Microneedling Under Eyes
We’ve all woken up after a restless night to discover a pair of dark under eye circles or puffy eye bags that even our favorite concealer can’t quite cover. Getting some proper rest should usually resolve the problem, but when the eye bags and dark circles stick around, what’s the next step? Anti-aging eye creams are of course an essential component in tackling such skin concerns, but does a cosmetic procedure exist that will treat the underlying issue? The answer is yes! We can treat the appearance of tired, puffy, wrinkled under eyes with microneedling to provide a refreshed, rejuvenated, youthful look.
A quick procedure that revitalizes the skin, reduces the appearance of dark circles, fine lines, and under eye bags, and improves skin texture with little downtime may sound too good to be true. Luckily, it’s a reality, and if you are looking to rejuvenate and refresh your skin, expert NYC cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Michele Green is here to help. Dr. Green was one of the first to incorporate microneedling treatments into her boutique practice and has over 25 years of experience in providing customized care to some of the most discerning patients in NYC. During your consultation with Dr. Green, she will create an individualized approach to skin rejuvenation to help you look and feel your very best.
Microneedling Treatment for the eye area
Microneedling, also known as “collagen induction therapy,” is a skin rejuvenation treatment that can be used to target skin concerns such as dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, and puffiness in the under eye area. Microneedling® is done with a tool called a Micropen (or dermapen) that has tiny surgical-grade needles embedded in the tip. These needles are used to create microscopic wounds on the surface layer of the skin (the epidermis). Through the natural wound-healing process of the skin, these micro-injuries are repaired as new, healthier skin cells grow, and new collagen and elastin are produced. This helps to plump and firm skin, diminish signs of aging, and minimize the overall appearance of dark circles. To treat the delicate and sensitive skin around the under eyes, Dr. Green performs treatment at a more shallow depth than what is typically used for the rest of the face.
Microneedling with PRP – 4 months before and after
PRP with Microneedling under eyes
The effects of microneedling can be further enhanced by combining the treatment with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). PRP employs the cytokines and growth factors in plasma, derived from a sample of the patients own blood, to boost the effects of microneedling. The PRP is able to penetrate the skin more readily through the newly created micro-channels made by microneedles, helping to speed up the healing process and promote even more regeneration at the cellular level to rejuvenate your skin. Dr. Michele Green was one of the first dermatologists to incorporate microneedling with PRP into boutique, Upper East Side, New York practice, and has used it to help patients from around the world achieve smoother, softer, more radiant skin.
What causes Dark Circles?
There are many factors which can impact the appearance of dark under eye circles. Age, fatigue, dehydration, genetics, and even sun exposure can lead to the development of dark circles in the eye area. Dehydration causes skin to appear dry, dull, and hollowed. Sun exposure can cause skin to create additional melanin, especially in the delicate under eye region. Eye strain actually enlarges the blood vessels surrounding the eye area. This can cause skin to appear darkened. If you work from home and frequently utilize computer or phone screens, be sure to give your eyes a break throughout the day to prevent dark circles!
Additionally, as we age, collagen begins to break down and skin becomes thinner, reducing the overall elasticity of the skin. By stimulating collagen production with microneedling, the thin skin of the under eye area can actually be thickened, reducing visibility of blood vessels and minimizing the appearance of dark under eyes.
How to Treat Under Eye Bags
Dermal Fillers, Botox®, and microneedling treatments are all popular methods utilized in the field of cosmetic dermatology to remedy the appearance of under eye bags and provide facial revitalization. Hyaluronic acid gel injectable fillers like Restylane® and Belotero® are the most commonly used by Dr. Green in the delicate eye area to correct the hollow and sunken look that typically is associated with under eye bags. Botox injections are often used to soften the appearance of the crow’s feet lines around the eyes. Microneedling and Microneedling with PRP are particularly useful for helping to minimize the appearance of dark under eye circles that frequently accompany under eye bags. During a consult with Dr. Michele Green, a customized approach to under eye rejuvenation will be discussed and the right combination of treatments and products selected to address your specific skin concerns.
How does a Dermaroller treat the Under Eyes?
A Dermaroller is a handheld microneedling device that can be used to stimulate collagen production at home. The dermaroller has tiny micro-needles that can be rolled into the skin, as opposed to stamped into the skin like with a dermapen that is typically used in microneedling treatments done in-office. The mechanism by which a dermaroller treats the under eye area is essentially the same as that of the dermapen used in the office, although the dermaroller generally does not treat with the same precision or depth. The dermaroller creates micro-injuries in the skin that induce collagen production in the skin, causing it to thicken, reducing the visibility of blood vessels under the eyes. Dermarollers tend to lose their sharp point after several uses and should be replaced as soon as they become blunted. Using a blunt dermaroller to treat the skin can cause adverse side effects like bruising, track marks, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. It’s best to consult with a board-certified dermatologist, like Dr. Green, to learn more about the benefits of microneedling treatments and have a professional perform your procedure in a controlled setting with precise technique to avoid complications.
Dermal Fillers for Under Eye Bags
As we age, the collagen in our skin naturally begins to break down. Collagen is what keeps the skin supple, firm, smooth, and youthful. The breakdown of collagen in skin can lead to thin, translucent skin under the lower eyelid and is the often cause the appearance of dark under eye circles. Dermal fillers are designed to restore collagen production and volume to the treatment area. By injecting filler into the tear trough area (under the eyes), lost volume can be restored and the appearance of dark under eyes reduced.
