Under-eye bags make you appear old beyond your years, but putting your faith in over-the-counter ointments, creams and other supposed remedies may leave you feeling exhausted. That’s because you will eventually notice that they simply do not work.
These products do not treat the underlying structural issues that cause sagging, thinning and discoloration under the eyes. Below, experienced Louisville plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Maguire of the Center for Beauty recommends effective cosmetic procedures that will target root causes, transforming your tired look into one of youthful optimism and vitality.
Pump Up the 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 dermal filler. Small injections of products such as 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.
Other Options
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 lower eyelids, as well as removing excess skin from 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 long-lasting.
Although facial fat transfers have been performed for many years, today’s technique is far more advanced than the procedures done decades ago. Those fat transfers sometimes created lumps and puffiness in the face. That is because the amount and type of fat used, along with the inexactitude of surgical instruments, made precise targeting of facial areas difficult. Now skilled plastic surgeons use a small-particle version of your body’s natural fat. Cells are prepared using special devices that filter and break down the fat that has been harvested from elsewhere in the body, using a liposuction technique.
To learn more about ways to treat bags and dark circles under the eyes, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Maguire. We invite you to contact the Center for Beauty, at your convenience.
