June 2021

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We Can Get Your Face Zoom-Ready

In the past year, our approach to life has been drastically altered. A relatively large percentage of the population is now working from home. This has put hundreds of thousands of adults face to face with none other than themselves on a daily basis. If you’ve been on more Zoom or FaceTime calls than you care to admit, you probably know what we’re talking about. No matter how hard you try to focus on others on the call, your eyes inevitably drift to your own reflection, and you may not love what you see. 

Video conferencing has made many adults more aware of their aging jawline. The lower face is particularly susceptible to sagging, as is the upper neck. Because we’re often looking down slightly at a laptop or phone, the looseness of the lower face is exaggerated. This can feel frustrating. However, there are several ways to deal with lower face laxity, jowls, double chin fat, and loose neck skin. We’ll discuss them here. 

Nonsurgical Treatments for the Neck and Lower Face

  • CoolSculpting. This noninvasive treatment is popular among adults who want to sculpt through fat-reduction. In a brief series of treatments, CoolSculpting destroys a significant amount of fatty tissue, allowing the body to get rid of it naturally. A benefit of this approach is that there is no downtime. It can take a few weeks to begin seeing improvement.
  • AccuTite. A powerful and innovative radiofrequency treatment, AccuTite delivers outstanding results in a single procedure. We perform this treatment with a local anesthetic so patients do not feel any pain. During the procedure, a small probe is inserted beneath the skin. Another probe runs parallel to that but over the skin. This mechanism sends radiofrequency between the two arms for more significant tightening effects with minimal downtime.

Surgical Face and Neck Rejuvenation

  • Neck Lift. This lifting of the neck creates a more youthful look by improving the jawline and removing a “turkey neck”. Downtime is minimal and results can last years. 
  • Endoscopic mid-face lift. A mid-face lift is done to reposition the tissue that has descended from the cheeks. Fat pads and muscle are moved upward and secured with sutures. This not only restores more youthful shape to the face but can also reduce sagging along the jawline. 

These are just a few examples of how we can correct the sagging that affects the lower face and neck areas. For more information, schedule an appointment at our Denver office by calling (303) 839-1616.

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Excessive Tearing: Here’s What You Should Know

According to a study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, approximately 16 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with dry eye disease. The same study, though, estimates that about 33% of ophthalmology patients present with the symptoms of this condition. One of the most prevalent symptoms of dry eye disease is excessive tearing. Because it is such a common symptom, people who experience excessive tearing often believe, after a quick online search, that they have dry eye disease. This may not be the case. Here, we discuss some of the other reasons excessive tearing may occur and what you can do to improve this symptom.

Normal Tear Flow

The tear film is a vital part of the healthy eye. This film, made of oil, mucus, and water, is made in glands in the eye socket. When we blink, this film is spread over the ocular surface in the direction of the nose. There, at the inner corners of the upper and lower eyelids, are tiny drainage ducts that connect to the nose. Some tears naturally flow into the nose, then, when we blink. Some of the tear film also evaporates from the ocular surface. We all get dry eyes and excessive tearing from time to time, but when the condition is the norm, we want to know why. True understanding comes from looking beyond dry eye symptoms. 

Conditions that Could Cause Excessive Tearing

Blocked Tear Drainage Ducts

Remember we mentioned that tears flow toward the center of the eyes to tiny ducts that connect to the nose. One or both of these ducts could become blocked, preventing tears from draining normally into the nose. Common sources of tear duct blockage are infection, inflammation, certain medications, injury, previous sinus surgery, or, rarely, a tumor. Blockages in tear ducts can be partial or complete, and may result in not only watery eyes but also inflammation, irritation, and an increased risk of infection. 

Eyelid Problems

Once tears enter the ocular area, the muscles in the eyelids move the film toward the natural ductal system. Certain conditions affecting the eyelids may diminish this function. Ectropion is characterized by an outward turn of the lower eyelid. It is usually seen in older people and relates to the natural weakening of the tendons and muscles that control the lower eyelid and hold it against the globe of the eye (eyeball). Ectropion may also occur as a symptom of Bell’s palsy or other facial paralysis. Because the lower eyelid does not sit against the globe as it should, the glands that produce the tear film are triggered to reflex tearing to keep the eye lubricated. 

Loose eyelids do not always indicate ectropion. Some people develop extremely loose upper eyelids. Without sufficient firmness and strength, the eyelids open when the person sleeps. Symptoms of this condition, referred to as Floppy Eyelid Syndrome, may include waking up with scratchy, watery eyes. People with sleep apnea often experience this condition. 

Evaluation by your optometrist or ophthalmologist may be a good place to start uncovering the cause of excessive tearing. However, you may benefit most from a consultation with an oculofacial plastic surgery specialist, such as Dr. Fante. Here, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation of the eyes and eyelids to determine the cause of watery eyes. 

Learn more about excessive tearing and how we treat it. Call (303) 839-1616 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Fante or .

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