Thank you for your question. The fullness you see under your eyes when smiling is due to your orbicularis oculi muscle. This muscle is very important to help us properly close our eyes, it also helps our eyelid oils glands properly function. It is common for it to become more prominent with smiling- we call it a hypertrophic orbicularis muscle. I have the same problem when I smile:)A lower lid blepharoplasty can improve this problem, however this would require a skin incision and removal of a strip of very important orbicularis muscle. Based on your photos, it may be too soon for surgery for this indication. Instead, you can consider Botox injections. A couple units to that muscle will soften the appearance when you smile. It’s quick and easy and avoids surgery. I recommend evaluation with an oculoplastic surgeon who can do a full eyelid examination and recommend if surgery is a good option for other eyelid changes or if Botox is a better solution at this time. I hope this is helpful!
