Will CO2 laser help remove under eye bags?

Hello and thank you for your question.  A photo would be best in order to give better direction and advice for your case, however I can give you some information on your options.  Resurfacing lasers, such as the CO2 laser, are used to improve fine lines, deep wrinkles, scarring, age or sun spots and other such superficial skin changes.   Those who complain of "under eye bags" are usually referring to one of two things; deep tear troughs from loss of volume, or fat pad herniation causing a bulge.  In either case, both can be corrected with either fillers or surgery and generally will not get much improvement from resurfacing lasers.   Fillers are injected to help replace volume loss or to camouflage the uneven appearance from the fat pad, giving a smoother transition from under eye lid to cheek.  Results from filers are temporary and can last you anywhere from 8 months to 2+ years.  If, however, you are looking for a more permanent result, surgery can be a great option. It may be a good idea to get a second opinion.  Be sure to seek an experienced facial aesthetics injector or facial plastic surgeon for best direction.  Good luck!

co2 laser is an excellent modality to improve under eye lines and skin changes known as dermatochalasis.   It will not correct under eye bags.  Often lower transconjunctival blepharoplasty from the inside of the eyelid can remove or reposition the fat and co2 laser can be performed at the same time to enhance the overall result. This is an excellent option in treating most lids and avoids an external incision and reduces the chances of eyelid malposition after conventional external blepharoplasty. 

Thank you for your question!CO2 or Erbium Laser resurfacing are excellent modalities of treatment for fine line wrinkles of the lower eyelids.  However, neither will do anything for "under eye bags".  The bags you are seeing in the mirror are actually from fat in the eye socket that have prolapsed, or protruded out past the bony rim of the eye socket (orbit).  Once they are at a higher point than the bony rim, light reflects off this higher point, and creates a shadow which looks like a dark circle below this fat.  Typically, this easily and permanently addressed with a transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty, in which the incision is hidden behind the eyelid.I hope this helps!

Thank you for your question.
Co2 laser will tighten your skin but will not get rid of the eye bags. You should discuss your concerns with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can help you with your problem. All The Best !

The fractional CO2 skin resurfacing treatment is an effectivenonsurgical option to help address the wrinkling and bagginess that can beexperienced under the eye. It can help address many common skin concerns suchas loose skin, uneven texture and tone, fine lines andwrinkles, and sun damage. The CO2 skin resurfacing laser is safer, more costeffective and requires much less downtime than blepharoplasty. However, if youare unhappy with your plastic surgeon’s suggestion, you can always get a secondopinion. Make sure you are doing your research and consulting with aboard-certified plastic surgeon with experience in surgical and nonsurgicalfacial procedures.

Depending on how bad your bags are, you may not need surgery to correct the bagginess under the eyes. A CO2 or erbium laser can tighten the skin and a fat transfer can fill the gap under the eyes to soften the demarkation. The regenerative cells from the fat will also improve the quality of the skin.

Thanks for inquiring.  A lower eyelid blepharoplasty can addresses: skin, fat, and muscle.  A CO2 laser to the under eye will address the skin.  It will conservatively correct the fine wrinkling under the eyes.  If there are truly eye bags these are from fat and one would need to have surgery to reduce this fat.   

Fractionated CO2 laser can resurface, tighten and thicken the skin by building collagen. Generally it is recommended when the skin is thin with mild to moderate laxity. Improving tone can help the "bags" look better but will not remove fat. If there is good tone and a minimal fat bulge, sometimes fillers can be used to minimize the appearance by blending the eyelid with the cheek (filling the tear trough). Both of these are less invasive options than surgery but are not without risks.  If the skin is too loose or the fat bulge is too great, surgery may be the best option. Sometimes a combination of treatments is recommended. I hope these general principals are helpful to your situation.

Best to you,
Stephen Fink D.O. FAOCO

Under eye bags can be caused by a variety of factors.   CO2 laser resurfacing will tighten and skin and possibly improve the texture, tone, and quality.   If those are the issues contributing to your bags then the laser treatment can help.  The laser won't do anything to address any bulging fat, but if the skin is tightened over the area then the fat may appear to bulge less.

The specific treatment needs for under eye bags will vary by individual, but in general, CO2 and Er:YAG lasers are highly effective tools to treat under eye bags. You may need one laser, or a combination of both to achieve your specific treatment goals. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist who will provide a formal assessment and treatment plan. There are many additional things you can do for the eye area after your laser treatment heals, including a microneedling treatment series and the use of a good cosmeceutical regimen. In my practice we have more than 45 lasers that we use in combination to successfully provide treatment results for all of our patients.