A lot of things about the past year and the pandemic were unexpected. Among them was the dramatic increase in demand for plastic surgery that came about as states started to loosen lockdown restrictions. People who had been toying with the idea of plastic surgery for years suddenly saw their chance. They had more time on their hands, since they were working from home, and weren’t likely to go out and about, since many places were closed.
But then, there’s the issue of masks. With the lower part of the face covered when you are out and about running errands or shopping for groceries, a lot more focus is given to the upper area, such as the eyes and forehead. If you’re bothered by droopy eyelids or a sagging brow, your mask might call more attention to them. Fortunately, Dr. Paul Vitenas offers four cosmetic treatments that can help rejuvenate your face above the mask, giving you a boost of confidence when you’re out in public or on a Zoom call.
Botox
Bad lighting and strange camera angles can make the lines and wrinkles on your forehead, at the corners of your eyes, and between your eyebrows a lot more visible. Covering your mouth and nose can also draw attention to the lines on your forehead and near your eyes.
Fortunately, whether you want to look better during conference calls (without investing in complicated lighting setups) or simply want to look more relaxed and well-rested when you do have to go out, Botox can help.
Botox is an injection that smooths lines created by repeated muscle movements over time. Your crow’s feet, frown lines (aka the “11s”), and horizontal forehead lines can all be smoothed away by a few strategic Botox injections. The treatment works by blocking nerve signals. Starting about a week after the treatment, your muscles won’t make the movements that cause facial creases or wrinkles and the lines will relax.
The results from Botox usually last for a few months. If you’re happy with them, you can repeat the process to keep your forehead and upper brow area looking smooth and well-rested.
Blepharoplasty
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. That might be particularly true now that they are temporarily the most prominent and visible facial feature. Sales of mascara and eyeliner are up while sales of lipstick are down–after all, no one can see your mouth beneath a mask!
When it comes to plastic surgery, similar trends have emerged. While lip fillers were once the big thing, now it’s all about enhancing the eyes.
When you look at your eyes in the mirror, what do you see? If the upper lids are droopy or the lower lids have bags beneath, you might look tired and older than you feel. Blepharoplasty, AKA an eyelid lift, creates a more alert, youthful look in the eye area.
The surgery offers two options. It can focus on the upper eyelids, removing excess skin from the lids to minimize or eliminate drooping. It can also focus on the lower lids, removing fatty deposits that create bags under the eyes. Some people decide to combine an upper and lower eyelid lift to fully rejuvenate and refresh the eye area.
Brow Lift
It’s not only the eyes that can make you look tired, angry, or worn down. The weight of your brow can also affect your appearance. And, with a mask on, a heavy, sagging brow can be more prominent.
A brow lift, sometimes called a forehead lift, aims to correct sagging or heaviness in the brow area. After a brow lift, you will look more well-rested and alert. Lines on your forehead and between the eyebrows will be smoother, making you look more youthful.
You can choose to have a brow lift performed on its own or combine the surgery with an eyelid lift to create an even more rejuvenated and refreshed appearance.
Facelift
While Botox, eyelid lifts, and brow lifts all focus on the upper part of the face, which would be visible when you wear a mask, a facelift focuses on the lower third of the face, including the cheeks, chin, and neck area. That area might be covered somewhat by your mask, but not entirely. When you wear a mask and have jowls or sagging cheeks, they might peek out beneath the bottom edge of the mask, making you look older.
A facelift will tighten and tone the jowls and sagging cheeks, creating a smooth look at the bottom of your mask. A facelift can also be a great option if you find yourself on video calls more frequently. You’re likely to feel more confident when your cheeks are smooth, deep creases are erased and jowls or a turkey neck have been trimmed away.
Explore Your Mask-Friendly Options
If you’ve found yourself considering plastic surgery during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Dr. Paul Vitenas can discuss your facial plastic surgery options with you, based on your goals and needs. To schedule a consultation at his Houston, Texas office, call 281-484-0088 or book a virtual visit.