Many surgeons favor a posterior transconjunctival approach

Traditional blepharoplasty vs laser blepharoplasty for eye bags?

I am turning 50 next month and want to have an undereye procedure to remove the bags under my eyes. I've seen two plastic surgeons. One suggested laser blepharoplasty and the other an under eye incision. I'm confused now. Is laser blepharoplasty better than undereye surgery? I would appreciate any suggestions or clarification regarding these two procedures.


Sean M. Blaydon, MD
12 months ago

I suspect that the different suggestions had to do with where the incision might be placed. The plastic surgeon offering the laser blepharoplasty may have been discussing a transconjunctival approach to the lower eyelid herniated fat. Another approach is a lower eyelid skin crease incision. Much depends, as has been discussed, with what the problem is.

Many now favor a posterior transconjunctival approach which can be accomplished with a CO2 laser, cutting cautery, etc. Fat can then be conservatively excised and/or repositioned over the lower orbital rim to soften the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek. If some skin needs to be removed an anterior "pinch" skin excision can be performed leaving the underlying orbicularis muscle intact and thus reduce the risk for inferior retraction of the lower eyelid, which can be a difficult problem to solve.

Looking at your photo you appear to have some thinning of the overlying lower eyelid skin revealing the underlying contracting orbicularis muscle which causes the wrinkles in this area. I agree with a former comment that this is accentuated by your lovely smile. This can often be improved non-surgically by injecting small amounts of BOTOX into the orbicularis muscle in the lower eyelid...something not previously mentioned.

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