The thin skin under your eyes tends to lose elasticity and wrinkle as you age. While eye creams and gels can encourage slight improvements in the texture and appearance of your under-eye wrinkles, professional cosmetic procedures may provide more dramatic results. Consider both the risks and benefits when choosing a procedure to enhance your under-eye area.

Botulinum Toxin

Botox is the brand name for a cosmetic form of botulinum toxin type A. Produced by a type of bacteria, a botulinum toxin injection acts as a muscle relaxant. Commonly used to treat furrows and frown lines between the eyebrows, Botox may also help decrease the appearance of other facial wrinkles, including those around your eye area. The injections normally take around 10 minutes to complete and the results may last between three and six months. Side effects are usually minimal and can include temporary bruising, itching and redness.

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is effective in minimizing the appearance of fine lines around your eyes, although it cannot remove deep wrinkles or eliminate sagging skin. Laser resurfacing uses an intense beam of light that heats the underneath layer of your skin and stimulates new collagen formation, giving your skin a younger, firmer appearance. Following a laser resurfacing session, the appearance of your under-eye skin may resemble a sunburn for several days. The new skin that forms usually appears smoother and tighter.

Implants

Collagen implants may help plump up the skin around your eyes, smoothing out under-eye wrinkles. During the procedure, your cosmetic surgeon injects human or bovine collagen under your skin using a needle and syringe. During the following weeks, your body breaks down the injected collagen and replaces it with your own collagen. You may experience slight stinging and swelling for a few hours after the injections. The results of collagen implants usually last between three and 12 months.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that targets the skin around your eyes. This type of cosmetic surgery removes sections of excess skin and fat, tightening the area under your eyes. Cosmetic surgeons usually perform blepharoplasty in conjunction with other surgical procedures, such as brow lifts or even entire face-lifts. This invasive procedure can cause soreness, swelling, bruising and redness that may last about two weeks. Although your skin continues to age, the results of a blepharoplasty procedure normally lasts about 10 years.

After-Care

While cosmetic procedures may improve the appearance of your eye area, your skin will continue to age. Good skin care may help minimize premature aging. Certain factors that can increase wrinkling include sleeping with your face against your pillow, neglecting to use sunscreen and smoking cigarettes.