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What Causes Water Retention Under my Eyes?

asked 1 year ago by Lisa Bone in Mechanicsburg, PA
Latest answer by Guy Massry, MD
Question viewed 902 times
Tags: age 45-54, causes, malar bags, options, water retention

I am 47 years old and I have developed malar edema. It sits right above my cheekbones and will not go away. Should I find out if there is an underlying health condition before I go to a plastic surgeon and if so, what type of tests should be done? Thanks

4 answers to What Causes Water Retention Under my Eyes?

+2

Water Retention and Eye Bags

Hi Lisa Bone, Eye bags have multiple causes, with each having various contributions to facial appearance. Bags are commonly due to eye fat which protrudes a little from the eye socket, in addition to sagging eyelid skin & muscle or edema. One also looses facial fat in the skin & cheeks from age. Weight fluctuations will affect eye bag appearance. Allergies and hormonal conditions will affect eye & cheek bags too. Lastly, water retention will affect the face from such factors... more
Houtan Chaboki, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fluid retention under eyes

Hi Lisa I know how frustrating your condition can be. As stated by the other doctors checking for a familial predisposition should shed some light as to the cause. However, I have found this problem to be what we as doctors call, multifactorial (many things can lead to it). You should check with your primary doctor if any medical condition can be adding to the problem (something that would cause you to retain salt). As far as treatment options. Surgery... more
Guy Massry, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Fluid retention lower eyelids and cheeks "malar bags"

Malar bags are small sacks of edema that accumulate over the cheek bones in people who are genetically predisposed to have it occur.  You can try and cut down on your salt intake and see if they improve.  There are no surgical ways to reliably decrease malar bags...but I have been successful in people who are also candidates for Cheek Augmentation, by improvong the Cheek Shape with Cheek Implants that camouflage the malar bags.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Consider seeing an oculoplastic surgeon.

Dear Lisa There is what doctors call a differential diagnosis for malar swelling.  However, for many this change is associated with aging and family genetics.  So if all the women of your family have a similar issue as they age, that is most likely the answer.  Yet there are other possible causes so if the malar festoon is newly acquired and not a feature of your family, a consultation to address possible medical causes is reasonable.
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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