Non-Surgical Eye Bag Removal

With new innovations in aesthetic medicine, it’s now possible to get rid of eyebags without having to undergo cosmetic surgery. Among such technologies is Endolift, a minimally invasive laser-based technology that can tighten the skin in several problem areas of the face and body, including the lower eyelids. Here, we’ll go into further detail on how the Endolift procedure can remove under eye bags and improve your aesthetic appearance. 

What Are Eye Bags?

Beneath the lower eyelids is a pocket of fat that cushions the eyes and protects the surrounding bone. Under eye bags refer to the loose baggy skin and pockets of fat that sags below the lower eyelid in the form of a pouch. While in most cases the development of eye bags are an aesthetic concern, in severe cases they can be a medical concern when they lead to the loss of peripheral vision. 

What Causes Under Eye Bags?

Under eye bags can appear due to the weakening of the tissues and muscles supporting the lower eyelid, thus causing the pocket of fat cushioning the eye to sag downwards. This can be a genetic condition, developing as early as one’s teenage years and gradually worsening with age. It is also a part of the natural process of ageing as skin laxity increases. Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and stress can accelerate this process. 

Festoons, also known as malar mounds, are commonly misdiagnosed as under eye bags due to their similar appearance. In fact, when patients have both conditions, it can appear as one large growth on the face. However, festoons appear on the upper cheek area and feel softer than under eye bags. They are also often caused by sun damage, and in some cases ageing and smoking. Our recommended doctors use endolift to treat both conditions. 

Can Under Eye Bags Be Removed?

In some cases, lifestyle changes and home remedies such as getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and the use of cold compresses can help shrink eye bags. However, in most cases lifestyle changes alone are ineffective, in which case there are several long-term cosmetic solutions such as endolift that can remove under-eye bags. 

Surgical vs. Non-surgical Eye Bag Removal

The surgery for removing eyebags is known as lower blepharoplasty. To remove under eye bags, blepharoplasty is performed on the lower eyelid through an incision beneath the eyelash line. This enables the surgeon to remove the excess fat and skin forming the under eye bags and stitch close the incision, thus restoring a smoother and lifted appearance to the under eye area.

In comparison to a non-surgical procedure, blepharoplasty will deliver a more prominent result that is both immediately visible and permanent . Whereas, since non-surgical methods work by stimulating the body’s rejuvenation process, it can take several weeks for the procedure to generate visible results; furthermore, although results last for several years, they are not permanent. On the other hand, minimally invasive procedures are beneficial in terms of cost and recovery period. 

Benefits of Non-Surgical Eye Bag Removal

Non-surgical eye bag removal procedures are minimally invasive and therefore associated with multiple benefits. First, since no incision is made in the skin, there will be no scarring post-surgery. Whereas, with lower blepharoplasty, there is a small chance of minimal scarring. 

Second, non-surgical procedures have little to no downtime. For example, any swelling that occurs following an endolift clears up within a few hours, and any resulting bruises disappear within a few days. In comparison, blepharoplasty requires 7 or more days of downtime for the post-surgical side effects which include swelling, redness, and bruising to dissipate. Finally, all non-surgical treatment options typically cost less than blepharoplasty.

What is Endolift?

Endolift is a minimally invasive laser based-technology that can tighten the skin from the inside. The energy from the wave-lengths are delivered to a targeted area using a single optical fibre that is as thin as a human hair. Therefore, the treatment can remove under eye bags without making any surgical incisions.

What Does Endolift Treat?

By promoting the production of collagen, endolift can tighten loose skin, remove excess fat, and remodel the deep layers of the skin in targeted areas of the face or body. Therefore, the treatment can eliminate under eye bags by reducing the skin laxity in the lower eyelids and restore a more youthful appearance to the face by toning, firming, and remodelling the skin in the area.

Endolift Procedure

First, the lower eyelids will be numbed using a local anaesthetic and intraocular shields will be placed inside the eyes to protect them from the laser. Afterwards, the optical fibre is inserted into the under eye area, where the energy from the laser heats the surrounding tissue in order to dissolve excess fat cells and stimulate the production of collagen, which consequently tightens the skin. Apart from feeling a slight pressure, endolift is a painless procedure. 

Endolift is often combined with CO2 laser treatment for optimal results. Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser, commonly referred to as CO2 laser, is a laser based technology that is designed to repair and rejuvenate the outer layer of the skin by stimulating the production of collagen. The CO2 laser creates controlled trauma in a targeted area of the skin, which triggers a healing response whereby the damaged tissue in an area is repaired by the healthy skin surrounding it.

Therefore, when removing under eye bags, the endolift treatment can be used to tighten the skin from within, since the laser energy is delivered directly into the superficial hypodermis (the layer of tissue beneath the skin). Afterwards, the CO2 laser can be used to tighten and rejuvenate the surface of the skin in order to deliver faster and better visible results. 

Endolift Cost

The exact cost of your procedure will depend on your individual circumstances and the size of the area being treated. In general, removing under eye bags on both sides of the face will cost around £2,200.

Morpheus8

Like endolift, Morpheus8 is a non-invasive procedure that delivers skin-tightening benefits. It is a micro-needling device that uses radio-frequency (RF) energy in order to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in a targeted area of the face or body. 

When treating under-eye bags, the microneedles are injected along the under eye area at a depth of 1-2 mm in order to deliver the RF energy that will subsequently trigger the body’s rejuvenation process. The results of the treatment will be visible in 4-6 weeks and will last for around 3-5 years. 

Injectable Fillers

In less severe cases, injectable fillers can be used to treat under eye bags. In such cases, the patient will have a hollow tear trough (the crease between the lower eyelid and upper cheek), that makes the ‘eye bag’ stand out. This can be corrected by injecting a cosmetic filler (made of hyaluronic acid) into the hollow area in order to add volume and create a more even appearance. While the results of injectable fillers are immediately visible, the treatment will need to be repeated every 3-6 months in order to maintain results.