For diminishing the appearance of under eye bags, Dr. Green typically utilizes Restylane or Belotero Balance dermal fillers. Restylane and Belotero are both hyaluronic acid dermal fillers with a small particle size. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally-occurring substance in the body that helps stimulate production of collagen in the skin, resulting in a more youthful, refreshed appearance. Combining the dermal fillers with microneedling treatments can be a great way to provide natural looking volume restoration, reducing the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles.
Does microneedling get rid of dark circles, under-eye wrinkles, or eye bags?
Microneedling can be an effective treatment option for fine lines, under-eye bags, puffiness, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and even stretch marks. The versatility of a microneedling treatment is what makes it beneficial for patients with varying skin tones and skin types. By adjusting the depth of penetration of the tiny needles on the dermapen, the delicate under eye skin can be treated with the microneedle to achieve a rejuvenated appearance.
How much does microneedling under the eyes cost?
The cost of a microneedling treatment will vary depending on the experience level of your provider, the geographic location of the office you are treated in, how many sessions of treatment you undergo, and whether you have add-ons to your treatment such as microneedling with PRP. During a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, like Dr. Green, you will determine which specific microneedling treatment is most appropriate for you and the cost of that treatment.
Can I combine microneedling treatments with dermal fillers?
Microneedling treatments can be complemented by using injectable dermal fillers under the eyes to help create smooth, beautiful, youthful skin. To determine which combination of treatments is most appropriate for you, it’s best to first have a consultation with a board-certified expert in dermatology, like Dr. Michele Green. Dr. Green takes a holistic approach to customizing each of her patients treatment plans to achieve the best results. During a consultation, your medical history will be discussed in depth and an individualized plan established to address your unique skin concerns.
Botox for under eye area – 3 months
Botox for Eye Wrinkles
Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments done in the United States because of its outstanding ability to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, including around the eyes. Botox is popularly used to treat the outer canthal lines, aka crow’s feet, that tend to appear as a result of smiling, squinting, and other repeated expressive movements. Natural, beautiful results can easily be achieved when treating crow’s feet with Botox by injecting the orbicularis-oculi. This is the ring-shaped muscle surrounding the eye that, when injected with Botox, relaxes- softening the appearance of wrinkles or helping to prevent them from forming in the first place!
As the popularity of Botox continues to increase, many patients are seeking preventative or ‘baby Botox.’ The concept of preventative Botox is to utilize a small amount of the neurotoxin to partially ‘freeze’ a muscle before a fine line or wrinkle develops. Baby Botox helps patients maintain a naturally youthful appearance with ease. Combining Botox injections with microneedling treatments can be a great way to refresh and rejuvenate the eye area.
Skincare with Microneedling
You can maximize the benefits of your favorite skincare products by applying them after a microneedling treatment. Stay away from ingredients like retinol and Retin-A, as these ingredients will be too harsh for skin after treatment. However, after a microneedling treatment hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid are able to better penetrate the skin through newly created micro-channels, leaving your skin moisturized and glowing. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of skin structure and helps to strengthen the natural protective barrier of skin as well as promote moisture retention. Hyaluronic acid keeps skin healthy and looking and feeling hydrated, youthful, and beautiful. Topical serums, such as Dr. Green’s Vitamin C serum (Vita-C Advanced Serum) and moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid (Hydra Repair) can be a powerful way to boost the effects of your microneedling treatment.
Dr. Green often recommends her specially formulated, highly concentrated hyaluronic acid serum to her patients who have done a microneedling treatment. Her serum works to provide the ultimate in hydration to the skin at every level, diminishing the appearance of dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles by enhancing the skin’s moisture content. This revitalizing hyaluronic acid serum leaves the skin looking and feeling softer, smoother, and radiantly hydrated.
Dermarolling at home vs Microneedling in the office
Caution should be exercised when undergoing any cosmetic procedure, and especially so when performing the procedure at home! It can be dangerous to use a dermaroller at home to perform your own microneedling treatments. Many patients will inadvertently use excessive pressure when doing their own treatments and this can potentially cause bruising, the appearance of track marks, and even scarring or hyperpigmentation of the skin. Microneedling procedures that are done in the office are performed by a board-certified dermatologist who can appropriately adjust the penetration depth of the micro-needles for varying treatment areas to reveal a more refreshed, luminous, healthy complexion. Having the treatment done with a professional greatly reduces the risk of scarring or hyperpigmenting the skin and may be more comfortable since a topical anesthetic can be applied prior to treatment to minimize discomfort.
How to get started with Microneedling treatments for under eyes today?
Dr. Michele Green is a board certified cosmetic dermatologist, and an expert in NYC in Botox, dermal fillers, lip augmentation, laser treatments and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Dr. Green is consistently voted as one of the best dermatologists in NYC by Castle Connolly, the New York Times, Super Doctors, and New York Magazine. If you are interested in reducing the appearance of under eye bags, dark circles, and puffiness, or learning more about microneedling and other cosmetic procedures for skin rejuvenation, please call the office Dr. Michele Green at 212-535-3088 or contact us online.