Effective Ways to Treat Under-Eye Bags

December 5 2020

As you age, structural changes in facial skin may cause sagging, thinning and discoloration under the eyes. The result is a weary look that can make you appear old beyond your years. Below, the experienced plastic surgeons of Atlanta Plastic & Reconstructive Specialists discuss causes and solutions.

Magnifying Volume

Sometimes bags under the eyes indicate a lack of sleep or a stressful lifestyle. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sudden weight loss and even allergies can also trigger the emergence of this unattractive facial feature. Sometimes the fault lies with your DNA, however: Your genes control how much fat will accumulate under the eyes, how elastic your skin will be as you age, and how much volume you will lose in your cheeks.

One way to treat this loss of integrity in your under-eye skin is to use a dermal filler. Small injections of products such as Bellafill, Restylane, Juvederm or Perlane can improve the appearance of the under-eye area by smoothing out the skin.

As under-eye bags deepen, they often take on a darker appearance. Loss of volume and thinning skin expose blood vessels under the skin. Injecting a dermal filler provides a cushion that compensates for the thinner skin and loss of fat. Because the filler will eventually be absorbed by the body, this popular treatment requires a half hour appointment every few months to add new volume.

Lasers and Surgery

In the case of more noticeable dark circles, blood vessels and pigment can be directly targeted with laser treatment. Laser is also very effective in treating so-called “crepey” skin under the eyes. In some cases, patients may prefer Botox or Dysport to relax muscles that are causing wrinkles and volume displacement near the eyes.

More invasive procedures include eyelid lift and fat transfer. Eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, reduces bagginess from the lower eyelids and removes excess skin from the upper eyelids. It tightens the skin surrounding the eyes and raises drooping eyelids, changing a once-tired expression into a supple, youthful look. Unlike dermal fillers, the blepharoplasty procedure is permanent.

Fat transfer is also long-lasting. That is because the fat cells that will add volume to facial areas are extracted, using liposuction, from areas of the body where you have an abundance. These fat cells accommodate themselves quickly to their new location.

To learn more about effective solutions for under-eye bags, schedule a personal consultation with one of the experienced plastic surgeons of Atlanta Plastic & Reconstructive Specialists. Call our Northside office at (404) 255-2975 or our Piedmont office at (404) 343-0897 today.