The brow and upper eye area age in a particular way. Skin loses elasticity. The brow descends. The upper eyelid develops a heaviness that makes the whole face look more tired, more serious, and older than it actually is. For decades, the primary fix was surgical — a brow lift or upper blepharoplasty.
Today, energy-based devices have opened a non-surgical path for patients with mild to moderate concerns. Altius, an advanced radiofrequency platform, is one of the tools we use at Toluca Lake Optometric Center in Burbank, CA for non-invasive lifting and tightening of the brow and periorbital area.
How Altius Works
Altius delivers focused radiofrequency energy to the dermis and subdermal tissue of the treatment area. RF energy at therapeutic temperatures causes two effects that work together to produce a lifting and firming result:
Immediate tissue contraction. Collagen fibers in the dermis contract when heated to the appropriate thermal range. This produces an immediate tightening effect that is noticeable after the first session.
Collagen neogenesis over time. The controlled thermal stimulus signals the body to produce new collagen and elastin over the weeks following treatment. As this new structural protein forms, skin density increases, laxity decreases, and the treated area lifts and firms progressively.
Altius is designed to deliver this energy with precision and consistency, targeting the specific tissue depths where collagen remodeling produces the most meaningful improvement for lifting and tightening.
What Altius Addresses in the Eye Area
Brow ptosis (brow descent). As the forehead skin loses its structural support and the brow-lifting muscles weaken, the brow gradually descends. RF-based treatments like Altius can firm the skin and underlying tissue along the brow line, providing a modest lift that opens the eye area and restores a more alert appearance.
Upper eyelid skin laxity. Altius can be applied to the delicate upper eyelid skin to improve firmness and reduce the crepey quality that develops as the tissue thins with age. The result is a cleaner lid contour without the risks of surgery.
Lateral brow hooding. The outer brow tends to descend first, creating lateral hooding that narrows the visible eye opening. RF tightening in this area can reduce hooding and widen the visible eye aperture.
Crow's feet and periorbital skin quality. Radiofrequency improves overall skin quality in the outer eye area, softening fine lines and restoring a more even, tighter texture.
The Treatment Experience
Altius treatments are comfortable. The device handpiece is moved methodically across the treatment area, delivering RF energy at a therapeutic level that patients typically describe as a warm, deep heat. A built-in cooling mechanism protects the skin surface while the energy reaches the deeper target tissue.
Sessions are performed in-office and take 20 to 40 minutes depending on the treatment area. No anesthesia is needed. There is no downtime — some mild redness immediately after that resolves within hours, and patients return to normal activities the same day.
Results: What to Expect and When
Altius results build progressively. The immediate contraction effect provides an early signal that the treatment is working, but the most significant improvements develop over the six to twelve weeks following a series of sessions as the new collagen matures.
Most patients complete a series of three to four treatments before full results are apparent. Changes are gradual and natural-looking — the kind of improvement that makes you look more rested and refreshed rather than dramatically different.
Maintenance sessions once or twice a year sustain results by continuing to stimulate collagen turnover in the treated tissue.
Altius in Combination with Other Treatments
At Toluca Lake Optometric Center, we rarely use a single treatment in isolation for eye area rejuvenation. Altius RF works particularly well in combination with:
TriLift. While Altius focuses on the skin and dermal layers, TriLift's dynamic muscle stimulation targets the underlying muscles that provide structural support. Combining the two addresses both the surface laxity and the deeper muscle tone — a more comprehensive result than either alone.
IPL. For patients with rosacea-related redness, sun damage, or uneven skin tone around the eyes, IPL addresses those pigmentary and vascular concerns while Altius works on structure and firmness.
TempSure Envi. Different RF platforms can target slightly different tissue depths or be used on different days within the same treatment course for enhanced results.
Is Altius Right for You?
Altius is most appropriate for patients with mild to moderate brow descent, early hooding, or upper lid laxity who want a non-surgical solution. It is not a replacement for surgical blepharoplasty in cases of significant excess skin or functional lid problems — but for most patients who are not yet at that threshold, it offers meaningful improvement without the risks, recovery, or permanence of surgery.
If you are bothered by a heavier, more tired-looking brow and eye area and want to explore non-surgical options in Burbank, CA, we would be glad to assess whether Altius is appropriate for your goals.
Call Toluca Lake Optometric Center at (818) 841-1212 to schedule a consultation.
