Dear Dr Seckel, After reading through the many questions asked on your website by others regarding under-eye hollows, dark circles under the eyes, puffy eyelids and eyelid bags, and about laser blepharoplasty and arcus marginalis release I decided to email you about my own problem. I have attached photos from different angles to show you the extent of the darkness and the hollows. At least I think I have the hollows under the eyes. I have recently had a laser consultation in London,UK for removing dark circles however I feel extremely nervous and do not wish to make the problem worse by starting procedures around the eye area which may not even work in the long term. This particular laser clinic claims to have had a lot of success using the YAG laser for the past 3 yrs however I’m just not 100% sold on the idea! I’m nervous as I’m only 22yrs old and do not wish to make any decisions without fully researching all my options first. I have had dark circles for a long time, although I do not believe they are hereditary. I lost a lot of weight in my early teens which I believe caused further thinning under the eyes making the dark circles even more obvious. I can actually see the blue/green veins under the eye area, that’s how thin the under-eye area is at the moment. I have high cheekbones which make the circles more prominent when I smile. Do you believe you would be able to help me at all? I am willing to travel to the US to correct this problem. I have found that in the UK not many surgeons are as experienced in this particular problem as you are. and if they are they do not advertise their services! Thank you for your time. Kind Regards, Nida, London,UK
Dear Nida,
Thank you for emailing me with your question about laser treatments and plastic surgery for dark circles under the eyes.
I definitely would not recommend the Yag Laser to remove dark circles
under the eyes. That laser will depigment the skin which could create a demarcation line of lighter skin which would call more attention to the eyelid.
The major problem causing dark circles under the eyes is the depression or hollowness which starts near the nose and runs along the eye socket bone out towards the side of the face. This hollowness creates a dark shadow. The depression creating this dark shadow is caused by the arcus marginalis
a condensation of eyelid tissue which tethers the lower eyelid skin to the bone. This depression creates a shadow which makes the dark circle look worse especially with eyelid aging as the eye bag forms above the depression. Eyelid rejuvenation for true dark circles under the eyes requires plastic surgery in my opinion.
There is no question in my mind that the proper correction for dark circles under the eyes is an arcus marginalis release and fat grafting over the bone to plump the hollow eye depression and get rid of the shadow.
I do this procedure with a laser as part of a procedure called a transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release and fat grafting or fat repositioning. The procedure is done entirely from the inside of the eyelid through the pink portion of the lower eyelid, the conjunctiva, so there is no visible scar and the skin texture and color is not changed.
You are very pretty-don’t let anyone use a yag laser on your face.
The surgery takes 45 minutes; you are put to sleep for the procdedure
Recovery time is about a week for the bruising and swelling to go
away there is little or no pain.
Please email me any further questions.
For more information on dark circles under the eys, laser blepharoplasty and plastic surgery read Save Your Face or contact me.
Sincerely,
Boston, Massachusetts