My mom says she had eyebags even as a child. Now she is 50 and trying to get a lower blepharoplasty, since they have worsened in the last few years. I also have had eyebags as long and I can remember and I would like to get treated. I also have chronic allergies, which make them worse. Would a blepharoplasty be the best course of action for me, or would fillers be a good choice for my age and type of eyebags? I'd rather get a lower bleph, because that will be permanent. But again, my age is a factor.
June 23, 2014
Answer: Genetic eye bags do run in families and can affect young people. Choosing a filler or surgery can be assessed. As a practicing oculofacial plastic surgeon for 20 years, I have operated on people as young as 14-years-old for bags under the eyes. Eye bags runs in families and I’ve actually operated on 3 generations in the same family. There are some key important factors that will help you decide which option is right for you. The first is how prominent the bags are. In your photo, it appears that they are relatively prominent, but lighting and other factors can impact how 3-dimensional the bags are. If the bags are very subtle, then they may be camouflaged with a filler like Restylane or other hyaluronic acid. But if the bags are more prominent especially when you look up, and they bulge forward and become even more prominent, then you should consider a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. In a younger person like you, I would typically do a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In addition, allergies accumulate a lot of fluid in the eye area. Management of allergies is very important when you are considering rejuvenation of the lower eyelids. If your eyes are itchy or if you have watery eyes and you need eye drops, those things should be managed. If you need to take antihistamines, then take them. Allergies can still affect the appearance of your under eye area. When the puffiness is removed, even if you have allergies, it won’t look as puffy as when the fat pockets were there. You are probably best served with a blepharoplasty as opposed to using fillers. But as mentioned, 3-dimensionality is something that can only be appreciated in a physical examination. Skin quality with allergies is also an issue so you have to think about good topical skin care. Sometimes people with chronic allergies rub their eyes a lot and the skin becomes irregular and has an aged appearance. In our practice, we would routinely do a platelet-rich plasma injection and the use of fractional CO2 laser. However, it is important first to do a physical exam. If your mother is doing her research, it will be good for you to tag along and have a consultation. I recently did a facelift and eyelift on a mother and daughter and they supported each other very nicely during their healing process. This is worth considering when you do your consultation. Most importantly, understand the level of fat prolapse you have. If it’s beyond a certain level, you’re probably best served with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for your question.
Helpful
June 23, 2014
Answer: Genetic eye bags do run in families and can affect young people. Choosing a filler or surgery can be assessed. As a practicing oculofacial plastic surgeon for 20 years, I have operated on people as young as 14-years-old for bags under the eyes. Eye bags runs in families and I’ve actually operated on 3 generations in the same family. There are some key important factors that will help you decide which option is right for you. The first is how prominent the bags are. In your photo, it appears that they are relatively prominent, but lighting and other factors can impact how 3-dimensional the bags are. If the bags are very subtle, then they may be camouflaged with a filler like Restylane or other hyaluronic acid. But if the bags are more prominent especially when you look up, and they bulge forward and become even more prominent, then you should consider a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. In a younger person like you, I would typically do a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In addition, allergies accumulate a lot of fluid in the eye area. Management of allergies is very important when you are considering rejuvenation of the lower eyelids. If your eyes are itchy or if you have watery eyes and you need eye drops, those things should be managed. If you need to take antihistamines, then take them. Allergies can still affect the appearance of your under eye area. When the puffiness is removed, even if you have allergies, it won’t look as puffy as when the fat pockets were there. You are probably best served with a blepharoplasty as opposed to using fillers. But as mentioned, 3-dimensionality is something that can only be appreciated in a physical examination. Skin quality with allergies is also an issue so you have to think about good topical skin care. Sometimes people with chronic allergies rub their eyes a lot and the skin becomes irregular and has an aged appearance. In our practice, we would routinely do a platelet-rich plasma injection and the use of fractional CO2 laser. However, it is important first to do a physical exam. If your mother is doing her research, it will be good for you to tag along and have a consultation. I recently did a facelift and eyelift on a mother and daughter and they supported each other very nicely during their healing process. This is worth considering when you do your consultation. Most importantly, understand the level of fat prolapse you have. If it’s beyond a certain level, you’re probably best served with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for your question.
Helpful
May 10, 2014
Answer: Lower Blepharoplasty at young age You don't mention your age, but obviously, you are quite young. I think the camera angle and lighting are probably making the hollows under your eyes look more prominent than they typically appear in -person. You certainly are not a candidate for lower blepharoplasty. I find the result of fillers under the eyes unpredictable at best, and sometimes disastrous. At some point in the future, you might consider conservative structural fat grafting performed by a plastic surgeon with considerable experience and expertise in creating lasting and natural looking results from this procedure. At this moment, the best option might be the use of make up under your eyes.
Helpful
May 10, 2014
Answer: Lower Blepharoplasty at young age You don't mention your age, but obviously, you are quite young. I think the camera angle and lighting are probably making the hollows under your eyes look more prominent than they typically appear in -person. You certainly are not a candidate for lower blepharoplasty. I find the result of fillers under the eyes unpredictable at best, and sometimes disastrous. At some point in the future, you might consider conservative structural fat grafting performed by a plastic surgeon with considerable experience and expertise in creating lasting and natural looking results from this procedure. At this moment, the best option might be the use of make up under your eyes.
Helpful