We live in a period characterized by the growing importance of aesthetics as a determining factor in personal, professional, and social relationships. A constant media bombardment attempts to indoctrinate us into the worship of certain beauty standards, and its influence in these areas is increasing…if you look younger and more attractive, you'll have a better chance of making friends, finding a job, doing business, finding a partner…
Every surgical discipline has an aesthetic or plastic component. This component aims to carry out the repair or restoration while minimizing morphological sequelae; that is, to ensure that our surgery produces the least possible scarring and secondary irregularity.
In ophthalmology, there is a growing interest in this aspect of surgery. Every day, more ophthalmologists share their experience and techniques for improving the aesthetic appearance of their patients. In many cases, the reason for surgery is due to aging, but in others, it is a consequence of an illness or inherited pattern, such as the early appearance of bags under the eyes.
Under-eye bags, also known as bags under the eyes, occur due to herniation of the orbital fat caused by weakness in the natural barriers that contain it. Their presence gives a tired appearance and increases one's apparent age. We normally have two fat pads in the upper eyelids and three in the lower eyelids, which, when they become quite large, can even impair the patient's vision.
The surgery aims to reposition or reduce the hypertrophied fat layer and reinforce the surrounding tissues, removing any excess skin. This is achieved through incisions in the skin or conjunctiva, accessing and removing the fat, and reinforcing its natural supporting structure, called the septum. The patient should rest for several days following the procedure, applying local cold compresses and antibiotic ointment, with a gradual reduction of the swelling and bruising that almost always occur.
It is very important in these types of elective surgeries that patients do not develop unrealistic expectations regarding the outcome. It must be emphasized that the goal is to harmonize the periocular contour so that the result is an improvement over the previous condition, creating a more rested and less aged appearance. This should be the expected result, avoiding conveying to the patient the idea that this surgery will restore their lost youth. Currently, there is no surgical technique that achieves such a goal. If the patient is a candidate, the surgery can be complemented with injections of botulinum toxin or hyaluronic acid, the purpose of which is to further smooth the periocular and facial skin surface, eliminating wrinkles and imperfections.
In short, if you're considering surgery to remove under-eye bags, put yourself in the hands of professionals who can demonstrate experience in this field, and we'll provide personalized guidance for your specific case.