The eyes are often called the windows to the soul, but tired-looking eyes with noticeable bags can make you appear older or more fatigued than you feel. If you’ve found yourself concerned about persistent under-eye bags that don’t respond to creams or concealer, lower eyelid surgery might be the solution you’ve been searching for.
This transformative procedure can help restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance to your face, helping you look as energetic as you feel inside. Keep reading to learn more about saying goodbye to under-eye bags with lower eyelid surgery!
What Is Lower Eyelid Surgery?
Lower eyelid surgery, also known as lower blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure designed to rejuvenate the appearance of the under-eye area. This specialized surgery addresses common concerns such as bags, puffiness, and excess skin that can make you look tired or older than your actual age.
Dr. Lauren Moy, board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon and member of the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery, discusses the subtle yet impactful results:
“Lower eyelid surgery can have natural-looking results, especially with a scarless technique. Patients often report that after the procedure, others notice they look more rested and vibrant without being able to pinpoint exactly what has changed. This is key to achieving a refreshed appearance that doesn’t look overly altered.”
What Happens During Lower Eyelid Surgery?
During lower eyelid surgery at Moy-Fincher-Chipps, your facial plastic surgeon will create a surgical plan customized to your specific needs. They will either perform the procedure scarlessly with an incision hidden in the inner eyelid mucosa or create an incision hidden right below the lower lash line.
Through these carefully placed incisions, they will remove and reposition any excess fat, skin, and muscles as necessary. Fat pads under your eyes can start drooping due to aging, so trimming and moving these tissues can help you achieve a more refreshed appearance.
The procedure addresses both the structural causes of under-eye bags and the visible signs of aging around your eyes. The procedure typically takes between one to two hours, depending on the extent of correction needed.
These modern surgical approaches allow for minimal scarring, with incisions carefully placed in the natural creases of your eyelids.
What Can Lower Eyelid Surgery Do for You?
If you’ve noticed the persistent appearance of bags under your eyes, lower eyelid surgery may be worth considering for reasons like:
Eliminate Puffiness and Under Eye Bags
Lower eyelid surgery can not only improve the appearance of bags under your eyes but also correct puffiness, helping you look well-rested and glowing. Instead of spending time covering up your dark circles, you can get ready in no time while looking bright-eyed and invigorated.
Smooth Out Wrinkles
A lower blepharoplasty can fix loose, wrinkled skin around your lower eyelids. Nobody needs to know you’ve had the procedure except you, but people will notice how much more refreshed you seem! At Moy-Fincher-Chipps, we often include CO2 laser resurfacing of the lower eyelids to further tighten and smooth that skin.
Restore Youthful Contours
The procedure can recreate smooth, natural transitions between your lower eyelids and cheeks, restoring the gentle contours of your youth. This subtle enhancement can take years off your appearance without looking artificial or overdone.
Comprehensive Rejuvenation
Dr. Lisa Chipps, current Vice President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, explains the transformative effects:
“Many patients are surprised that upper and lower eyelid surgery can safely be done under local anesthesia in our surgery centers. By removing excess skin in the upper eyelids and excess fat in the lower eyelids, especially in combination with laser resurfacing and natural injections of the patient’s own nanofat and platelet-rich plasma, we can dramatically improve the appearance of the aging skin around the eye, resulting in brighter, more youthful and happy appearing eyes.”
Who Is a Good Candidate for Lower Eyelid Surgery?
Ideal candidates for lower eyelid surgery are generally healthy individuals who have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve. You might be a good candidate if:
- Your eyelids make you look tired, sad, or older than you are
- You’re not a smoker
- You’re in good health
- You have drooping or sagging eyelids
- You have realistic expectations about what lower eyelid surgery can achieve
During your consultation, your surgeon at Moy-Fincher-Chipps will evaluate your facial anatomy, skin elasticity, and overall health to determine if lower eyelid surgery is right for you. They’ll also discuss your goals and expectations to ensure the procedure aligns with your desired outcomes.
What Is Recovery Like After Lower Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure, this means you will be able to go home the same day. Post-operative eyelid surgery care is essential to a good outcome, and our surgeons will provide you with specific instructions for optimal healing.
Immediately after surgery, you may experience temporary tearing, light sensitivity, and blurred vision due to swelling and the application of ointment to protect your eyes. Cold compresses using ice-soaked cotton pads or a bag of frozen peas will reduce swelling and should be used for the first 48-72 hours, along with keeping your head elevated. If laser resurfacing was part of your procedure, you will also be instructed to apply lubricant gel to the laser-treated skin.
As you heal, your eyelids may feel tight and sore, but extra-strength Tylenol typically relieves any discomfort. Because our surgeons use dissolving stitches, there’s no need to have sutures removed.
A majority of patients return to their normal activities in 7-10 days, and at two weeks, most bruising and swelling has completely resolved. While low-level activities are fine, strenuous activity should be postponed for 3-4 weeks.
It’s essential to use sun protection and protective sunglasses outdoors until healing is complete. With our advanced techniques, incisions are well hidden in the natural eyelid creases, and when combined with laser resurfacing, incision scars are usually invisible.
If you’re ready to love your appearance again and achieve a more refreshed, youthful look, consider scheduling a consultation. We have doctors at Moy-Fincher-Chipps who specialize in eyelid surgery. We can rejuvenate the area around your eyes through precise and advanced surgical techniques and more for a more youthful and smoother look.
