Sagging skin and bags under the eyes give a tired and sad appearance and make you look older than you really are. Bags happen because predisposition and aging will sag the skin and fat deposits become visible. An under eye correction tightens the skin which also makes any skin bags disappear and because of the redistribution of the fat tissue the fat deposits become invisible. Puffy and swollen eyelids change into a young and beaming look.
Bags temporary or permanent?
Thick, swollen under eyelids have several causes. Bags that are caused by an imbalance in moisture management or lack of sleep are temporary and especially visible in the morning. By drinking enough water and getting enough rest, limited use of salt, alcohol and coffee, these bags will disappear by themselves. Bags that are caused by hereditary factors and aging are permanent, but can disappear through a lower eyelid correction.
How are permanent bags created?
Sagging skin and bulging fat cushions cause permanent bags under the eyes. The fat tissue around our eyes has an important protective function. When we’re young the binding tissue helps keep the fat in place. Hereditary factors and aging weaken the binding tissue causing the fat to bulge out. The thin skin around the eyelids will become less elastic over time and start to sag. The bulging fat cushions become visible and bags and skin pockets will appear under the eyes. An under eyelid correction fixes the sagging skin and puts the fat back where it belongs.
Results
Correcting the lower eyelids gives a fresh and open look. You’ll look well rested and younger and the tiredness has disappeared from the face. By following the natural contours of the eyes the eye shape is restored and you’ll still look like you.
How long do the results remain visible?
You’ll have years of enjoyment from an under eyelid correction. However, you cannot stop time. The natural aging process and weakening of the binding tissue will continue. Because of that it may sometimes be necessary after 15 years to do another under eyelid correction. The upside to a timely under eyelid correction is that the skin won’t sag as quickly in the long term. Because the fat cushions are gone there’s less stress on the skin itself.
Personal consultation
During the consultation, plastic surgeon Kazem will discuss whether the under eyelid correction is the best treatment for you. He’ll see if it’s only a fat deposit or that a correction of the sagging skin and muscles is necessary too. He’ll explain which method for the procedure will be chosen, the anesthesia, the recovery, the aftercare and the potential risks. He’ll tell you what you can expect from the result and will take extensive time to answer all your questions. Make an appointment for a consultation.
Lower eyelid correction, the procedure
There are different surgical techniques. When it’s only bulging fat deposits, then it’s enough to restore the connective tissue partitions and to put the fat tissue back in its place. This can be done through the inside of the lower eyelid. When there’s sagging skin and sagging eye muscles then a small incision is made under the edge of the lashes. After removing the excess skin, the skin and eye muscles are made tighter. That lifts the outer eye corner a little and brings it back to its natural shape. It’s more important during a lower eyelid correction to redistribute the fat, than it is to remove the fat. Taking away as little fat as possible prevents loss of volume in the long term and the start of hollow eyes.
The short animated clip shows the different surgical techniques.
Anesthesia
A lower eyelid correction, also called a blepharoplasty, is a relatively small procedure. The correction of the lower eyelids is usually done under anesthesia. The procedure lasts around one to one and a half hours.
Scars
When it’s just fat tissue, a small incision on the inside can be enough and the scar will not be visible. Will skin also be removed and tightened, and the eye muscle corrected, then the incision is made just under the edge of the eyelashes. After it’s healed, the scar will be nearly invisible. Take rest the first few days and cool the eyes regularly, because the less swelling the quicker the scar tissue comes to settle. A special scar cream will help with a beautiful and quick recovery.
After the surgery
After pain rarely happens and an Ibuprofen is usually enough to take care of it. About an hour after the procedure you can go home again. The regular cooling of the eyes and taking rest helps reduce swelling and bruising. That’s important for a quick and good recovery of the scars. The first days after the procedure you’ll look less presentable, but you can quickly start your light daily activities again. For a good recovery we recommend no heavy physical activity, such as intensive exercise and lifting, the first few weeks after the surgery.
Risks and complications
Complications happen rarely when the eyelid correction is done by an expert plastic surgeon (or ophthalmologist surgeon) that has a lot of experience with the procedure. He’ll have the knowledge to precisely judge if, and how much, fat and skin will have to be removed. A plastic surgeon knows exactly how to distribute the fat and where to tighten the skin and muscles for a natural look of the eye. By following the natural lines of the eye the scars will be near invisible after healing. With every procedure there’s always a small chance for complications such as wound infection, after bleeding or a slower scar recovery, but plastic surgeon Kazem will inform you about the potential risks during the consultation.
When will insurance cover an eyelid correction
Correction of the lower eyelids is always cosmetic and will not be reimbursed. An upper eyelid correction will, on occasion, be reimbursed. Still, the eyelid correction is one of the most done procedures in the world. That’s because it’s a small procedure, with a quick recovery and a long lasting result.
In general patients are very satisfied with the results. A less beautiful end result is almost always the result of a surgeon that is not sufficiently expert.
The short animated clip below shows the different surgical techniques.
Is it possible to set up a payment plan for this treatment?
Please contact out partner Cosmetic Finance for financing options. You can find more information on their website: cosmeticfinance.nl.
