Can A Custom Orbital Implant Reduce/Eliminate My Dynamic Undereye Bags?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi, when my face is expressionless, I don’t have any visible eye bags, it’s quite youthful. But.. when I smile the fat on my face pushes up and gives me eye bags. I think everyone has them, but for me, I feel these smile eye bags make me look worse. They give off a strong dark shadow when in darker/certain lighting and I really don’t like it. 

Is there a specific/custom midface/orbital implant that can completely eliminate my undereye smile bags? Refer to my photos to see what I mean. 

If there is such a procedure that can completely fix my insecurity?

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. What you referring to is what is known as a dynamic problem for which any surgical approach is a static one….meaning static procedures will not fix a dynamic problem. Surgery is basically done an expressionless faces for which it is designed to treat a problem that is seen in these circumstances. While the concept of building up the infraorbital rim may have some theoretical merit in your situation it is not a procedure I have ever done for this issue, thus I can not speak for its potential effectiveness. But it would seem that further underlying support would not diminish the bulge of undereye tissues that occur when you smile.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana