Beauty Tips & Eyelashes by Theresa
Eyes are the windows to the soul. They are a focal point to the face and convey emotion, youth and health. These days, there are lots of solutions available to enhance the appearance of the eyes.
Among the most popular eye enhancements for eyelashes are eyelash extensions.
“They give the eyes a defined look that adds drama and is great for special occasions,” said Carolyn Hoffer, owner of Spa Topia in North Fort Myers.
Eyelash extensions are individual lashes that are bonded onto your own lashes with tweezers. The most popular are either synthetic or mink. They come in an array of lengths to achieve looks from subtle to glamorous.
Hoffer said the process takes approximately two hours, and the lash extensions last two to three weeks before they need to be touched up. This is because of the normal shedding process of the natural lashes occurring every 60 to 90 days.
There is no need for mascara. Eyelash extensions can be worn while exercising, swimming or sleeping.
For a simpler, everyday look and for those with light eyelashes and brows, eyebrow tinting is an answer. A hypo-allergenic tint is used in this 20-minute procedure. Special stickers are placed around the eyes to ensure the tint doesn’t get into the eyes. The excess pigment is then cleansed off.
For eyebrows, tint is applied and left on for up to five minutes and then removed. Eyelash and eyebrow tinting can last up to three weeks.
For those who wish to banish eye wrinkles, Botox is a solution. According to John W. Snead, M.D. F.A.C.S., and founder and medical director of SNEAD Eye Group in Fort Myers, Botox in small amounts is a safe non-surgical way for treating eye wrinkles (crow’s feet) as well as the glabella (the area between the eyebrows.)
Botox reduces wrinkles by prohibiting muscles from contracting. The result is a smooth, wrinkle-free appearance, giving the face a refreshed look. Botox treatments usually last from three to six months.
Snead said that studies have indicated that the more often you have the injections, the longer the effect lasts between treatments.
If the patient is concerned with excess skin giving their eyes a tired or angry appearance, a surgical solution would be blepharoplasty, Snead said.
This procedure not only gives the eyes a more youthful look but also helps to improve obstructed side vision caused by excess skin. Removing bags under the eyes also gives a more youthful, rested appearance. Blepharoplasty can also help patients who experience headaches from involuntarily raising eyebrows with their forehead muscles to allow additional light to enter their eyes. Candidates for this procedure usually are 40 and older.
Blepharoplasty is a relatively quick outpatient procedure.
“The patient is given mild sedation and the eyelid area is numbed. Excess skin is removed and suture are placed in the crease of the eyelid giving it a natural appearance,” Snead said.
This procedure takes from 20 to 40 minutes, depending if the lower eyelids are addressed, too.
The day after the surgery, patients are seen in the office and have their bandages removed. Patients are encouraged to use ice packs to reduce swelling.
“Although the healing process is individual for each patient, most swelling and bruising is gone within a few weeks,” Snead said.
— Theresa George is a certified medical electrologist, esthetician, LMT and freelance beauty writer. She has worked in the beauty industry for 16 years and owns Theresa’s Face and Body in Cape Coral. For more information, visit theresasfaceandbody.com or call Theresa at (239) 206-1216.