We all know that our faces will age over time. Still, we don’t always like what we see as cosmetic changes occur. The eyes are part of the face that we cannot NOT see. In fact, in this past year of mask-wearing, the eyes have become the true focal point of the face. This area is also one in which the skin is ultra-thin. The tissue around the eyes is responsive to sun exposure, stress, environmental factors, and to nearly ever facial movement we ever make. It’s unrealistic to think we’ll avoid the signs of aging. Here, we discuss what happens structurally that makes the eyes look heavy and older. Of course, we’ll do this with some suggestions about how to manage these issues. 

Loss of Elasticity

Youthful skin is soft, smooth, and firm because it has a lot of elasticity. This characteristic is what enables us to squint or rub our eyes and for the skin to bounce back after movement. Around age 20, the body stops producing the amount of collagen and elastin that is needed to maintain the skin in its youthful state. Over time, the skin starts to break down and lose its stretchiness and firmness. In the thin skin around the eyes, this causes a heavy, drapey appearance. 

Muscle Weakness

Into our 30s and 40s, the repetitive use of muscles around the eyes starts to show. Some muscles may lose strength while others remain consistent. This often appears as a downward tilt or descent of the brow line. When the eyebrows sit lower than their youthful position along the upper orbital rim, the eyes look heavy and might even look angry. 

Lines and Wrinkles

Several factors combine to cause fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Collagen and elastin loss is one of the first changes to occur. Sun exposure further breaks down these foundational chemicals in the skin, and the repetitive movements of muscles around the eyes also contribute. Fine lines and wrinkles may form at the outer corners of the eyes, along the lower eyelid, or in the form of an exaggerated tear trough that creates under eye bags. 

Maintaining Youthful Eyes

Surgery used to be the only option for rejuvenating the eye area. This is still a popular choice because procedures like blepharoplasty and brow lift surgery achieve results that last many years. For adults interested in acting early against these signs of aging, there are options like Botox and dermal fillers. In our Cincinnati office, many patients choose to refresh the eye area with Plasma Pen fibroblast therapy. 

Your eyes don’t have to age your face. You have options! Call our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Krummen.

As we get older, we know that we will see some fine lines and wrinkles, blotchy skin, or sun damage. These are common signs of aging that cannot be eliminated even with the best facelift. This is why, over the past several years, various manufacturers have developed devices using innovative technology. Our Cincinnati office is equipped with one such device, the Plasma Pen. We are excited about what this device can do for the skin. Here, we discuss how this technology works and what it has to offer aging skin.

How the Plasma Pen Works

Back when we were in school, we learned about liquids, solids, and gasses. There is another state of matter: plasma. This state of matter is formed by a reaction between electrostatic energy and ionized gas. The reaction creates thermal energy (heat), which then reacts with atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen. These exist just next to the skin. When plasma comes into contact with the gasses next to the skin, a plasma arc occurs.

The plasma arc that forms next to the skin evaporates immediately but has a positive effect on the outer layers of the skin. This arc causes the epidermis to contract and also causes thermal stress within the dermis. Thermal stress is a good thing; it stimulates the development of new collagen. With a new influx of collagen, the foundational layer of the skin is remodeled to look smoother, brighter, tighter, and more uniform.

What Happens After Plasma Pen Treatment

Following a Plasma Pen treatment, patients experience tiny scabs where the plasma has affected the skin. These look like pinpoint dots. They fall off within a few days, leaving smoother, softer, more glowing skin behind. This is just the immediate improvement, though. Over time, as new collagen forms, the skin looks tighter and generally younger overall.

The Plasma Pen can be used nearly anywhere on the body and is particularly effective at treating the fine lines and wrinkles that develop around the eyes and mouth. Because plasma stimulates collagen production by placing stress on fibroblast cells, this treatment is also a good solution for sagging skin on the face, jawline, and neck. It can also be used to tighten skin on the abdomen or backs of the arms. Finally, collagen stimulation therapy can be performed to reduce the appearance of scars.

If you want to look younger and feel better but don’t want to undergo surgery, the Plasma Pen may be your ideal treatment. Learn more! Schedule your appointment with Dr. Krummen at 513.985.0850.

As much as we know that surgical facial rejuvenation can provide us with many years of satisfaction, surgery isn’t on everyone’s to-do list as they manage the signs of aging. In our Cincinnati office, we love that we’re able to offer alternatives to surgery. One that we have been particularly excited about is the Plasma Pen, a new technology that offers long-lasting, noticeable improvement without incisions, anesthesia, or downtime.

With age comes the inevitable development of lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nose, and mouth. We also may see a softening at the jawline. Some people develop jowls, sagging bits of tissue from the side of their face. Some develop the appearance of a double chin as the skin and connective tissue degrade in the face and neck. Several advances in medical technology have brought doctors the ability to combat the hands of time. Each works differently. The plasma pen addresses the signs of aging with sophisticated plasma energy, which stimulates skin tightening and collagen growth. Here, we discuss how this technology works and why you may want to schedule your treatment now.

How the Plasma Pen Works

At some point in our schooling, most of us learned about liquids, solids, and gases. Plasma is a different state of matter altogether, and it is plasma, as you may have guessed, that powers our Plasma Pen treatment. Plasma is made when ionized gas and electrostatic energy interact. This results in thermal energy (heat) that then reacts with the layer of oxygen and nitrogen that exists close to the skin. The interactions result in a plasma arc.

The plasma arc does not last very long. When it evaporates just next to the skin, the outer layers of tissue immediately contract. At the same time, thermal stress is created in the underlying dermis. This happens in a quick and controlled way and it works through the entire depth of the skin, prompting tightening all the way through. Additionally, the heat within the dermis increases the production and remodeling of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin.

After Plasma Pen Treatment

During the plasma treatment, the interaction between the plasma arc and the skin causes tiny pinpoint crusts to form. Because of this, patients may want to schedule their treatment before a nice, relaxing weekend of staying indoors. These crusts will fall off in a few days, after which time the fibroblast cells that make new collagen continue behaving as they did when you were in your 20s! The more collagen that is infused into your skin, the firmer, tighter, and smoother it becomes. The results of this process can last for years.

You don’t have to have surgery to look younger. Contact us at 513.985.0850 to schedule a consultation and discover what the Plasma Pen can do for you.