Eye bags make us look older, more haggard and exhausted than we actually are. Typically, the bumps on the tissues under the eyes are fat build-up due to laxity of under-eye and cheek muscles or can be an accumulation of venous fluids. Eye bags can be caused by several factors and can differ from one individual to another. The common causes of eye bags are:
- Not enough sleep and rest
- Overfatigue
- Too much stress
- Age-related factors
- Genetics
Why consider cosmetic treatments for eye bag removal?
While touch-ups and concealers can hide the puffiness, eye bags can look worse over time if no treated. When make-up and eye creams doesn’t help anymore, then maybe it’s time to book yourself a trip to the doctor’s office and have your eye bags permanently removed.
Options for Eye Bag Removal Treatments
Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty (Surgical Eye Bag Removal)
This procedure is not for those with a faint heart as it requires you to go under the knife. With surgery, only a licensed facial surgeon can remove excess fat or the puffiness under the eyes. Usually, the approach is by making a small incision along the lower eyelid where the eye bag has formed. Through this access, the fatty bulging can be corrected by removing or rearranging the fat or fluid build-up. This results to the tightening of the skin and muscles on the lower eyelid.
For real eye bags (not tear troughs) Dr Isaac Wong (formerly known as Dr Israr Wong) warns that surgery performed by a plastic surgeon is the only option for successful and permanent eye bag removal. However, because this procedure is invasive, it is usually accompanied by considerable swelling and long recovery time (2-3 weeks) to allow the wound to heal. Before there’s always the chance of scarring but nowadays, scarless surgical eye bag removal procedures are available, thanks to the advancements in medical technology.
Non-surgical Eye Bag Removal Treatments
- Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectables that act as gel-like inflatable cushions that smoothens out the lower eyelid area, fill up loss volume and causes the skin to stretch to make eye bags and venous build-ups less conspicuous. Under-eye fillers are usually made of hyaluronic acid and other collagen stimulating substances that give instant results that can last for 6-12 months. When done by a well-trained cosmetic doctor, dermal fillers can have significant eye bag reduction (50-70%). Dermal fillers have almost zero downtime and you can even go back to work right after the injection procedure. - Radiofrequency (RF) Eye Bag Removal
This eye bag removal treatment uses patented micro-insulated needles to microscopically puncture the skin along the lower eye lid and deliver precise radiofrequency waves into the fat deposits inside the eye bag. In some cases, poly-L-lactic acids that stimulates collagen are also injected via the micro-needles. Radiofrequency (RF) eye bag removal tightens the skin under the eye and results to a significant reduction in the bulging of the eye bag. There is almost no downtime and the procedure is painless due to the application of topical anaesthetics. Since no incisions are made and the fatty build-p is not physically removed, this procedure is only suitable for small to medium-sized eye bags. Severe eye bag puffiness may require blepharoplasty.
- High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Technology
Typically, HIFU technology is used to improve skin laxity but it can also be used to tighten the under-eye area and ultimately reduce the appearance of puffy eye bags. The process involves a hand-held device that delivers high intensity focused ultrasound energy into the deeper skin layers to induce collagen production. The procedure is non-invasive therefore, it is safe, have minimal discomfort and almost no downtime. It takes about 4-12 weeks for the new collagen to form and for full effects and significant eye bag removal to be observed. - Laser Blepharoplasty
Unlike surgical eye bag removal that makes a small incision but instead of a scalpel, laser blepharoplasty makes the incision using a carbon dioxide laser. Through this opening, our doctor is able to access and remove the fatty build-up making up the eye bags. With the use of laser, the risk of swelling and scarring is reduced and even very less likely to occur. Compared to surgery which can have 2-3 weeks recovery time, the treatment area after laser blepharoplasty only takes 8 to 10 days to completely recover.
Things to consider
- A combination of treatments can be used to remove eye bags.
Each patient’s cosmetic concern is different from others. To maximize the benefits of a successful eye bag removal, a combination of treatments can be implemented. So, before committing to any treatment, make sure you undergo a thorough consultation with a well-trained doctor so he/she can prescribe the best eye bag removal option for you. - Getting enough rest matters.
Whatever eye bag removal treatment you choose, do note that like any medical procedure, the longevity of effects of the treatments can vary with each individual. Factors that can affect the lasting results include our skin’s natural ageing process and our own lifestyle. Getting enough sleep and practising а healthy lifestyle can prevent eye bags from ever coming back.