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What Treatments Are Best for Hyperpigmentation Under Eyes Post Facelift?

asked 1 year ago by springup in Staten Island, NY
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 532 times
Tags: under eyes, 4 months post-op, dark circles, options

I am almost four months post-op and the dark areas still very visible. How can I tell if they are bruise stains or dark pigmentation? Would they be treated differently? Hydraquinone cream just irritates the area. Surgeon suggested CO2 Laser treatment. Can it make the problem worse? I've read some scary things about laser treatment side effects which can include even more hyperpigmentation. I'm very depressed. Is there a chance they will go away in a couple of months on their own?

13 answers to What Treatments Are Best for Hyperpigmentation Under Eyes Post Facelift?

Hyperpigmentation can be really stubborn.

Well I deal with this issue frequently, I have performed over a thousand resurfacings at the same time that I have done my face lifts. I believe in the resurfacing and I have battled some very stubborn Hyperpigmentation. Certain ethnicity's need to be careful with deep laser resurfacing. Orientals, Mediterraneans, and Afro-Americans should be cautious. With that said I currently use a skin lightener that is fairly unusual, it contains Kojic Acid, abutting, and bear berry. We have it... more

Charles Virden, MD
Reno Plastic Surgeon

www.virdenmd.com

Hyperpigmentation under eyes after facelift

You are right that laser treatment can cause problems also. Hydroquinone products can sometimes be helpful, but have to be used carefully to prevent lightening of surrounding skin.

Malik Kutty, MD
Sugar Land Plastic Surgeon

Did you have eyelid surgery with your facelift?

It is improbable that your dark circles are related to pigment associated in some way with your surgery. Hydroquinone or any other skin bleacher is unlikely to be of any benefit except to the people filling your prescription. You have not provide any photographs and generally a personal examination is needed to truly understand your issues. However, most dark circles of the lower eyelid have nothing to do with extra pigment and everything to how thin the lower eyelid skin... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Dark Circles under eyes following a facelift

It is difficult to give you a clear answer as to what may be causing the darkness around your eyes without a picture. Sometimes bruising following a facelift can stimulate the pigment producing cells to make a bit more pigment. It would be unusual to see this with a facelift in the lower eyelids unless other procedures were involved or the facelift involved a composite lift or some kind of technique around the eye. This can be helped to resolve quicker... more

James C. Marotta, MD
Long Island Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.marottamd.com

Hyperpigmentation Under Eyes Post Facelift

Although it is hard to tell without seeing your pictures what you are describing is possibly hemosiderin staining and will not respond to bleaching agents or CO2 laser. Use of a Q switch laser is your best bet.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face Lift

I would try a new bleach cream called elure, or hydroquinone in 2% strength by La Roche. I have yet to see someone sensitive to it. Just apply a bit with a Q-tip and a thin film once a day will help. You can also consider Kojic acid 2% and evaluate that. Also, you should be using a SPF 30 or more under your eyes.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Post-Op Hyperpigmentation

This doesn’t typically happen, but there are some lasers that can be effective for this purpose and getting rid of the hyperpigmentation you are experiencing.

Jeffrey Epstein MD, FACS
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

Hyperpigmentation treatment results and options after facelift

Four months and hyperpigmentation, you can do intense pulse light to get some of the deeper pigmentation. Warmth and cold compresses alternating can be of some assistance. Exercise will get your blood flow going and possibly help this situation. Other options instead of laser resurfacing include, topical lightening creams, serial chemical peels. It depends on the level of pigmentation. If it is deeper you need to do intense pulse light or other pigment attacking lasers. For more... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dark areas in skin after Face Lift

The dark areas, or stains in the skin, after a Face Lift can be caused by the hemosiderin pigment in red cells. Bleeding into the tissues, during any surgery, leaves deposits of red cells. When these red cells are removed, by the body, they burst releasing hemosiderin pigment that can stain the skin. While these stains can, in rare instances, can be permanent most resolve (last longer in darker pigmented skin) within a year. The stains are within the dermis,... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dark circles under the eyes post facelift procedure

It is difficult to assess why you would have dark circles under your eyes post facelift surgery. Did you have other procedures in combination with your facelift? Photographs would be helpful and a more descript explanation of your facial surgery and if other procedures were combined. I have performed thousands of facelifts and this is not a common post operative complication. Please provide some photographs or other information to me via my email or website and I will try and help you with a... more

Michael Elam, MD
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Going in "dark" circles

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Dark circles under the eyes following facelift.

Dark circles under the eyes can be contributed by multiple factors: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation uneven surface contour such as 'tear-trough' deformities or bulging orbital fat casting a shadow in this location. inherent dark color of the eyelid skin versus the cheek skin due to the lack of any substantial fatty layer between the skin and eyelid muscle. At this point 4 months following your face lift, the majority of healing will have occurred... more

Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS
Denver Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.cofps.com

Recovery from Facelift

Without before and after pictures or more clinical information or description, it is impossible to answer your question. Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by many factors and each have different treatments. With more information, we can give you more specific answers. Good Luck.