What are under-eye bags?

Under-eye bags are swelling of the lower eyelid. Puffiness can be divided into two types: the malar pocket (caused by lymphatic edema) and the fat pocket. The malar pocket is very often due to lymph, whereas the fat pocket is an externalization of intra-orbital fat that slides under the eyelid muscle. Whatever the type of pocket, conventional cosmetic surgery or laser treatment are the preferred methods for eliminating them permanently.

Causes of under-eye puffiness

There are many causes of under-eye puffiness.

Firstly, they may be the result of intra-orbital fat movement and tissue engorgement (water retention or fat deposition), leading to poor blood circulation and lymphatic tissue disruption.

Initially, intraorbital fat serves to protect the eye from the bone at the orbital level. With age or certain anatomical conditions, this fat, which surrounds the eye, becomes externalized under the orbicularis muscles. Fat is hydrophilic, meaning it is attracted to water. For example, sleeping with the head “down” encourages the mechanical process of fat pocket variation, depending on the patient’s water retention. This is why, when we wake up in the morning, we have more fat pockets due to retention, giving that “puffy” look to the eyes. In this case, they are transitory.

Age is another well-known cause of under-eye bags. Aging tissues and the septum are responsible for the externalization of fatty bags. As a result, bags under the eyes become more permanent: the skin loses its suppleness and firmness, and the fat initially located in the eyelid slides into the lower eyelid as the skin slackens. At the same time, the circulation of the lymphatic system slows down, leading to the appearance of puffiness.

Puffiness under the eyes can also occur as a result of poor lifestyle habits, including :

• During periods of stress or sleep disorders, which in the long term lead to the release of cortisol that promotes water retention
• Consumption of alcohol or tobacco, which disrupt the proper circulation of fluids
• An unbalanced diet, in particular one that is too fatty (accumulation of fatty deposits favoring puffiness) or too salty (increased water retention).

Finally, bags under the eyes can be hereditary: this is also the case for all types of dark circles.

Under-eye bag surgery: laser surgery

Laser blepharoplasty is a particularly effective way of rejuvenating the eyes and eliminating under-eye bags. In this method, the bags are removed with a laser scalpel via the transconjunctival route (the red area on the inside of the eyelid). With this technique, the bag disappears permanently and never returns.

Laser blepharoplasty requires no skin scars. The CO2 pocket laser does not alter the look of the eyes, and patients regain a harmonious, de-fatigued eye contour. In addition, the pocket laser ensures a bleeding-free procedure, with high precision and finesse to avoid unnecessary tissue removal.

What are the advantages of eliminating under-eye bags with laser treatment?

There are several advantages tousing laser treatment for puffiness. First of all, the procedure requires no sutures, so there’s no scarring of the skin. In addition, this under-eye bag operation does not cause edema or hematoma. There’s no bleeding, laser surgery is much more precise, and it’s easy to see what fat is left behind, so there’s no need to hollow out the eye.

The result is definitive: puffiness never returns. The look is unchanged, and there is no risk of changing the expression of the eyes.

For optimum aesthetic results, it’s best to consult a plastic surgeon who specializes in oculoplasty, and in particular CO2 laser treatment.

What’s the difference between blepharoplasty and laser blepharoplasty?

A classic blepharoplasty, or surgical procedure, involves removing excess skin from drooping eyelids (upper or lower) by means of an incision. Like all surgical procedures, it is not without risk, and may leave scars. It also requires a few days (one week to ten days) to recover from the procedure. Laser blepharoplasty, on the other hand, requires no surgery, incision or social eviction. Nor does it cause any skin damage, apart from small scabs that fall off within a week and can easily be camouflaged with make-up.

Laser blepharoplasty is ideal for treating bags of fat under the eyes and for performing an eyelid lift without surgery. If, on the other hand, you need to correct malar bags or intervene on the eyelids or eye contour, other eye surgery techniques are recommended.

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will guide you towards the technique best suited to your individual case: pocket laser, addition blepharoplasty…

Results are definitive after around seven days, and complementary treatments such as lipofilling or nanolipofilling can also be considered to treat the aging skin of the eyes in a comprehensive way.