Lower eyelid surgery, laser treatments, fillers, and topical products are available options to address dark circles and bags beneath the eyes. But which treatment is right for you depends on what’s causing your concern, the degree of correction needed, and other factors. If you’re wondering how to get rid of under-eye bags and dark circles, keep reading to understand more.
What Causes Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles?
As you age, the skin around your eyes gets thinner and loses collagen, so the blood vessels underneath can show through, creating a bluish discoloration under the eye. At the same time, the skin and muscles under your eyes can loosen and fat can migrate, causing bags to form and cast a dark shadow.
Dark circles and bags are also genetic—you’re more likely to get them if others in your family have them. Skin tone also plays a role; people with darker skin may be more prone to getting dark circles from a brownish pigmentation under their eyes.
Other factors can temporarily cause dark circles or make existing circles worse. These include:
- Sleep: Poor sleep habits can make the skin under the eyes appear pale, making blood vessels more visible.
- Dehydration: When you don’t drink enough water, the skin under your eyes can look dull and sunken.
- Allergies: Allergies can contribute to bags under the eyes.
- Eye strain: Spending too much time looking at screens can strain your eyes and enlarge blood vessels.
- Sun exposure: Too much exposure to the sun can cause your body to produce more melanin, which can lead to dark circles.
- Medications: Some medications can contribute to dark circles and under-eye puffiness.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, stress, and a poor diet can all contribute to dark circles and bags under the eyes.
At-Home Treatments for Dark Circles or Bags Under the Eyes
If your dark circles are mild, medical-grade skincare products can help minimize their appearance. These may include:
- Retinol-based creams: Retinol stimulates collagen production and promotes cell turnover, helping to thicken the delicate under-eye skin.
- Vitamin K creams: These can help reduce the appearance of dark circles caused by blood vessels showing through thin skin.
- Caffeine-infused products: Caffeine constricts blood vessels and can temporarily reduce puffiness.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Targeting the delicate skin in the under-eye area with a fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is a safe and effective treatment for under-eye bags and dark circles. The laser works by passing microscopic columns of energy into the skin to promote collagen and elastin production without damaging the entire surface of the skin. This stimulates the skin’s natural rejuvenation process. You can read more about laser skin resurfacing in our previous blog post.
CO2 laser skin treatments can help with a variety of under-eye concerns, including:
- Dark circles: The laser can break up pigment to reduce dark circles
- Wrinkles and fine lines: The laser can smooth away wrinkles and creases, especially crow’s feet
- Under-eye puffiness: The laser can help even out volume under the eyes
- Sagging: The laser can tighten the skin of the eyelids
- Hollowed appearance: The laser can help with a hollowed appearance under the eyes
After treatment, the skin may be red, sensitive, and appear sunburned for a few days. It may also swell, itch, or sting. The skin may appear raw, ooze a yellow liquid, or even blister. It’s important not to scratch or pick at the skin, as this can cause scarring or infection.
Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers such as JUVÉDERM® products are popular choices for treating under-eye hollows and tear troughs. These fillers restore lost volume, minimize the appearance of dark shadows, and smooth out the transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek.
Microneedling
Also called collagen induction therapy, microneedling makes micro-injuries that trigger the body’s healing response. This repair response includes signaling your skin to create brand-new cells and capillaries. Microneedling diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and eye bags.
Fat Transfer
Fat transfer for under-eye bags and dark circles is a natural alternative to fillers that is very effective for treating hollows under the eyes. The treatment involves harvesting fat from another area of the body (usually the abdomen or thighs) and injecting it into the under-eye area after it’s purified. This treatment offers several benefits:
- Long-lasting results compared to temporary fillers
- Natural-looking volume restoration
- Improvement in skin quality due to stem cells present in the transferred fat
The procedure is minimally invasive and typically performed under local anesthesia.
Lower Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
Women and men with more prominent cosmetic concerns under the eyes are great candidates for lower eyelid surgery. People who can benefit from lower blepharoplasty are usually concerned about:
- Under-eye bags: The procedure minimizes puffiness under the eyes or eye bags by removing or repositioning displaced fat.
- Dark Circles: Displaced fat can cause bags and grooves under the eyes, both of which create dark shadows that make you look tired.
- Sagging, Crepe-y Skin in the Lower Lids: Lax lower eyelid skin, with its wrinkled, crepey texture, can create a tired, aged appearance.
The procedure involves making an incision along the lower lash line or inside the lower eyelid, removing or repositioning excess fat, and tightening loose skin and muscles before closing the incision.
If you have sagging or hooded upper eyelids, upper blepharoplasty can be performed at the same time as lower eyelid surgery. The scars in both procedures are imperceptible after they heal.
Lower Blepharoplasty Before and After Photos
Lower and Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After Photos
Combination Approaches
In many cases, Dr. Boggess recommends combining treatments to get the best possible results. For example, he may use fat transfer to address volume loss, followed by laser skin resurfacing treatments to improve skin texture. Or he may combine fat transfer with lower blepharoplasty for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Dr. Boggess can explain your options and recommend the best treatment to minimize the appearance of your under-eye bags and dark circles. The best course of action depends on individual factors and desired outcomes. You can request a consultation with Dr. Boggess by using the online form or by calling us at (615) 942-8016.
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