As we all know, feeling tired is one of the most common woes among mums - affecting nearly two-thirds at some point. So, we all need a little help from time to time.
Meet our newest member Dr Elizabeth Hawkes, an award winning Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon and Aesthetic Doctor, based on Sloane Street. She is mother and one of the youngest people to earn her title as consultant eye surgeon when she was appointed, aged just 32. She is a specialist in upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty surgery and performs advanced facial aesthetics for non-surgical face and eye rejuvenation. Dr Elizabeth was featured in the Tatler beauty and cosmetic surgery guide 2023 as one of UKs top eye surgeons. She has won multiple awards including 2 this year, Highly Commended for Best Surgical Result, Aesthetics Awards 2023 and Best Eyelid Surgery Specialist UK, Luxlife Global Excellence Awards.
She reveals how we can give eyes a summer refresh:
Help reduce dark circles:
"While dark circles aren’t always a sign of tiredness, as they can be due to other factors such as genetics or allergies, you can help reduce their appearance by using topical creams for dehydration,” says Dr Hawkes.
It will also help if you stay hydrated, don’t smoke and wear UV protection such as sunglasses in the day as well as an SPF. Also try using a retinol at night.
Using a vitamin c topical cream on the eyes during the day to help reduce the appearance of dark circles is an effective way. Application of eye creams is important –use your ring finger to follow the bony margin of the eye.
As a mum to a little boy myself, I’ve also invested in good quality under eye makeup to help camouflage the appearance of dark circles. Sometimes until you just get a good night’s sleep, nothing but a bit of make-up will help.
Tear Trough fillers are also a great answer to dark circles,” says Dr Hawkes.
The anatomy of eyelid skin is complex and unique. The eyelid layers, in order, are skin, orbicularis muscle, septum, and fat. In contrast to the rest of the face, the eyelids do not have a subcutaneous layer of fat directly underneath the skin. For this reason, eyelid skin is prone to appear darker than the rest of the face. Volume loss under the eyes is one of the main causes of dark circles in this area. This can be treated easily with tear trough dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid is injected into the area via a cannula. The procedure isn’t painful and it lasts 12-18 months and it can dramatically improve the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. They also provide a volumising effect that can help give a healthy glow to an otherwise tired-looking face.”
Give your skin a hydration boost
“I love Profhilo. It’s such a highly effective anti-ageing treatment, based on hyaluronic acid. Profhilo is injected into predetermined points around the eye area to give a "hydrolift" effect that boosts skin hydration and tightens the skin. Hyaluronic acid – the active agent in Profhilo - can hold 1000 times its weight in water creating a significant deep moisturizing activity.
‘Profhilo remodels the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production.
‘Using Profhilo we can help to achieve a firmer, plumper skin with a smoother texture.’
Improve your skin’s collagen and fine lines
“I also love polynucleotides to refresh tired eyes,” says Elizabeth. “These are a new type of injectable, which consist of naturally occurring polynucleotide chains, which have a highly moisturising effect. It restores skin’s firmness, tone and elasticity. It is recommended for regenerating sagging and dehydrated skin rather than a super hydrator like Profhilo.”
‘This can be an excellent option for the under eye area in people who are prone to puffiness and may not be suitable for hyaluronic based treatments’
Give skin a glow with vitamin C
“Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is a powerful antioxidant and one of the few skincare ingredients that has been proven to help in the battle against skin ageing around the delicate eye area,’ says Dr Elizabeth Hawkes.
‘It neutralises free radicals and helps your body repair damaged cells. It encourages collagen production, helps protect skin against damage from the environment and can improve pigmentation caused by sun damage and scarring.’
Treat crows feet and frown lines with Botox.
“People often complain about crow’s feet and feel that the lines around the corners of the eyes really age them,” says Dr Hawkes. “ A small amount of Botulinum Toxin will relax the muscles around the eyes. It’s a quick treatment and pretty much pain-free. Botulinum Toxin temporarily paralyses the muscles that make you squint which in turn causes your wrinkles and fine lines to relax and soften in appearance.
‘Anti-wrinkle injections are effective and results can be seen just a few days after the treatment.’
Protect eyes from the sun with SPF and sunglasses.
“To look after the skin around your eyes, a daily sunscreen is essential as well as reducing exposure to the sun,” says Dr Hakwes. “You need to apply sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection along your lash line and also wear sunglasses. I also recommend wearing an under-eye concealer that has an SPF in it already too.
“And don’t forget to wear sunglasses. When buying sunglasses for active use I would advise looking for UV 400 protection. It is extremely important for sunglasses (of any type) to have UV protection because UV radiation from the sun can damage the delicate skin of your eyelid, as well as the skin surrounding the eye area. It can also damage the cornea, lenses and other parts of the eye. UV exposure can also contribute to some types of cataracts, solar retinopathy and pterygium. Protecting the eyes from this is essential for eye health reasons and also to prevent premature ageing.”
Blepharoplasty – to reduce sagging skin around the eyes
“If you’re still worried about your eyes and feel you need more help, you can consider blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty surgery is performed to improve the appearance of the eyelids by remodeling their structure,” says Dr Hawkes.
“This can involve complex combinations of skin removal, muscle tightening, and fat repositioning or removal. Every eyelid is unique, meaning the surgical plan and procedure is a highly bespoke process. Surgery can be performed under local anaesthetic, or with ‘twilight’ general anaesthesia. Depending on the number of eyelids requiring surgery, the procedural time varies from 45 minutes to 2 hours. The benefit of blepharoplasty is that we can achieve a beautiful and very natural look. This isn’t facelift surgery - you won’t come out looking like an entirely different version of yourself - but you will look a lot brighter, less tired and refreshed. Normal recovery is two weeks, however I would advise having this done six weeks before spending extended periods in the sun or a big event.”
What does it mean to Elizabeth to be a working mother?
Everyone’s experience as a working mother is unique, and the challenges and rewards depend on personal circumstances and support networks. Since becoming a mother, I feel more inspired and motivated to be a female role model for my son, demonstrating the importance of hard work, dedication and persuing one’s passions’
You can now book a fee consultation with Dr Elizabeth Hawkes via: Secretary@drelizabethhawkes.com and receive a special complimentary 20% off. if you're a Mumble member to redeem against any treatment.