Q: I have bags and dark circles under my eyes that make me look old and tired. What are my options?
A: Bags under the eyes are caused by pockets of fat, but are not associated with being overweight. This type of fat cannot be controlled by diet; it is a hereditary condition.
The best way to eliminate these bags is through surgery. The technical term for cosmetic eyelid surgery is blepharoplasty. After surgery you look totally natural and look like yourself, but more alert and refreshed. This one-hour surgical procedure is an office-based procedure that is performed under local anesthetic. No anesthesia or sedation necessary.
The recovery time is around a week. During this period you will feel fine and can drive, shop and maintain normal activities. However, there will be swelling and bruising around the eyes for a few days.
The first step is a consultation with an ophthalmic plastic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery, such as Dr. Daniel Townsend at SinHealth. You want to find a surgeon who has lots of experience, and Dr. Townsend has successfully performed over 19,000 procedures.
