Male, 22, what would I need to fix my eye bags and raise my lower eyelids? (Photos)

If you had a traditional lower eyelid surgery (removing fat and skin), the appearance would worsen. That’s because anatomically, your malar (cheek) bone doesn’t protrude farther than the eyeball itself.

At your age, you should look into fat transfer, which would add volume and support to the lower lid and also camouflage the “bag”, which is really protective fat around your eyeball that sticks out farther than the skin that is tethered to the bone underneath it.

If you wanted to “raise the lower eyelid”, this might include a supportive stitch in the corner of the eye, but if it’s overdone, it could actually make it worse. Bottom line, go to someone who is experienced in lower eyelid surgery. This might include an oculoplastic surgeon or a plastic surgeon with multiple years of experience in the field, including revision surgery.

Hello and thank you for your question. A formal evaluation would be needed to determine the best treatment. There are both surgical and non-surgical options to correct this, depending on your specific situation.

For less significant puffiness and sagging UNDER the eyes, or more mild improvement, there are nonsurgical treatment options: we often use Renuvion helium plasma radiofrequency (RF) energy to achieve incredible results and take years off of your appearance. Combining RF energy and cool helium plasma, the signs of aging (wrinkles, pigmentation, skin laxity) are improved in a ‘Nonsurgical Lower Eyelid Lift.' The focused heating tightens and peels the outer skin layer with extreme precision, leaving the surrounding area undamaged, smoothing and tightening the periorbital skin, and improving the overall skin quality around the eyes. It's an aggressive treatment, and the recovery time is longer than with other nonsurgical procedures, but the results can be life-changing.​

Surgery (a lower blepharoplasty with or without canthopexy/canthoplasty or orbicularis muscle suspension) is a great option for more significant improvement- for example if there are more severe lower eyelid bags / bulging present. Sometimes the surgery can also be used to intentionally adjust the shape and/or size of your eyes, or correct any asymmetries!

Dr. Donald Groves is an expert facial plastic surgeon that I work with, who specializes in these types of procedures. It is important that if you are considering surgery that you go to someone who is well trained and very experienced with these delicate operations to get the best results. I suggest getting a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert, or an aesthetic facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Groves; we are both located right here in Los Angeles.

Best,
Dr. Emer

The easy part to address is scarless lower blepharoplasty for the under eye fat bags. Changing the position of the eyelid is more complex. See an expert.

Your photos exhibit fat pad herniation and a drooping of the lateral canthus.To correct this and give you an outer lid lift, I would recommend a transconjunctival removal of fat and a lateral canthopexy procedure.Hope this helps.

Your eyebrows are below the orbital rim and you would benefit from a browlift. You may also benefit from an upper and lower blepharoplasty as well.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

The kind of issue seen in the photos is one that is routinely treated with the appropriate HA filler in active cosmetic dermatology practices practically on a daily basis.
The photos suggest some volume deficit in the cheeks and since the upper cheeks serve as an important support for the under-eye region, volume deficit in the cheeks typically results in infraorbital hollows, tear troughs and bags.
The appropriate use of an HA volumizing filler for the upper cheeks typically results in immediate improvement that evokes a "Wow!" response and engenders little to no significant downtime.
You would be wise to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist filler expert and relax.