Cosmetic surgery is the popular secret indulgence of celebrities and an increasing number of teenage girls who are keen to enhance, nip, tuck and boost areas of their bodies and faces. But the strong force opposing this surgery trend is the women pioneering the natural approach to beauty through diet, lifestyle and risk-free beauty products such as face creams and lotions.
These are some of the most popular complaints as side-effects of aging with a surgical solution versus a cosmetic solution. Which will you choose?
Problem: Droopy Eyelids
As we get older, our skin loses elasticity, particularly around the delicate eye area. This
can cause the skin to sag around the eyes, making them develop into loose folds and creases, causing the dreaded ‘crow’s feet’. The muscles around the eyes also lose firmness, making the fat around the eye bulge slightly and appear puffy.
Surgery solution: Lid lift (blepharoplasty)
One of the most popular eye cosmetic surgeries is a lid lift (blepharoplasty) which involves removing loose skin beneath the brow which may seem to droop over eyelids giving a heavier, darker look. It is also used for reducing puffiness around the eye area. The surgery will involve either a local or general anaesthesia. Under general anaesthesia, the patient is fully sedated, whereas local anaesthesia is carried out when conscious but the eye area is completely numbed. The surgeon will then gently make cuts along the natur
al folds in your eyelid and remove excess fat, muscle and loose skin. The cut is then sealed up with tiny stitches to leave minimal scarring.
Quick facts:
Cost: £1,500=£3000
Recovery Time: At least 1 week
Side Effects: swelling, bruising, discomfort, dry, itchy eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision.
Results: 5-20 years
Cosmetic solution: highlighting and white eyeliner
Using a few simple tricks, you may be able to recreate the effects of surgery with the contents of your makeup bag. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Emma Stone are fans of using highlighting makeup to lighten and contour specific areas of the face. Using a highlighting pen such as MAC Prep & Prime Highlighter, apply the highlight to the inner and outer corners of your eyes to brighten, lighten and awaken. Alternatively, wear as a primer under foundation to give the whole eye area a more youthful appearance. Alternatively, white eyeliner can be used for the same effect when applied to the inner corners and along the lower lash line.
Quick facts:
Cost: Around £18 (for MAC’s highlighter)
Recovery time: N/A
Side Effects: N/A
Results: 24 hours
Problem: Puffy eye bags
As with heavy eyelid drooping, puffy eye bags form as a result of a slackening of the muscles in the eye area. Fat which lies behind the eyeball become more prominent below the eye forming puffiness and often a resulting dark shadow. This can create a tired, aged appearance many women are keen to avoid.
Surgical solution: Fast repositioning/Laser or Transconjunctival blepharoplasty
Fat repositioning involves the surgeon extracting fat from the eyelid and repositioning it lower- just above the cheek bones. This is believed to add a youthful plumpness to the cheeks whilst removing unwanted eye bags. Similarly, transconjunctival blepharoplasty involves a slight incision, but in this case it is made on the inside of the lower eyelid (the conjunctiva). This is believed to help support the recovery of the lower eyelids and reduce the risk of scarring.
Quick Facts:
Cost: £1500- £2500
Recovery time: Around 3 days
Side effects: Bruising, swelling, bleeding
Results: 5-20 years
Cosmetic solution: caffeine eye roll-on
To reduce puffy eye bags and dark circles, cosmetic brands have released countless ranges of creams and lotions, but one product seems to stand out. The Garnier Caffeine Eye Roll-on features a smooth metal roller ball which is enriched with caffeine to sooth puffy eyes. Caffeine is naturally anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce bags and make eyes feel revitalised. Garnier have also released a concealer version which releases a small amount of eye concealer to help hide dark circles and reduce bags all at once.
Quick facts:
Cost: £6.99
Recovery time: N/A
Side effects: N/A
Results: 24 hours
So if you’re considering the options to fight the signs of ageing, it’s worth considering cosmetic alternatives to drastic- and often pricey- cosmetic surgery. If you think surgery is the only option, be sure to research the most reliable, experienced surgeons to work with and always consult a GP before making any final decisions.
As a makeup fanatic, Victoria shares her top tips for beautiful eyes. She writes for Directsight, a
glasses retailer.
