problem is the fatty deposits and there is not a significant amount of loose skin, most of them would prefer to place the surgical cut inside the lower eyelid in order to remove or redistribute the fats.

Most people who ask for this plastic surgery procedure are between the age of 40 and 60, although some are younger but are genetically predispose to hanging skin and tissue.

While blepharoplasty can serve as a stand-alone procedure, some patients combine this with other facial rejuvenation surgeries such as face lift, brow lift, neck lift, and non-invasive treatments such as botox, facial fillers, and laser resurfacing.

It is important to note that this plastic surgery approach only removes the excess skin, fats, and tissue but not the crow’s feet or the wrinkles in the outer corners of the eyes and furrows between the inner eyebrows.  And because of this reason, some patients ask for botox injection to relax the muscles which in turn prevents wrinkles, laser treatment to treat fine lines, and facial volumizers to plump up the skin.

As with any plastic surgery, blepharoplasty involves downtime which is usually shorter compared to face lift, neck lift, and most facial rejuvenation procedures.  Patients should also expect some pain and discomfort, although they can find relief with over-the-counter or prescribed medications.

During the recovery period, plastic surgeons prohibit their patients to wear contact lenses, read, watch television, and other activities which can strain the eyes or cause dryness.

It is important to note that this plastic surgery procedure is only designed to create a more visible crease and/or remove the fatty upper lid without significantly changing the size and shape of the eyes.

In most cases, plastic surgeons create a more visible eyelid crease by using a horizontal incision which will be hidden along the folds; in this way, the scar is hidden and the result will look as natural as possible.

Through the incisions, doctors can remove a small segment of skin, tissue, and fats.  However, the process of trimming away some tissue is carefully done to avoid visible scarring especially in the inner corners of the eyes, and to achieve a more prominent crease in the upper eyelids.

Meanwhile, some patients who ask for this plastic surgery procedure just want to “complete” the crease which stops in the middle of their eyes.  To treat these people, doctors place the excision in the area where the fold disappears in order to extend this slightly longer.

But perhaps the most complex to treat are patients who have a crease from only one of the eyes.  This is because doctors have to make sure that the treated eye will look symmetrical to the other, which means that they have to place the incision in the right area.

While plastic surgeons traditionally perform the Asian eyelid surgery through the use of incisions, there is a new procedure which creates a prominent fold with internal, permanent sutures.  Called as Double Sutures and Twisting (DST), this technique is different from the traditional non-incision method which is criticized for its indistinct fold and high breakage rate.

In DST technique, plastic surgery specialists secure one end of the suture to the firmest structure (where the cartilage is present) in the upper lid and is linked to another suture, forming a strong chain to “pinch” the eyelid skin.  This approach has solved the problem associated with the previous non-incision method in which doctors put the sutures in the undersurface of the skin and deep soft tissue, “weak” structures that can be easily punctured.

These are the specific problems which can be treated with eyelid lift surgery:

• Bulging fatty deposits in the lower eyelids
• Bags under the eyes
• Sagging, loose skin that distorts the natural contour of the upper eyelid which may sometimes affect the vision
• Severe droopiness of the lower eyelids to the extent that the white portion of the eye below the iris can be seen

If the procedure will involve both the upper and lower eyelids, most plastic surgeons prefer to work on the latter first by making an incision along the natural crease of the skin to hide the scar.  Through this cut, they can reposition the fatty layers, remove the excess skin, and tighten or reshape the muscle and tissue.

Once the necessary improvements have been made in the upper eyelid, doctors will close the incision site using sutures.

For patients who also need corrections in their lower eyelid, they will need a second incision placed below the lower lash line.  In this way, doctors in plastic surgery can trim away the excess skin and remove or redistribute the fatty deposits responsible for the puffiness.

But for patients whose main problem is the excess fats rather than loose skin in the area, most cosmetic plastic surgeons would rather place the incision inside the lower eyelid instead along the lash line.  With this small cut, they can trim out or redistribute the excess fats without removing any amount of skin.

While the upper and lower eyelid surgery is traditionally performed using scalpel, some doctors in Los Angeles plastic surgery are now using laser beam to create a more accurate incision and also to minimize bleeding.

Meanwhile, it generally takes several weeks or months before the final result becomes apparent (as the swelling and bruising gradually subside), although the incision lines may take up to a year before they turn into a white, faded line.

Many Asians lack an eyelid crease or the fold of skin that can make the eyes look wider and rounder.  For this reason, this procedure is particularly popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Thailand, according to a survey conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

(The picture below shows Honey Lee who was crowned Ms. Korea in 2006.  She  had Asian eyelid surgery in addition to other cosmetic procedures.)

Meanwhile, plastic surgeons in the US have also noticed the increasing popularity of Asian eyelift surgery over the recent years.

Because every patient has a different amount of fats and crease position in the eyelash line, the length and placement of the incision will usually vary from person to person, although the main goal is the same and that is to create a “double eyelid.”

One of the most common eyelid lift techniques is the epicanthoplasty in which plastic surgeons remove the skin fold of the upper eyelid that is covering the inner corner of the eye.  However, this procedure is carefully done to make sure that the patients will not end up having an unnatural “wide awake” look.

