How Do I Get Rid of Eye Bags?

Eye bags are the appearance of the lower eyelid fat pads. As we age and lose facial volume, the bags are revealed. In the past, the only way to get rid of the eyebags was by blepharoplasty, lower eyelid surgery. The surgery was performed usually from inside the eyelid (transconjunctival blepharoplasty) or through an incision in the skin just below the lash line. The excess fat was removed.

In the past 6-7 years, our philosophy about the lower eyelids has evolved. We now preserve the volume (fat) of the lower lid, and in the majority of patients are able to get rid of the bags by replacing the lost volume in the lower eyelid tear trough.

A small amount of Restylane injected in the proper manner blends the "eye bag" with the upper cheek, restoring a youthful, rested appearance to the eyes. The treatment takes about 15 minutes, is relatively painless, and the results are immediately evident. The treatment is very delicate and advanced training and ability are required. In the proper hands, the treatment is very safe and effective.

If you decide on fat transfer, your own fat can be similiarly placed. Once again, it is imperative that you seek an experienced practioner, as fat is a permanent filler. For patients with very large bags, surgery is sometimes still necessary. Once treated, instead of looking tired after a full night's sleep, you can look most rested after staying up all night.

Surgery is the most effective way of treating the puffiness or the bags of the lower lids.  I usually perform this procedure without any scars since the operation I perform is through the inside of the eyelid.  There is also no sutures needed at all.  The recovery is fast.  This procedure costs about $2500

In today's day and age there are so many ways to improve under eye bags that it's ashame to suffer from this condition one day longer. Depending on what's causing your "eye bags" or making you look tired all the time will dictate the treatment and how much improvement you want. Before you even think of any intervention, see an experienced honest doctor.  Sometimes the remedy could be as easy as you need more sleep or treatment for your allergies/sinuses.  If you genuinely have eye bags you can have surgical intervention or strategically placed filler. Last but not least a chemical peel and/or a great eye cream can also help.

As we age, the lower eyelids can appear to have extensive bags.  This is caused by an out-pouching of fat from the orbit.  These pockets of fat can be removed during an eyelid procedure known as blepharoplasty.  This is a very rewarding procedure with great potential to last for a long period of time.  When added to a facial procedure, this is an excellent strategy to rejuvenate your appearance.

A combination approach will give the most improvement with eye bags. For my patients who wish to avoid surgery, we use fillers, lasers, microneedling/PRP and stem cells to improve under the eyes. I suggest consulting with an expert to develop a treatment plan best suited for your short and long term goals. Best, Dr. Emer

A lower eyelid tuck also known as a lower blepharoplasty is the surgical procedure that can remove bags under the eyelids and tighten the skin. There is no other good procedure to remove bags under the eyelid, in other words there are no lasers or creams that can do this. Everybody is somewhat different and a good consultation is needed. If the changes are minimal, often one can do small camouflage type techniques including filler injections. There are some powerful laser treatments that can help with fine wrinkles but they do not treat bags under the eyes. Most plastic surgeons prefer a blepharoplasty as laser treatments that are powerful enough to remove wrinkles often leave blotchy redness which can persist for quite a bit of time.

Thank you for your question. It would be ideal to see some images because there are a number of options from non-surgical to surgical. Modern day surgical techniques tend to preserve the fat rather than excising it and involve release of retaining ligaments and repositioning of the fat pads. I would suggest making an appointment with a qualified surgeon with an interest in eyelid surgery and go from there. I hope that helps.RegardsDr Guy Watts

Almost impossible to answer with out photos and/or an exam. Although you can camouflage the problem in certain cases with fillers, a blepharoplasty is generally recommended.
Patients who would benefit from a blepharoplasty include those who experience:
• Excessive, sagging, or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin.
• Excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision.
• Loss of your natural upper eyelid crease
• If you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.
• Orbital Rim Show: visibility of the bone under the eye sometimes contributing to a dark ring or shadowing.
Normally, everyone has a small amount of fat around the eyes. If the quantity of fat increases or the local tissues stretch and weaken, the fat begins to bulge producing “bags.” Occasionally this bulging is seen in young patients and is an inherited family trait, and not a result of aging. These changes have a profound effect on one’s appearance giving a tired or haggard appearance. An attractive face with these early signs of aging can affect a patient’s self-image, attitude and sense of well-being.

Thank you for your question about under-eye bags.
There are many non-surgical ways to tackle under-eye puffiness, lines, and/or dark circles.  There are some skin care products you can use.  Some laser treatments such as ErYag lasers can tighten skin under the eyes and help reduce fine lines.  Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) microneedling can also tighten the skin and help promote collagen production.  Finally, you can camouflage under eye bags by placing fillers such as Juvederm Vollure or Voluma, or Restylane Defyne in the area.   

To be sure, see two or more experienced, licensed and board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment. I hope this helps.

The fat that herniates out from around the eyes on the lower lids can create bulges known as eye bags. These can be removed surgically, if moderate to severe, and your own fat can be harvested from the lower body and placed along the lower lid rim to restore volume loss and prevent a hollow look. Mild bags can be treated without surgery by using a filler material to camouflage the volume loss. Don't forget the skin! In severe cases of skin excess, a small amount of skin may need to be removed. However, skin care, chemical peels or laser can be used to tighten the crepe skin.Treating the fat, volume loss and skin will result in the optimal and most natural results.

Common question. This difficult to answer without a good facial analysis. Below are the reasons followed by some typical treatments I offer patients after a clear diagnosis. 

For smile lines (around the eyes) and forehead wrinkles strategically placed botox. For the dark circles you really need a good facial analysis and physical exam to determine the cause as different causes lead to different treatments.











For example, in  my hands, lax skin =  laser resurfacing













Orbital fat prolapse =  transconjunctival blepharoplasty with fat repositioning, possibly autofat transfer to the face vs. synthetic filler













Deep nasojugular groove =  possible mid face lift













Festoons =  classic blepharoplasty with orbicularis work and possible skin pinch













Hope this helps.













Best of luck,













DrC