For many of us, laughter, time in the sun, and rich food are indicators of a life well lived. However, over time, our expressions and lifestyle choices can affect our skin quality.
This is especially true of the delicate skin around the eyes, where we see regular movement. Many people notice fine lines settling around the eyes in their 30s or 40s, forming crow’s feet.
As the wrinkles form and your expressions continue to reinforce the pattern, they might deepen, resisting treatment with your usual skincare products.
Dr. Faulkner routinely helps patients combat signs of aging with nonsurgical and surgical crow’s feet treatment in Rockville. Learn more about your anti-aging treatment options at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, or take the first step towards a more youthful appearance with a consultation.
Causes of Crow’s Feet
Aside from our natural expressions as we speak and emote, what causes the skin to wrinkle? Several factors contribute to skin quality, including age, diet, sun exposure, and smoking habits.
Natural Aging
When we are young, the skin is strong, supple, and pliable, capable of stretching to accommodate our developing bodies. However, over time, the body naturally produces less of the proteins that give our skin structure and elasticity.
Without collagen and elastin, the skin loses structure. This means, after years of squinting and smiling, the once-plump skin framing the eyes does not bounce back; instead, it might settle into fine lines. Our reduced levels of hyaluronic acid further accelerate the formation of crow’s feet, since dehydrated skin is more likely to wrinkle.
Personal Habits
Lifestyle choices like diet, sun exposure, and smoking also influence how our skin ages.
If we consume primarily processed foods rather than meals high in antioxidants, the body might not have the nutrients it needs to fight free radicals from the sun.
In turn, UV exposure from sunlight damages our skin cells, inhibiting cellular renewal and dehydrating the tissue. We also often have to squint in sunny conditions, exacerbating existing lines around the eyes.
Smoking speeds up the aging process, as well, dehydrating the skin and inhibiting the body’s production of collagen and elastin.
Nonsurgical & Surgical Treatment Options
Though preventive measures like sunscreen, a healthy diet, and moisturizer can support skin health, they are often just that—preventive. These anti-aging tools cannot treat crow’s feet once they have already developed. That is where Dr. Faulkner comes in.
Dr. Faulkner performs a range of nonsurgical and surgical procedures to help patients refresh the eyes. Prior to recommending a treatment path, Dr. Faulkner meets with you to discuss your goals, lifestyle, medical history, and skin condition. With this information, he will help you chart a path forward.
Botox
Nonsurgical, minimally invasive
For patients experiencing mild skin laxity or fine wrinkling limited to the outer eyes, Dr. Faulkner often suggests neurotoxin injections like Botox. This minimally invasive procedure temporarily pauses communication between the nerves and targeted muscles to limit movement, preventing the skin above from forming wrinkles.
Morpheus8
Nonsurgical, minimally invasive
Safe for the thin, sensitive tissue surrounding the eyes, Dr. Faulkner might also recommend a series of Morpheus8 microneedling sessions for crow’s feet treatment in Rockville. The device enables him to target small surface areas for precise, controlled rejuvenation.
Morpheus8 microneedling treatments use tiny needles to create microscopic puncture wounds in the skin, through which the device sends radiofrequency (RF) energy for deeper penetration. The RF energy gently heats the targeted tissue, triggering collagen and elastin production. As a result, many patients enjoy firmer, smoother skin around the eyes.
FaceTite
If a patient with mild-to-moderate skin laxity is interested in reducing surgical risks and post-procedure swelling, Dr. Faulkner might build a treatment plan featuring FaceTite.
FaceTite, another effective crow’s feet treatment in Rockville, uses radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL) delivered through precise entry points for minimal invasion. The RF energy stimulates collagen production, fostering skin remodeling from within.
By delivering results more naturally, the procedure softens the appearance of crow’s feet while preserving your natural eye movement and expressions.
Facelift
Surgical, invasive
A facelift best suits patients looking for extensive tissue lifting and repositioning to correct significant sagging around the eyes. Dr. Faulkner may recommend a comprehensive facelift for those looking to address aging concerns around the periorbital area and the skin around the forehead, cheeks, nose, mouth, and jawline.
For individuals simply looking to correct crow’s feet, Dr. Faulkner might find a full facelift to be an “overcorrection,” adding more OR time, anesthesia, surgical complexity, and scarring than necessary.
During your consultation, Dr. Faulkner will review your options for crow’s feet treatment and provide his recommendations to help you make an informed decision.
Refresh Your Eyes With Dr. Faulkner
Wrinkles might be a part of life, but you do not have to live with them. Combat unwanted fine lines around the eyes with targeted crow’s feet treatment in Rockville.
Customize your plan for full facial rejuvenation with Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics.
