Why do I have bags under my eyes and one side is worse than the other? (Photos)

Question

Alexander Rivkin, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Puffy under eyes are usually caused by herniated fat pads and are very common and they can sometimes be asymmetrical. When the puffiness is mild, we can treat non surgically. Using a non invasive treatment of hyaluronic acid filler injections, like Juvederm or Restylane, we can sometimes help camouflage the protrusion to give you a well rested and smooth appearance. If the puffiness is more severe, surgical repositioning would really be the best option. If you are a candidate, going the less invasive route with injections can last you a long time and give you a great result. Be sure to consult with an injector who is very experienced in treating the undereye area. It can be a tricky procedure. Best of luck!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

There are many reasons why people develop eye bags.  The most prevalent reason is genetics.  Other factors can include diet, allergies, and hydration status.  No one has perfect symmetry, so as the bags develop normal asymmetries become more apparent.  The good news is that there are treatments to help improve these concerns.  Fillers do a nice job of disguising under eye irregularities.  They can be done in the office and last approximately a year.  See an expert injector in your area to learn more.

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a common question.  Every single person is asymmetric throughout their body and this includes the eyes. Asymmetries and eyelid wrinkles can be corrected with blepharoplasty or cosmetic eyelid surgery. It is one of the first cosmetic surgeries people usually get. While the average age might be 30 to 50's, some patients get this done in their 20s. It really depends on your unique anatomy as well as what exactly is bothering you. That said, even after surgery I always warn patients that there will still be asymmetry and things will not look 100% perfectly even because some asymmetries cannot be corrected unless you  reposition bone, remove muscle etc. and some things are just not worth doing.
Botox injections as well as laser treatments can also be a tremendous benefit if you are not interested in surgery. Of course, there are also many combinations.I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of eyelid surgery but also offers all the nonsurgical options such as injectables and laser treatments. Go over your concerns with them and make sure above all, you walk out of there with several options and an idea of the pros and cons to each of them as well as realistic expectations. I hope my answer helps and if it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right.  Have a great day.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Everyone has some facial asymmetries. Under eye bags can be permanently corrected with surgery or temporarily camouflaged with fillers (Restylane, Belotero, Volbella).There are great non-surgical options to fill in under eye depressions and hollowness. Using dermal fillers, a liquid eye-lift can be performed. A dermal filler such as Restylane would be placed in the cheek and tear trough to hide the depression or bag underneath your eye.
Surgery would require a fat-repositioning lower lid blepharoplasty. In this surgical procedure, fat from the eye area is moved into the tear trough depression filling the actual depression. 
I hope this helps!

Tanya T. Khan, MD · Answer

Hello, your lower lids have some wrinkling due to skin laxity as well as the prominence of the fat pads which become more apparent when we smile/animate and also with age. Everyone has some degree of facial asymmetry so you may feel that the lower lid puffiness is more obvious on one side than the other. This can be addressed with a lower lid blepharoplasty +/- laser resurfacing along the skin.

Why do I have bags under my eyes and one side is worse than the other? (Photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Treating Asymmetrical Eye Bags? Fillers or surgery

Answer: Treating Asymmetrical Eye Bags? Fillers or surgery

Answer: Eye bags

Answer: Eye bags

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Why do I have bags under my eyes and one side is worse than the other? (Photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Treating Asymmetrical Eye Bags? Fillers or surgery

Answer: Treating Asymmetrical Eye Bags? Fillers or surgery

Answer: Eye bags

Answer: Eye bags

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.