Best Treatment for Hollowing and Herniation of the Lower Lid Fat Compartments?

asked 10 months ago by Jane A
Latest answer by Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Question viewed 129 times
Tags: alternative, atrophy, options

When some fat compartments in the lower lid have atrophied with age, but other compartments remain and therefore appear herniated, what is the best surgical or non-surgical treatment to address this? Remove the herniated portion or tighten the lid? Is it wiser to seek an experienced eyelid injector that can add filler to hollow areas to "level out the playing field" instead? (if filler in this part of the orbit is even an option at all). Sorry for so many questions!

5 answers to Best Treatment for Hollowing and Herniation of the Lower Lid Fat Compartments?

Lower Eyelid Aging Options

As we age, the tissues around the lower eyelid move downward. This frequently causes the orbital rim to become uncovered. With significant fat in the medial fat compartment, this may not be as noticeable. The lateral fat pocket, however, will generally become well demarcated and visible. The best way to correct this is with a full Blepharoplasty where the medial and lateral fat is rolled over the orbital rim and the muscle and skin are tightened. A filler or fat injection by someone very... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Best Options for Eyelid Hollowing and Eyelid Fat Herniation

Dear Jane A- In general, eyelid hollowing is best adressed by some type of filler. The filler can be from a syringe, or your own fat, or ever repositioning of the structures under the eyelid, but the best option would be what your inidividual face would look best with. Regarding eyelid fat herniation, typically you will want to have just the excess fat that's bulging out removed. That can be done with some type of blepharoplasty- eyelid lift surgery. Of course,... more

Roy Kim, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Lower lid irregularities

You have so many appropriate questions because there are so many anatomical irregularities as you describe. Each anatomical entity has to be addressed individually and then the whole procedure "packaged" so that it fits anatomically and physiologically. In essence, every patients requires this analysis that will lead to a customized "best-fit" solution. Robin T.W. Yuan, M. D.

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

Fillers vs. blepharoplasty for aging eyes.

I would need to see photos to properly answer your question. In general, we do a blepharoplasty and tighten the skin, rmove the excess skin and fat, and place the excess fat in the hollow and suture it in place. Juviderm may be an alternative.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

You may want to approach the situation with a transconjunctival removal of the protruding fat pads of the lower eyelid, with an additional skin pinch removal of skin just below the eyelashes. In addition, I would also recommend that you have either a hyaluronic acid filler (Restylane) or fat injections done to the hollows below the eyelids (tear trough region). This way you improve the eyelid contour without creating or exacerbating the hollow appearance. more

Jenifer L. Henderson, MD
Silverdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

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