Dear Dr Seckel, I’m a 20-year-old male with really dark circles under my eyes. I also have a constant blocked nose, which I think may be one contributing factor. A local doctor said I may be suffering from chronic rhinitis, or I may have a polyp - Could either of these be causing the dark circles? My parents do not have dark circles under their eyes, although my sister has faint ones. I have had the circles for as long as I can remember, since about 5 years old or so, maybe earlier. I am also quite thin - which shows in my face, I believe this makes the circles more prominent. I have enclosed 2 photos so you can see: These dark circles make me look tired and depressed constantly, and I’m looking for any possible way to rid them! Could you please advise me on the best possible course of action? Thank you very much, Shaun , UK.
Dear Shaun,
Thank you for your question. Rhinitis and nasal polyps cannot cause dark circles.
Part of the color is the dark purple color of the eyelid muscle showing through the thin eyelid skin. The actual dark circle at the bottom of the eyelid is caused by the attachment of the eyelid to the bone of the eye socket by a ligament called the arcus marginalis. In addition, since you are thin you don’t have a lot of fat under the eye, which can accentuate the dark circle and make the eye look hollow.
The safest and most effective technique to correct this is a laser procedure called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty with an arcus marginalis release which releases the ligament and then to transplant fat into the hollow or place an implant called a tear trough implant. Some Dr’s inject fat into this area with a needle-but I do not recommend this procedure as the results are unreliable and it is not always safe to inject blindly around the eye.
I do this procedure through a small incision on the inside of the eyelid, which is a much improved technique. It is safer, there is no visible scar and the eyelid shape is unchanged. I believe I am the only doctor in the US who does this procedure with this technique.
I hope I have answered your question. If you go to www.saveyourface.com and go to the archives of the ask dr seckel section you may read further information about dark circles, blepharoplasty and arcus marginalis release.
For more information on non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you,
Boston, Massachusetts