June 25, 2021
Under eye bags are probably one of our most common cosmetic complaints. Why? Well, it could be because we all look tired at some point in our lives. And that may be just from actually being tired, but sometimes it’s more than that. Some of us will look tired even though we’re totally well rested.
The thing with under eye bags is that the root cause is not necessarily just aging. Under eye bags can be something you have whether you’re younger or older. For some it’s a result of aging, while for others under eye bags can be genetic.
The key to successfully treating under eye bags is in determining what we’re really talking about when we say we look tired. What is it under our eyes that’s making us look fatigued all the time? Is it bags? Is it a hollowness? It is it an extra layer of fat? Is it just temporary puffiness? Is it darkness under the eyes?
Whichever kind of “tired look” you’re struggling with, we have a few different options to help treat it.
If you would describe your under eye bags as relatively moderate, where what you’re looking to target is a general darkness, dullness, slight hollowness, then PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) filler injections under the eyes can often be the best place to start.
PRF injections consist of separating the fibrin from your blood and injecting it in the under eye area. We like to call this our liquid gold treatment. What we love about PRF as an under eye treatment is that it works by adding an overall clarity to the area, and is a totally natural alternative to other treatments like filler or other procedures.
PRF will stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in your body, but will also encourage new skin cell turnover and tissue regeneration, ultimately making it so that your own body regenerates and heals the skin in the under eye area, creating a brighter and revitalized look.
So if what you’re trying to address is an overall tired quality of the skin, we recommend PRF injections as a first step before more aggressive interventions.
Under eye filler, sometimes called the under eye circle fighter, is one of the most common ways that we treat dark circles under the eyes. But like any treatment, fillers are only effective when injected in the right candidate and in order to combat certain types of under eye darkness.
Under eye fillers are particularly good for patients who have a natural hollowness or depression in the under eye or tear trough area—basically for those patients who would describe their under eye bags more as dark circles or a hollowness, typically created by a lack of volume.
If you have a natural depression in the under eye area, the area above this depression is often raised, which tends to cast a shadow that exacerbates the depression and makes it look very dark. When we inject filler in the natural hollow, we literally fill the hollow or depression, making the area more even with the rest of the face and as a result dramatically improving the dark circles.
We typically inject hyaluronic acid based fillers like Belotero Balance and Redensity II, which are specially formulated fillers that are designed to target the very sensitive and delicate under eye area. You really want a filler with what’s known as a low G prime for this area, meaning it’s more malleable and less firm than filler we use to shape and sculpt the face.
Under eye filler is not the best solution for everyone, however. If your under eye bags, are actual bags, which are sometimes small pockets of excess fat or a result of skin laxity, filling the area will only exacerbate the problem rather than improve it. For this particular under eye complaint, we recommend AccuTite.
AccuTite is a little more aggressive as a treatment, but extremely effective in targeting those under eye bags, in that what you see under your eyes are not necessarily dark circles or a depression, but actual little bags. These bags are often caused by a combination of factors: typically the presence of some unwanted fat, excess skin and quite a bit of skin laxity in the eye area.
AccuTite uses radiofrequency technology sub-dermally, targeting the layers of tissue beneath the skin’s surface, in order to shrink tissue and melt fat, and is specially designed in order to target the very delicate tear trough area. With AccuTite we can achieve a 70% reduction in tissue, which means tighter skin in the area, and major shrinkage of those under eye bags.
In certain cases where the patient is a great candidate and where a permanent solution is preferred, we may recommend a surgical procedure called a blepharoplasty otherwise known as the eyelid lift.
Blepharoplasty is a surgery that removes excess skin, fat, and also muscle from the upper as well as the lower eyelids. The best candidates for this procedure might have a puffiness in the under eye area or drooping upper eyelids, which can sometimes interfere with their vision, but can also really add that tired look to the face.
Keep in mind though that if what you have is hollowness and hollowness alone in the under eye area, then blepharoplasty would not be the right option for you, because it really targets those elements that make the eyes puffy or droopy, like excess skin and fat. It won’t do much in terms of filling a hollow area.
If you’re tired of looking tired, come chat with us about your best treatment options. It’s what we’re here for.
Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.
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