Why are there lines and bulges under my eyes when I smile? What procedure would be best for this? (photos)

Question

I have these lines under my eyes that bother me, it doesn’t seem necessarily like eye bags. What I hate most about it is when I smile the lines show up even more and bulge, making me look so old even though I am in my 20s. My eyes have begun to be my insecurity. What procedure would be best for this? Would orbital decompression surgery help?

Patrick Flaharty, MD FAACS · Answer

When you smile you activate the orbicularis oculi muscle which bunches up the skin under your eyes creating additional folds and creases in the skin.  Low dose Botox can relax this delicate muscle under the eyes reducing the bunching. You must remember, however that you need redundancy of the eyelid skin and full function of the orbicularis oculi muscle for proper movement and closure of the eyes, so some bunching is necessary and normal.

Why are there lines and bulges under my eyes when I smile? What procedure would be best for this? (photos)

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