Help for Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
A very common complaint we hear is the appearance
of dark circles under the eyes. Patients often ask us for help with these dark
circles, but first we must find the cause for each patient because and we need
to address them and treat them differently.
Too Much Eyelid Fat
The space behind the eye, known as the orbit,
contains a significant amount of fatty tissue. Orbital fat helps to cushion the
eye from impact, however, as we get older, the support structures which keep
the fat behind the eye weaken, and the fat moves forward into the eyelids. This results in fullness to the lower
eyelids which most people find aesthetically unpleasing. This fullness,
commonly referred to as “bags under the eyes”, makes people look older and tired.
The best treatment for this type of problem is usually removal of excess fat
with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedure. Excess skin can be
trimmed and tightened at the same time.
Lower Eyelid Hollowness
Dark circles under the eyes can also
be caused by a depression or hollowness in the lower eyelids. Patients who have
this problem can usually feel the underlying bone when the area of hollowness
is touched. Today, we are able to treat
the hollowness with injectable volumizing fillers whose qualities make them
appropriate for the delicate eye area. These
non surgical treatments typically last 6-12 months. If the results are not
completely satisfactory sometimes it becomes necessary to surgically reposition
the fat to reduce hollows under the eyes as well as performing a lid tightening
procedure to improve the lower eyelid contour.
Hyperpigmentation of Eyelid Skin
Sometimes
dark circles under the eyes can be caused by too much pigmentation of the skin,
although this is the least common cause. Patients often think that they have
hyperpigmentation but what they are seeing is shadows from excess eyelid fat or
hollowness at the orbital rim.
If you or someone you know would like help for dark
circles under their eyes, please call Center
for Sight at 508-730-2020 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic& Reconstructive Surgeon Gregory Hofeldt, M.D. or learn more at Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver.
