What do you recommend for focused care of the eye area only?

Because the skin of the eyelids and under-eye area is the thinnest on the face, at about 0.5 mm, it is safer to treat it with a low-energy dedicated tip and with eye protection in place. With devices cleared for eyelid treatment, such as Thermage® FLX with the eye tip, a protective shield is placed inside the eye during the procedure to protect the eyeball, and the energy level is finely adjusted to reduce the strain on the thin skin.

Also, because blood vessels and muscles are close to the surface under the eyes, depth and volume control are important even during injection treatments; therefore, whether a dermatologist familiar with the anatomy of the eye area performs the procedure directly is key to safety. A diagnosis that distinguishes whether the cause of dark circles is pigmentation, sagging, or hollowing should precede the procedure to reduce the risk of side effects.

Because fine lines and sagging have different causative layers, it is common to combine procedures that address the dermal layer with procedures that lift the deeper layers. Fine lines are mainly caused by a decrease in dermal collagen, so eye Thermage or eye Skin Boosters (Re2O® Fine, REJURAN® I) are used to induce collagen regeneration and improve skin texture. For eyebrow and eyelid sagging, we approach with Ultherapy PRIME® which delivers ultrasound energy to deeper layers to support the eyebrow line. Ultherapy has received FDA clearance for non-invasive eyebrow lifting.

The two treatments work at different depths and are complementary; depending on the condition, one alone may be sufficient, so it is advisable to decide on the combination after a diagnosis.

Yes, Skin Boosters are actually widely used for improving fine lines and skin texture around the eyes. REJURAN® I is a procedure that uses polynucleotide (PN) to help the skin regeneration environment, and it is widely used specifically for eye area care. Re2O® Fine is used not only for fine lines and elasticity under the eyes but also for under-eye hollows.

For those who find injection stimulation burdensome, needleless laser jet methods such as Mirajet, Curejet, and Skinjet, which apply medication without a needle, can be an alternative. In the case of Re2O® Fine, the cannula procedure tends to have less pain burden. However, boosters have a different purpose from the lifting effect that pulls up sagging skin, so it is recommended to understand and choose them as management focused on fine wrinkles and skin texture.

Generally, deep-layer lifting is commonly performed first, followed after an interval by booster and regenerative treatments. For example, after addressing sagging and firmness with Ultherapy PRIME® or Thermage® FLX with the eye tip, boosters such as REJURAN® I and Re2O® Fine are used about 2 to 4 weeks later to improve fine lines and skin texture.

Some combinations can be performed on the same day, but the appropriate interval and sequence vary depending on skin thickness, sensitivity, and recovery ability. Because stimulation can accumulate if the interval between treatments is too short, it is recommended to have the eye-area condition diagnosed and then plan the overall schedule together with a specialist.