Dear Dr. Seckel, What is the best puffy eyes treatment? I have puffy eyes all the time. I tried tea bags and prep H, but still have puffy eyes. I don’t have allergies. I need a puffy eyes treatment that works. Is surgery necessary? Please help, Rosa, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Rosa,
Thank you for your email about puffy eyes treatment. There are many causes of puffy eyes and the best treatment can only be decided after we know what is causing your puffy eyes.
The most common cause of puffy eyes that I see is aging changes of the eyelids. As eyelid skin becomes lax, the normal fat under the eye pushes forward and creates a bag under the eye which looks puffy.
Modern Techniques for Removal of Puffy Eyes, Bags under Eyes, and Dark Circles
• Laser Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty-Today, rather than making a visible incision on the outside of the eyelid, surgeons make a tiny incision on the inside pink portion of the lower eyelid-the conjunctiva. By avoiding the outside incision the support of the lower eyelid is not damaged and the eyelid shape is not changed.
• Fat Repositioning-Instead of removing the fat from the eyelid, the fat is repositioned down lower, on the top of the cheek bone. This maneuver plumps the dark circle and adds youthful fullness to the upper cheek.
• Laser Blepharoplasty-Instead of a scalpel I use a laser to make the tiny incision in the conjunctiva of the lower eyelid. The laser is very precise and accurate and seals blood vessels as the incision is made. There is less bruising with the laser technique.
Act Now
Eyelid rejuvenation techniques to cure puffy eyes work well when you are younger and when puffy eyes, bags under eyes and dark circles are just starting to show. As we grow older and eyelid aging progresses, more permanent changes such as loose skin and wrinkles are harder to correct and may require more complex surgery including skin removal and eyelid tightening called a canthopexy.
Find an Expert
Eyelid plastic surgery is an art. I always recommend consulting two board certified plastic surgeons before you decide. Ask the doctor if eyelids are his/her specialty and how many they have done. Ask to speak to patients who have had eyelid surgery done by the doctor.
To learn more about the treatment of puffy eyes call 978-369-4499 or email us. Read our free newsletter to keep up on new aesthetic and eyelid rejuvenation techniques. Learn how to find a good plastic surgeon read chapter 10 in Save Your Face.
Dr Seckel
Concord, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts