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Aesthetics

Understanding How the Eye Area Ages

The skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin and moves constantly with blinking and facial expressions. Repetitive muscle movement, UV exposure, and the gradual loss of collagen and elastin all combine to create fine lines, texture changes, and skin laxity in this area sooner than elsewhere on the face.

Periocular aging (aging around the eye) is not just a surface issue. Fat pads that once kept the area smooth and full can shift forward, creating puffiness or bags, or shrink, creating hollow-looking areas. The underlying bone also remodels gradually over time, which can deepen the tear trough — the groove between the lower eyelid and cheek — and contribute to a more sunken or tired appearance.

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Eye Area Aesthetics and Rejuvenation

At NewView Eye Center, we offer personalized cosmetic treatments for the eye area to help patients throughout Northern Virginia look refreshed and feel confident. Whether you are bothered by crow's feet, under-eye hollowing, or heavy upper eyelids, our eye doctors are here to help you find the right path forward.

Common Concerns We Treat

Patients come to us with a wide range of periocular concerns, from early preventive care to more noticeable changes that have built up over time.

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01

Crow's Feet and Expression Lines

Lines that form around the outer corners of the eyes with everyday expression.

02

Upper Eyelid Heaviness

Heaviness or hooding of the upper eyelid caused by excess skin.

03

Under-Eye Puffiness

Puffiness or bags beneath the eyes created by shifting fat pads.

04

Tear Trough Hollowing

Hollowing along the tear trough that creates shadows beneath the eyes.

05

Heavy or Tired Brow

A tired or heavy brow that pushes skin down onto the upper eyelid.

06

Dark Circles

Dark circles related to thin skin, visible blood vessels, or structural shadows.

Non-Surgical
Treatment Options

Non-surgical treatments are often the first step in addressing early periocular aging, and they can also work alongside surgical care to maintain results over time.

BOTOX Cosmetic and Xeomin

FDA-approved neuromodulators that temporarily relax the muscles creating dynamic wrinkles such as crow's feet and frown lines. Results typically appear within a few days and last approximately three to four months.

Therapeutic Botox for Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm makes the eyelid muscles contract involuntarily, causing uncontrollable blinking or eyelid closure. Therapeutic Botox relaxes these overactive muscles and, as a medical treatment, may be covered by your insurance plan.

Dermal Fillers for Volume Restoration

Fillers restore lost volume and smooth the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek, using trusted options such as Juvéderm Voluma XC, RADIESSE, and Belotero Balance.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
(Blepharoplasty)

Cosmetic blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery performed to improve the appearance of the upper or lower eyelids. It is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures for the eye area and can produce lasting, natural-looking results that non-surgical options alone cannot achieve.

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Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin and, when appropriate, a small amount of fat from the upper eyelids. This addresses the heaviness, hooding, or drooping that can make a person look tired or older than they feel. The incision is placed in the natural crease of the upper eyelid so that any resulting scar is well hidden.

In some cases, excess upper eyelid skin is significant enough to obstruct the upper visual field. When this is documented during a functional evaluation, upper blepharoplasty may be considered medically necessary and covered by insurance rather than treated as a purely cosmetic procedure.

Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags, puffiness, and excess lower eyelid skin. Depending on your anatomy, the incision may be placed just below the lower lash line or, in cases where skin removal is not needed, entirely inside the eyelid (a transconjunctival approach) to leave no visible scar on the outer skin surface.

Recovery for both upper and lower blepharoplasty typically takes one to two weeks, during which some bruising and swelling are expected. Most patients find the results well worth the brief recovery period.

Surgical blepharoplasty addresses structural changes that non-surgical treatments cannot correct on their own. However, non-surgical treatments like BOTOX Cosmetic, Xeomin, and dermal fillers play an important ongoing role in maintaining and enhancing your surgical results over time.

Our eye doctors work with each patient to build a long-term plan that evolves as your needs change. Surgery creates a lasting foundation, and non-surgical care helps preserve and extend those results through the years ahead.

Frequently asked questions

We hear a lot of great questions during consultations for eye area aesthetics. Here are answers to some of the most common ones, with guidance to help you think through your options.

There is no single right age. Some patients begin with preventive neuromodulator treatments in their late twenties or thirties to slow the formation of deep expression lines before they become permanent. Others first seek care in their forties or fifties when structural changes become more noticeable. Our eye doctors base recommendations on your individual anatomy and concerns, not on age alone.

This depends on the nature of your concern. Dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement respond well to BOTOX Cosmetic or Xeomin. Volume loss in the tear trough or under-eye area often responds to dermal fillers. Excess skin, fat herniation (bulging fat creating bags), or significant eyelid laxity generally require surgical correction. At your consultation, our eye doctors will examine your eyelids and surrounding structures and give you an honest assessment of which approach is most appropriate for your specific situation.

When performed by a qualified eye doctor with expertise in periocular anatomy, cosmetic treatments around the eye should not affect your vision. Our eye doctors are trained in both the cosmetic and medical aspects of the eye, which means they understand how to protect your ocular health throughout every procedure. Any temporary blurriness from ointments or mild swelling following treatment resolves quickly on its own.

The eye area requires particular care when it comes to filler placement. A rare but serious risk associated with any facial filler is unintentional injection into a blood vessel, which can affect circulation to the eye. This risk is minimized when treatment is performed by a provider who thoroughly understands the vascular anatomy of the periorbital region, as our eye doctors do. Hyaluronic acid fillers (such as Juvéderm Voluma XC and Belotero Balance) have the added safety advantage of being reversible if needed.

Functional blepharoplasty is performed to correct a problem that affects your vision or eye health, most often excess upper eyelid skin that blocks the upper visual field. Cosmetic blepharoplasty improves appearance when there is no documented functional impairment. The same surgical technique may apply to both, but insurance coverage depends on whether the functional criterion is met. If you are unsure which category applies to you, our eye doctors can perform the necessary evaluation to find out.

Consistent sun protection is one of the most important steps you can take to slow further aging around the eyes after any treatment. Surgical results are long-lasting but aging continues, so most patients benefit from periodic non-surgical maintenance such as neuromodulator touch-ups and filler refreshes. Our eye doctors will create a maintenance schedule that makes sense for your specific treatment plan and lifestyle, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Find more information about our doctors, services, and technology that keep your eyes healthy and your vision at its best.

Eye Cosmetics and Your Eye Health Eye Asymmetry: When to Watch and When to Seek Care Eye Shape Changes: What They Mean and When to Get Help Cosmetic Eye Care Services at NewView Eye Center Cosmetic and Aesthetic Eye Care: Treatments for the Eye Area How to Prepare for BOTOX Injections

What our Patients Says

Dr Callahan is a true professional who takes the time to explain the results and answer questions. Highly recommend her for your eye needs!

Chip Brooks

Excellent hands-on treatment by Dr Griffiths and support staff, 3 successful surgeries and yearly checkups over the past 12 years. Would definitely recommend NEW VIEW to friends and colleagues.

Chris chat

Dr. Griffiths is a well credentialed and an excellent physician. Her staff are pleasant and professional. The office runs like a well-oiled machine. Kudos to them for providing such excellent care.

Holly Horn

Her bedside manner is warm and reassuring, and she takes the time to explain everything clearly. I cannot recommend her highly enough, she’s truly top-notch.

Borg U

Tomorrow is my second cataract surgery, and I’m actually looking forward to it. Dr. Callahan is professional, thorough, answers every question, and her kind, caring staff makes all the difference.

Pam Knisely

Dr. Griffiths has been my Opthamologist for many years. I have been very 🙏🏾 pleased with my procedures performed by Dr. Griffiths as well as my medical care provided by Dr Griffiths. Not only are her knowledge and skills excellent, but her bedside? care is wonderful.

Elvira

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