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Blepharoplasty Vs. Laser Resurfacing for Under Eye Lines?

asked 2 years ago by Mandyb in PA
Latest answer by Harrison C. Putman III, MD
Question viewed 2,288 times
Tags: age 25-34, lower eyelids, under eyes, female, comparison

I am a 31 year old female who has under eye bags and fine wrinkles . I recently seen a surgeon who recommended between 2 ways of doing the Lower eye Blepharoplasty. One was was under the eyelid with Erbium Laser resurfacing. I am unsure if that will help very much with under eye wrinkles Option 2 was the standard way with the cutting and removing excess tissue. I have been researching I can't make a choice , Do you have any advice for me to help me choose

13 answers to Blepharoplasty Vs. Laser Resurfacing for Under Eye Lines?

Eyebags and wrinkles

If you have under eye bags, then the fatty tissues have to be addressed surgically. And sculpting the fat from the inside of the eyelid(transconjunctival blepharoplasty) is a good approach. Erbium/CO2 resurfacing will help the fine wrinkles, but not the fatty under eye bags. The standard blepharoplasty which removes fat and skin under the eyelash line(subciliary) is also a popular way to tighten the bags without a laser. I would recommend to discuss with a plastic surgeon who performs... more

Andrew Turk, MD
Naples Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty or lower eyelid LASER

Blepharoplasty and lower eyelid LASER do different things. LASER resurfacing (or, for that matter, a resurfacing chemical peel) can eliminate a mild amount of purely excess skin and reduce wrinkles. It can not, however, remove “bags.” One of the developers of LASER resurfacing and I tried for years to get it to do so, but never succeeded. To get rid of bags and/or extra fat as well as tighten loose skin, there is no substitute for a blepharoplasty. For you, if your description... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Recommend that you get some additional opinions

For so many 31 year olds, we are now treating the under eyes with Restylane avoiding the need to perform lower eyelid surgery. You might consider this option. Regarding the two options you have been given, I personally think it is wrong to make my patients practice medicine. This is what you are being asked to do in choosing which approach is right for you. I think it is unlikely that the Erbium laser treatment will iron out your lower eyelid wrinkles. Erbium resurfacing is not as... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

For under eye lines, laser definitely is the more effective treatment

Under eye lines can not be removed by removing skin. When surgeons remove skin they take a small snip of skin and this does not "iron out" the wrinkles. The best way to sooth wrinkles under the eyes is to use a resurfacing laser. There are many of these to choose from based on the color and texture of your skin. Good Luck.

Lenore Sikorski, MD
Laguna Niguel Dermatologic Surgeon

Skin removal and laser resurfacing

Skin removal and laser resurfacing do different things. Skin removal removes excess skin but does not change the quality of the skin. Laser resurfacing changes the quality of the skin but does not remove excess skin. Your surgeon has to determine if the problem is predominantly too much skin or poor quality skin. At 31, it is probably to some extent neither. Some wrinkles are natural and normal and the goal shouldn't be to remove all wrinkles. To attempt to do so will lead to over-treatment... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Laser versus surgery for lower eyelids

It sounds like you have two issues. First, the lower lid wrinkles. This can be addressed with surgery or with laser. It all depends on how much loose skin you have and the integrity of your lower lid support. Second, the lower lid bags. This is most likely due to herniating fat, which requires surgery to remove. Sometimes a combination of surgery and laser is most effective. You can have the fat removed from the inside of your eyelid to hide the incisions and then have laser... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Both laser resurfacing and skin removal are accepted choices for lower eyelid surgeies

It sounds like your doctor is doing a great service to you by carefully reviewing your options during the consultation. Both approaches are used by surgeons but at age 31 it would be more common in our practice to advise lower eyelid fat removal from the inside of the eyelid with laser resurfacing. If you are not quite ready to make the surgical choice remember that lower eyelid sculpting with one of the hyaluronic fillers can give a very nice result and avoid the surgery for awhile. Hope... more

J. Timothy Heffernan, MD
Seattle Oculoplastic Surgeon

drtimheffernan.com

Under eye bags versus wrinkles

A transconjunctival blepharoplasty will address under eye bags or pseudohernias quite nicely, while a simultaneous conservative laser peel can improve fine wrinlkes of the eyelid skin safely. I frequently do both together, and avoid ant external eyelid incisions.

Harrison C. Putman III, MD
Peoria Facial Plastic Surgeon

Treatment for under eye lines

Fine lines on the lower lids are a very difficult problem to deal with. It is impossible to remove all the fine lines on the lower lids because tightening that skin too much will change the shape of the lower eyelid and create a hound dog-eyed appearance. The important goal of the lower eyelid surgery is to remove the fat bags, which is causing the puffiness and a very conservative removal of the skin when necessary. Any skin removal at age 31 is... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Treating the lower eye lids

Treating the lower eyelids will vary depending upon what you need. Certainly fat can be removed through the conjunctiva. If there is alot of lax skin, a skn excision can be performed. If there is minimal excess and just fine wrinkles, then the skin can be lasered.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Two problems often requires a combination treatment

From your description it sounds like you have a combination issue. First, the under eye bags are usually fat that is pushing through from beneath. This requires surgery to remove the excess fat. This is usually done through incisions on the inside of the eyelid so that they are not visible. Occasionally, the bags are due to swelling from chronic allergies, so this is something that your surgeon must evaluate. The second issue is the loose skin. Crepiness, 'crinkly' skin or deep wrinkles... more

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty vs. laser resurfacing for under eye lines

No photos very hard to determine if the laser would achieve the desired result. My guess is try the laser first if no result proceed to the bleph. From MIAMI Dr. B

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Under eye bags and wrinkles

The aged appearance of undereyelid skin may be related to wrinkles and poor texture, excess skin and bags. The bags usually need surgery to remove or reposition the fat pads. Some bags are fluid accumulation and surgery doesn't help these festoons. Poor texture is treated by resurfacing with chemical peels or lasers such as fractional ablative carbon dioxide (Fraxel Repair). Excess skin is usually treated by surgery but some patients achieve significant tightening by Fraxel Repair and/or... more