Another common technique is the partial incision which is particularly ideal for patients whose eyelid crease is incomplete or stops in the middle of the eye.  With this approach, doctors extend the skin fold by making an incision and then manipulating the underlying tissue.

But for patients who completely lack a visible eyelid crease, usually the best approach for them is the full incision which is placed depending on the amount of tissue and skin above the eyelash line. This plastic surgery technique is also ideal for people who want to change the height of their existing crease.

Meanwhile, a new Asian eyelid technique is increasingly becoming a popular option due to its effectiveness and safety.  Called as Double Sutures and Twisting (DST) method, this procedure uses a suture rather than incision to create a more prominent eyelid crease.

In this technique, plastic surgeons secure the one end of the suture to the tarsal plate which is the firmest structure of the upper eyelid.  After this, the other end is interlinked to an adjacent suture to create two links on a chain which is noted for its tremendous strength.  This is not the case with previous non-incision techniques which have been criticized for their high breakage rate and indistinct result.

As with any plastic surgery, facelift requires recovery that will largely depend on the number and depth of the incisions used, and a person’s healing ability.  For this reason, individuals suffering from serious health conditions such as diabetes, excretory disorder, heart problem, delayed healing, and high blood pressure are typically considered as a bad candidate for the said procedure.

While facelift provides a satisfying result to the right patients, they should realize that this plastic surgery procedure will not change their fundamental appearance and will not stop the aging process, although it can make them look five to 10 years younger.  In general, the surgical approach provides a more dramatic outcome compared to non-invasive procedures such as botox injection, facial fillers, and laser treatment.

If needed, plastic surgeons recommend non-surgical procedures to complement facelift surgery.  Examples of these treatments include chemical peels to improve the skin texture; botox to relax the muscles and prevent wrinkles due to excessive facial movements; facial fillers or volumizers to plump up the skin and “fill in” the small crevices and hollowed areas of the face; and laser treatments to treat photo damage manifested by sun spots, freckles, and other discolorations.

Because every person has a varying degree of skin sagginess and has different locations of lines and wrinkles, plastic surgeons have developed several “isolated” techniques to remove the effects of aging.  And by specifically targeting the “problem area,” there is almost no risk of having a “windswept appearance” caused by overcorrection.

For patients aged 30 to 50, the most popular “isolated” facelift technique targets the mid face, the first area to manifest the signs of aging.  Through this approach, plastic surgeons can remove the mouth-and-nose lines, correct the downturned lips, eliminate the under-eye bags, and lift the sagging cheeks through shorter incisions made discreetly behind the hairline, along the lower lash line, or inside the mouth.

These are the other examples of “isolated” facelift surgeries: brow or forehead lift, neck lift, lower facelift, and eyelid lift.  These procedures may be combined together to create the most desired result.

However, it is important to note that most minimally invasive facelift techniques, especially if performed as a stand alone procedure, are not ideal for patients 50 years and older who will benefit more with a complete facelift.

Here are what my tired eyes look like in the morning without a touch of cosmetics.

Cosmetic Blepharoplasty Benefits:

• It tightens the skin around the eyes giving a youthful appearance
• It removes sagging skin and the tired-looking under eye bags
• It reduces wrinkles and signs of aging

Blepharoplasty is a solution for many that want to look younger and feel better about their appearance. It can be helpful to reduce the under eye and/or upper eyelid droopiness and sagging. It gives a younger look to the eyes, and who wouldn’t like that?

In fact, my grandmother, now aged 90 years old, admitted that she had an “eye lift” in her younger years, to uplift her “bedroom eyes” and give her more of an awake and refreshed look. I was surprised to learn that my grandmother, in her 60’s, decided to get her eyes done. “Oh yes,” my grandmother purred, “I had my eyes lifted, because my eyelids were so droopy and I looked sleepy all the time. In my day, we called it bedroom eyes when the skin hangs on the top of your eyelids.”

My grandmother lives in West Los Angeles, nearby the hip Whole Foods Market. She walks to get her latte over at Starbucks Coffee, and gathers her groceries at Whole Foods Market in her neighborhood. When she is out in the sunlight, her skin glows with health and her eyes sparkle. She has had her eyes lifted, her nose refined, her face lifted. She loves receiving facials. She told me about her eye lift making a world of difference to her. You would never guess my grandmother was 90 years old.

Well, I thought, since my grandmother had sagging eyelids, perhaps it can be hereditary? For those who have hereditary upper/lower eye sagging, blepharoplasty is an excellent solution. It requires minimal downtime with maximum results.

If you are considering eyelid surgery, you can begin with a surgical consultation. Your board certified plastic surgeon will help you understand all of the details of the procedure and also discuss whether or not this would be a good option for you.

In order to find out if you are a good candidate for an eye lift, consulting your plastic surgeon as well as your ophthalmologist is important. Much depends on your medical history, with a positive evaluation of your current health, and that includes your eye health— information and records from your ophthalmologist are necessary to help weigh the pros and cons of this procedure.

After your evaluation, your plastic surgeon will discuss all of the details of blepharoplasty with you that you may be concerned about, such as techniques done during surgery, anesthesia, and your expectations of the results.

The before and after photos of our patients are inspiring.