Eye bags are formed when our skin relaxes and begins to sag down, leaving an empty pouch area. Fat and fluid under the eyes slide down into this space, pushing it out and causing a puffy appearance.
While harmless, this appearance can be further enhanced by dark circles and wrinkles, creating a trifecta of insecurities under our eyes. While some bags can be treated with lifestyle changes and care, more severe cases might be treated with eyelid surgery.
What causes eye bags?
Eye bags can be caused by any number of reasons, including but not limited to:
- Poor sleep
- Allergies
- Ageing
- High or frequent stress
- Genetics
- Infections
- Smoking
- Thyroid disease
- Other medical reasons
Treating Eye Bags
Unfortunately, due to various potential causes, treating under-eye bags isn’t as simple as one solution. But some general tips that may provide help in relieving under-eye bags are:
- Proper sleep on a regular schedule: You can almost always see the immediate difference under your eyes after a poor night’s rest. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night allows your body to renew itself and appear more refreshed.
- Allergy medication: Seasonal allergies like pollen can directly contribute to swollen and puffy eyes. Avoiding common triggers like certain house plants or dust while taking allergy medications can help.
- Drink water: Your body is 80% water. Keeping yourself well hydrated keeps the skin moisturized and slows down the ageing process of the skin.
- Under-eye compress: Things like cold stone eye-rollers, damp cloths, and wet tea bags can help temporarily bring down eye swelling.
- Sleep slightly elevated: Keeping your head elevated at night with a pillow or adjustable mattress can keep fluid from pooling under your eyes.
- Cosmetics: Countless under-eye creams and serums exist on the market, created with the sole purpose of helping under-eye bags. Many heighten their effects by refrigerating them prior, so the cooling effect helps instantly depuff the eye.
Surgery
Sometimes hydrating and sleep just won’t cut it. Especially in cases caused by genetics or ageing, a person’s only solution to eye bags may be cosmetic surgery.
Eyelid surgery, also known as Blepharoplasty, is a standard cosmetic procedure that removes excess loose skin and tightens muscles in your eye area. The results leave you with a younger appearance, free of drooping puffy bags. It’s not just for under-eye bags either; Blepharoplasty can treat the upper eyelid as well, which can also begin to droop down, also known as a “hooded” effect, which can sometimes partially obstruct vision.
The procedure is usually completed in one to two hours and has a recovery time of about two weeks. When booking a surgery, be sure to raise all concerns with your surgeon and be confident in their capabilities. After recovering from a blepharoplasty from a good surgeon, scarring or other signs of surgery are minimal to non-existent.
