Do I Need Lower Eyelid Bag Removal?

Q: Dr. Eppley, What I most dislike about my face at this time are the bags/creases under my eyes that make me look tired and old. There are also some fairly “deep” lines in my forehead. I am turning 35 next month, so I don’t think I want any type of surgery yet. I am interested to find out what types of options there are for me and what it might cost. Likely, I would do this in the spring time over school break. Thanks!

A: The earliest signs of facial aging always with exactly what you are seeing. Wrinkle lines on the forehead and/or around the eyes and the development of bags (herniated fat ) on the lower eyelids. Botox injections work well for forehead wrinkle lines. Lower eyelid bags are really best treated by removal. (transconjunctival blepharoplasty) But to those adverse to surgery, injectable fillers can be used to fill in the tear troughs created by the bags. Such injection treatments in my experience are a mixed ‘bag’ since they have a not rare problem of lumps and unevenness due to the thin skin of the eyelids. When they work well they are great but when irregularities develop the filler often has to be dissolved away by hyaluronidase injections.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana