The New Eyelift

November 20 -- There is an old saying that the truth is in the eyes; but there are those who feel the "youth" is in the eyes, too. For those people, there is a special new treatment that may make your eyes look ten years younger.

You do not need anesthesia, and you will not have an incision; but some say, you will have eyes that look younger. Patients say they hope the procedure will take away a few of the fine lines, and give their eyes an extra lift.

Surgeons used to tighten skin by literally pulling it up, or using lasers to burn it. For those who shy away from surgery, enter Eye Thermage: a laser procedure done while you are awake. A grid is first imprinted on the eye, then an eye shield is put in. Next, the laser begins, with the Thermage sending about a hundred pulses into each square in the grid.

The procedure does hurt a little, but most say it is tolerable. It uses radio frequency waves that penetrate the skin, heating up the collagen inside and denaturing it. The process breaks up and tightens the skin immediately, allowing the collagen to slowly repair itself and get tighter.

According to its makers, Eye Thermage gives you some immediate results, and more results in four to six months. The whole process only takes about a half hour, and requires little pain medication.

Thermage to tighten the skin has been around for about four years; Thermage to tighten the eye area is new in Wichita. Although it takes four to six months to see the full effects, after a month and a half, some patients can already notice a change.

The results are not nearly as dramatic as a surgical eyelift, but it is still a weapon in the fight to stay young. Eye Thermage is a one time treatment, and costs $1,200.