I have a prominent malar bag on the right side of my face. It's so bad that I often get asked if I was punched in the face because it is so puffy. I want to have it excised. I've tried fillers which don't work to camouflage it because it's too big. I've tried lasers and they did nothing. I don't care about the scar, I want this festoon removed. I cannot find any surgeons who actually perform this procedure. I am looking for a surgeon to perform the excision and I will travel anywhere in the U.S.
June 23, 2017
Answer: Malar Bag Treatment Malar bags can be difficult to treat if its important to you to avoid visible scars. Oftentimes surgery is the answer, but there are other non-surgical treatments to include: RFAL (radio frequency skin tightening); Fraxel treatment to the area of swelling; tetracycline injections; fillers; and others. If you haven't tried RFAL, which is a treatment below the skin surface then I would consider that. It has shown moderate to great success with my patients and has little scarring risk as compared to surgery. I will excise when necessary, but with your smooth cheeks and youthful skin I would not advise it. Best regards.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
June 23, 2017
Answer: Malar Bag Treatment Malar bags can be difficult to treat if its important to you to avoid visible scars. Oftentimes surgery is the answer, but there are other non-surgical treatments to include: RFAL (radio frequency skin tightening); Fraxel treatment to the area of swelling; tetracycline injections; fillers; and others. If you haven't tried RFAL, which is a treatment below the skin surface then I would consider that. It has shown moderate to great success with my patients and has little scarring risk as compared to surgery. I will excise when necessary, but with your smooth cheeks and youthful skin I would not advise it. Best regards.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
June 22, 2017
Answer: This is a difficult problem Malar bags are not easy to treat. The only time I would do a direct excision on the cheek would be on an older person with a lot of wrinkles. On you, a very prominent scar would be noticeable. I have treated malar pads successfully under the skin, on patients whose cheek skin has been elevated for a facelift, but you look too young for that. Are you sure some of the puffiness isn't from the filler? The skin over the bag has a blueish hue that we sometimes see when Juvederm has been injected - if so, do not inject anything further and let things settle.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
June 22, 2017
Answer: This is a difficult problem Malar bags are not easy to treat. The only time I would do a direct excision on the cheek would be on an older person with a lot of wrinkles. On you, a very prominent scar would be noticeable. I have treated malar pads successfully under the skin, on patients whose cheek skin has been elevated for a facelift, but you look too young for that. Are you sure some of the puffiness isn't from the filler? The skin over the bag has a blueish hue that we sometimes see when Juvederm has been injected - if so, do not inject anything further and let things settle.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful