(This story is sponsored by 8 West Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Clinic.)

If you consider your eyes to be among your best physical features, it can be disheartening when they begin to age. Composed of some of the thinnest and most delicate skin on your body, your eyelids may actually age faster than other areas of your face—and their frequent exposure to sunlight doesn’t do much to help. Beyond looking tired, many patients feel that while the rest of their face appears youthful, their saggy or puffy eyelids give away their true age—or make them look grumpy when they are not.

Luckily, in this day and age of technology, there are many solutions for the eyes. To learn about the latest, we caught up with Dr. Thomas Buonassisi of 8 West Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Skin Clinic - the most recent winner of the Georgia Straight’s Best of Vancouver for Cosmetic Surgery and treatments - to learn more about ways to perk up those peepers.

When it comes to your face, it’s crucial to know you’re in the hands of someone you can trust. Dr. Buonassisi is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with more than 18 years’ experience and thousands of happy patients. The clinic’s team of pros includes plastic surgeons, registered nurses, and medical aestheticians, offering the full spectrum of surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Below, Dr. Buonassisi shares some of the ways to treat the most common concerns for aging eyes.

Blepharoplasty (Upper and Lower Eyelid Lift Surgery)

What it is: Blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to remove sagging skin and pockets of fat from the upper or lower eyelids, is broadly considered the gold standard among facial plastic surgeons for aging eyelids. “Blepharoplasty has one of the highest satisfaction rates of all eyelid treatments. Patients can expect a dramatic improvement to sagging skin and eyelid bags, with little downtime and natural-looking results.” says Dr. Buonassisi, who performs numerous facial-rejuvenation surgeries per week. The surgery is done as a day procedure, with most patients back to daily activities the next day, and back to work in one to two weeks. Once healed, the incisions are nearly imperceptible or completely hidden. As an added bonus, a scarless approach to the lower eyelids means that incisions can be completely hidden inside the lower lid.

What it treats: Lax eyelid skin, pockets of fat and eyelid bags of the upper and lower eyelids.

Halo Hybrid Fractional Laser

What it is: “There is no laser like it on the market and it is the only device combining both an ablative and non-ablative laser in one,” says Dr. Buonassisi, adding that Halo is effective at treating sun-damaged skin of the eyelids, face, or any parts of the body that are showing signs of laxity or discoloration. The two laser wavelengths work together to remove a fraction of the outside layers of the skin (known as skin resurfacing) with the added benefit of creating deep channels in the skin that cause a healing response and collagen remodelling. The density and depth of both laser wavelengths are controlled by 8 West Clinic’s very experienced medical aestheticians.

What it treats: Discoloration or sun spots, fine lines, overall skin texture, skin density.

Medical Grade Microneedling

What it is: Microneedling is a mechanical approach to skin rejuvenation and is effective for the delicate eye area. “Microneedling is a great alternative for patients who prefer a non-laser approach to skin rejuvenation,” says Dr. Buonassisi, adding that patients often request that their own platelet-rich plasma (PRP) be added to the treatment.

What it treats: Fine lines, sun damage, overall skin texture.

The medical treatments performed at 8 West Clinic are done with numbing cream and the option to add nitrous oxide (laughing gas) so that patients can easily tolerate deeper treatments that would otherwise be too uncomfortable. Deeper treatments mean more dramatic results, which patients often seek.

Botox/Dysport

What it is: “These medications relax muscles, and are effective for treating dynamic wrinkles - those that form when we make facial movements like frowning or squinting” says Dr. Buonassisi. In the hands of an experienced injector, the results are natural, meaning you won’t look frozen or strange.

What it treats: dynamic wrinkles including upper forehead lines, the 11s (between the eyebrows), crow’s feet (around the eyes).

The medical treatments performed at 8 West Clinic are done with numbing cream and the option to add nitrous oxide (laughing gas) so that patients can easily tolerate deeper treatments that would otherwise be too uncomfortable. Deeper treatments mean more dramatic results, which patients often seek.

Medical-Grade Skincare

What it is: Look out for brands like SkinCeuticals, which offer medical-grade ingredients like retinol for fine lines and skin density, antioxidants for anti-aging, or eye creams designed to hydrate. Leaps and bounds have been made with medical-grade skin care, which, in addition to sunscreen, can be a part of anyone’s anti-aging routine.

What it treats: sun protection, skin clarity and texture, overall skin quality.

To celebrate being voted Best Place for Cosmetic Surgery and treatments, 8 West Clinic is offering Georgia Straight readers a complimentary microdermabrasion with enzymatic peel and a $100 gift card. Quantities are limited, so be sure to sign up for this amazing offer here!