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hey say the eyes are the window to the soul. But sometimes, the appearance of the eyes and surrounding areas can belie what’s behind them, giving a false impression of the individual. According to Mr Daniel Ezra, these types of misconceptions can drive male patients to undergo aesthetic treatments to the eye area. He explains, “People can make assumptions about how others look. If you have large bags under the eyes, you might look like you’ve been up all night and not keeping up with your work, and people who have very low eyebrows and frown lines can look angry and unapproachable,” he says. “So, we’re often influenced by certain emotional and behavioural assumptions others make about us, based on how we look.” This is a significant motivating factor for men, whom Dr Ezra says comprise as many as 30% of his clientele seeking eye rejuvenation treatment. Aesthetic procedures in general are 10 times more common among women than men. Yet demand from the male population has increased by up to 50% in the last few years, not least because of the so-called ‘Zoom boom’. People see a somewhat distorted picture of themselves on a video screen, leading many to zero in on their perceived imperfections. And men are arguably more susceptible, being less used to examining their mirror image in such forensic detail as women.
Age-related changes around the eyes Alongside tweaks to the jawline and hair loss treatment, the eye area – known by medics as the periocular/periorbital region – is among the top three areas of focus for men. And it’s not surprising, since the eyes bear many of the hallmarks of facial ageing – hooded eyelids, crow’s feet, frown lines, bags, and dark circles, for instance. As we get older, collagen production declines and the skin loses elasticity, resulting in lines, wrinkles and loose skin. This tends to be more marked around the eyes, according to Mr Ezra, where fluid builds up due to poor lymphatic drainage in the tear trough area, and where excess skin can create a sagging effect around the eyelids. “The eye socket itself is also full of fat,” Mr Ezra explains. “With age, the membranes holding that fat backwards weaken, and the fat begins to bulge forwards causing under-eye bags.” The skin around the eye is around four times thinner than elsewhere, so it’s often the first area to show age-related changes, giving that tired, sullen appearance that no amount of sleep will fix.
Types of treatment Whatever the concern, there are several tools of the trade that can help combat them and rejuvenate the male eye. The more invasive options include blepharoplasty and surgical brow lifts, explains Miss Jennifer Doyle, in which fat or excess skin is ablated from the eyelids and the brow area respectively. “Surgery can take decades off the right candidate and may be suitable for patients seeking 44
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dramatic results,” she says. But these procedures entail considerable downtime and carry the tell-tale signs of cosmetic surgery, like stitches and prolonged swelling and bruising. For men who want subtler rejuvenation, to simply look more refreshed, the payoff isn’t worth the price. With fewer men choosing to go under the knife, non-surgical alternatives are rising in popularity and, as Mr Ezra says, it’s prudent to consider them as a first step before going down the surgery route. Skincare As a first line of defence and to proactively halt periorbital ageing, many practitioners recommend topical skincare solutions containing retinol. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol slows collagen degradation, plumping saggy skin and smoothing wrinkles. According to Miss Doyle, patients often see positive results. “Getting someone on a really good retinol designed for the periorbital area, such as the AlumierMD Retinol Eye Gel, is an excellent place to start,” she explains, “because they should get improvement from the retinol’s thickening effect in the skin.” Thickening the skin not only irons out lines and wrinkles, but also strengthens the surrounding tissue’s structure, which helps to hold back accumulating fluid and periorbital fat, reducing bulging and minimising the appearance of bags. With any retinol product, the key is patience – results won’t magically appear overnight – and starting on a low concentration to avoid irritation. Miss Doyle says it can be increased incrementally as the skin adapts, with gradual improvements seen over a period of several months. Injectables for the eye area Men wanting a quicker fix to reverse signs of ageing can turn to injectables. “Dermal fillers can be helpful for localised hollowing, particularly tear trough hollows, where you can get fantastic results in selected patients,”
