Puffiness, discoloration, and swelling under the eyes, also coined “under-eye bags,” can impact both men and women. Under-eye bags can make you look tired or give you an aged appearance, regardless of your age or energy level. While topical treatments and home remedies can help a little, if puffy bags under your eyes persist, it may be time to try a cosmetic treatment for more effective and long-lasting results.
What Causes Under-Eye Bags?
You can experience under-eye bags for a number of reasons, including:
- Genetics
- Dehydration
- Allergies or sinus issues
- Aging
- Sun damage
Getting too little or too much sleep can also cause this condition, but it’s a common misconception that this is the leading cause of eye bags. In some cases, you can avoid the things that trigger eye bags, such as too much sun or alcohol, but this solution doesn’t work for everyone.
Even if you don’t have under-eye bags when you’re younger, it’s common to develop them in your 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. As you age, the skin around your eyes loses its firmness, and the muscle and septum membrane weaken. This allows the fat under your eyes to shift outward and downward (herniate) and create puffy bags under the eyes. This shifting of fat also leads to hollow, depressed areas under the bags, causing shadows that make your under-eye bags look even more prominent.
Cosmetic Treatments for Under-Eye Bags
Depending on the severity of your under-eye bags, you can choose a gentle or more impactful treatment.
Dermal Fillers
Fillers are one of the most effective treatments for saggy, under-eye bags. Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers such as Restylane® or JUVÉDERM® are perfect for the eye area, adding natural-looking volume to under-eye hollows and smoothing the area to conceal puffy areas. These fillers are smooth, lightweight gels that create supple fullness without giving you a lumpy or artificial-looking appearance. Restylane and JUVÉDERM fillers also contain lidocaine so you can be comfortable during your session.
Selecting an experienced injector to administer fillers in your fragile eye area is important for achieving natural, safe, and long-lasting results. Most patients have minimal discomfort during under-eye filler treatments and resume their regular routines immediately.
BOTOX® Cosmetic
Although BOTOX and Dysport® can’t get rid of under-eye bags, these injectables can smooth out crow’s feet, improving the look of your eye area. Crow’s feet are the expression lines that form at the corners of your eyes due to normal facial movements such as smiling or squinting. BOTOX injections temporarily relax the lines around your eyes, which softens the appearance of your lower eyelid area and under-eye bags.
Blepharoplasty
If you have severe under-eye bags or want a more long-lasting solution, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is your best option. During lower eyelid surgery, I can relocate the under-eye fat to the tear trough to smooth the skin under your eyes. Blepharoplasty recovery is longer than with nonsurgical injectables like dermal fillers, but the results are more durable and dramatic. Read this helpful blog to see if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Get Started
Our skilled team can help you find the best treatment to address your under-eye bags. Request a consultation using our online form or call us at (480) 214-9955 to schedule an appointment.
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