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Does Lower Blepharoplasty Cause Malar Bags?

asked 1 year ago by FSRB
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 1,225 times
Tags: lower eyelids, causes, malar bags

I am considering lower blepharoplasty. Does this cause malar bags or contribute to them? I am assuming a qualified physician would prevent this type of outcome. Which type of physician am I looking for to make sure I have the best results?

23 answers to Does Lower Blepharoplasty Cause Malar Bags?

Malar bags and lower eyelid blepharoplasty

I believe malar bags are caused by swelling about a ligament that runs through the cheek. Even in young patients, a depression starts to develop in the cheek that gets deeper over time as volume is lost and skin becomes looser. Often, fluid collects above this septum and results in chronic edema, or swelling, leading to malar bags. Skin tightening does help, in our practice always accompanied by elevation of the cheek tissues, and often augmentation of the cheek volume as well... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Does blepharoplasty cause malar bags?

Generally lower blepharoplasty does not cause malar bags. Malar bags are often due to allergies or sinus disease. They are essentially fluid trapped inside the muscle at the edge of its compartment.. However if you do have minor malar bags, blepharoplasty can contribute to this because of postoperative swelling. Your best bet is a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in eyelid surgery or an ocular plastic surgeon.

Andrew Kaczynski, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Lower blepharoplasty and malar bags

Lower lid blepharoplasties should help correct malar bags not make them worse. You should consult with an experienced plastic surgeon. Be sure to speak with past patients with similar issues.

Gary D. Breslow, MD
Paramus Plastic Surgeon

Malar bags are caused by laxity of the soft tissue just below the lower eyelid

Malar bags tend to run in families. Just below the outside portion of the lower eyelid, the tissues are designed to glide when we smile. Do to various factors, the ligament that supports the lower eyelid at the lid/cheek junction (oribitomalar ligament) can become lax. The tissue below the ligament will slump or hang into the next ligament system. This next ligament system is the one that becomes outlined with a black eye. This arrangement creates the appearance... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Lower Eyelid Surgery Does Not Cause Malar Bags

Lower Blepharoplasty will not cause malar bags, though post-op swelling may cause the bags to temporarily look larger. The two areas (lower eyelids and malar fat pad) are distinct anatomic areas. Blending the contours of the two areas is important, and should need to be addressed as part of the preoperative evaluation and plan. Seek a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon with a lot of experience in these procedures.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Lower Blepharoplasty does not cause malar bags

Malar bags are unrelated to lower eyelid blepharoplasty. The surgery does not create malar bags, they are fluid retention in the upper portion of the cheek and they are unrelated to fad pads in the lower lids or a lower blepharoplasty.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Beware of festoons

Malar bags or festoons are important to pick up on pre-op exam as they are often a cause of frustration to both the patient and the surgeon post-operatively. The tissues that surround the eyes (malar bags included) will swell and bruise after a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Most of the swelling will dissipate after 2 weeks but unfortunately, the fluid in the malar bags will often persist much longer than that, sometimes for weeks. It is important that patients be aware of this before... more

Patrick Boulos, MD
Montreal Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.CliniqueO.com

Blepharoplasty does not cause malar bags

Malar bags can be difficult to correct and do not typically respond well to standard lower blepharoplasty only, nor are they worsened by lower blepharoplasty. However, if they are not properly identified before surgery, there may be disappointment as they may become more apparent with relative smoothing of the eyelid above the malar bag. One approach involves a cheek or midface lift through the eyelid incicion. More rarely, direct removal of the malar bags can be... more

David J. Levens, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

Lower blepharoploasty does not cause malar bags.

Malar bags are anatomy related to the cheek, not the lower eyelid. A ligament which runs through the cheek can collect fluid above it and cause the malar bags. Just performing a lower blepharoplasty won't cause a malar bag but can "unmask" or worsen the bags if they are present before the surgery, due to the swelling which occurs after the blepharoplasty. Typically when the swelling disappears, so do the malar bags. Malar bags can be very... more

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Bag Under Eyes and Bag on the Cheeks

Dear Eyelid Surgery Patient, Lower blepharoplasty or Lower eyelid surgery will not worsen or create malar bags. Lower eyelid surgery will address access skin, muscle, and fatty tissue related to lid structure. Malar bags or festoons are related to cheek structure. You may want to consult with a facial plastic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon that is experienced in eyelid surgery.

Kevin Sadati, DO
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lower Eyelid Surgery and Malar Bags

Hi Bowman929, As other plastic surgeons have stated, there typically isn't a direct correlation with lower eyelid blepharoplasty and malar bags. Lower eyelid surgery typically helps improve skin, fat, and/or muscle. Malar bags are a combination of swelling and ligament structures of the cheek area, and may be difficult to treat. Only after a comprehensive evaluation can a eye plastic surgeon help determine appropriate options for you. Best of luck. Dr. Chaboki... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.potomacplasticsurgery.com

Malar "bags" are part of the cheek

Although located close to the eyelids, "malar bags" are part of the cheek anatomy. They are one of the more problematic issues in facial rejuvenation, sometimes requiring "direct excision", (which puts an incision on the cheek), to actually remove. a board Certified Plastic surgeon uis well qualified to evaluate your situation and make a realistic recommendation as to your options and what to expect as an outcome. debrairizarry.com

Debra Irizarry, MD
Crestone Plastic Surgeon

Lower Blepharoplasty Cause Malar Bags

As you can read ALL experts doubt there is any relationship between Malar Festoons or bags and lower lid blepharoplasty. I agree. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Malar bags

Malar bags are due to swelling of the cheeks associated with water retention. It is like swelling of the legs, but it doe snot ussually go away with any treatment.. A lower eye lid surgery may induce some malar edema but it should goe away as the body heals.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Malar bags and lower blepharoplasty

Typically malar bags are not made worse with lower lid surgery. They may, however, be improved if you and your surgeon identify the problem preoperatively. The same approach can often be used to address those areas of concern. However, they may be difficult to completely correct depending on your anatomy and the source of those bags. I hope this information helps.

Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower blepharoplasty does not cause malar bags, but may not be address them by the technique used for the blepharoplasty. There are a number of techniques in use, and a lot of controversy about which one is best and has the lowest complication rate. I, personally, use a very aggressive method that disconnects the lid from the bony orbital rim and folds the fat over the rim rather than remove any fat. It also elevates the whole cheek (malar area). Many believe this is too aggressive because... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Malar Bags

Without pictures it is difficult to give you specific advice. The best option is to have an evaluation by a board-certified plastic surgeon for an examination. If you post pictures, we may be able to give you more specific advice. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Eyelid surgery and malar bags

The malar bags are anatomically separate from the eyelids and should not be "caused" by lower blepharoplasty. However, swelling and edema from the surgery may make the malar bags swell as well making them more noticeable. Also, if you have very baggy lower lids and malar bags and then you correct the eyelids bags alone, the malar bags may become more prominent in comparison.

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

Malar bags and Lower Blepharoplasty

Malar bags are anatomically separate from the lower eyelid. Lower blepharoplasty does not correct malar bags, and no procedure reliably does. On the other hand, lower blepharoplasty, like any injury to the area, may temporarily increase edema in the malar bags. The key word here is temporarily; as the surgical swelling resolves, so should any increase in malar bags.

Joseph Mele, MD
Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

It does not

A lower lid blepharoplasty is designed to remove the lower lid bags and if present remove some excess skin. Malar bags are a big problem -- but are not caused by the surgery.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Lower eyelid surgery does not cause malar bags,

nor does it contribute to them. The anatomy is distinct between the lower eyelid and the malar fat pads. You should seek a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You will also find qualified surgeons for lower eyelid surgery who are Facial Plastic Surgeons (ENT surgeons who did some extra training) and some Ophalmologists who have specialized in oculoplastic surgery.

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Lower Blepharoplasty should fix Malar Bags

Hi Bowman 929, Lower eyelid surgery should fix your malar bags, not make them worse! Having said that, however, the correction of the bags requires that a particular type of lower blepharoplasty is performed. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon and be sure that he or she knows that the malar bags are a concern of yours. Good Luck!

P. Daniel Ward, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and malar bags

A lower blepharoplasty if done correctly, can correct malar bags. Sometimes there is some loose skin which needs to be removed, but more often, the cause is fat which has descended out of it's original position. This fat needs to be repositioned-not removed, in order to achieve a youthful lower eyelid/cheek junction. This can be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon or a board certified ocuoplastic surgeon. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno