Eye lines - solutions

[lino123]

Hi

I am a 26 year old male and I have developed a crease line under each eye, they are from sleeping on my side and are where my cheek folds when pressed against the pillow. The one under my left eye is most noticeable. They are not expression lines, as I have these starting but they do not bother me.

It's annoying as I think it is a big deal because everytime I look in the mirror, light is always coming from the side and the lines show up from the angle I am looking at. I obviously have no idea if they are highly visible from the point of view of someone else, but to me they are noticable enough.

I am training myself to sleep on my back, to prevent them from worsening, but I have slept that way for a long time, which must have brought about development of these crease lines. I am wondering what I can do to try to remove the lines? Is it possible to fade them by microdermabrasion or other treatments? I am not sure which layer of the skin's structure the damage will be in you see. I do not want to undergo surgery for sure, but this is getting me down and I hope to find a solution.

Thank you.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Judicious use of Restylane can be very effective for the crease lines you noted.  I have used it effectively for so-called "tear trough" deformity beneath the lower lids.   Bruising is always a possibility with any injection in this thin tissue.  

[lino123]

Hi Dr Rosenberg

Thank you for the reply. Although 'symmetrical', in that they are forming on both sides, they are not identical, the one under my right eye is more of a straight crease line, whilst under the left is a more semi-circular one. I have narrowed it down to sleeping position as there is no other explanation I can find. If I push my cheek up as it would be when sleeping on my side (against a pillow), the skin folds along these lines. They are not developing due to expression.

Therefore I think that Botox is probably not useful, but maybe Restylane or Perlane to give microscopic lift within the crease, from the inside, may be of use? Is that what these products might provide? Further, is it not slightly more dangerous to inject dermal fillers close to the eye?

Thank you for your recommendations.

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

First, I am not aware of any studies that prove that sleeping position creates or accelerates what you describe as symmetrical lower eyelid creases.  Second, I agree that a surgical solution is not likely an appropriate answer to your problem.  The range of options from Botox to injectable fillers may be useful.  A local plastic surgeon can advise you about what are your best options.