Blepharoplasty: Arcus Marginalis release to remove dark circles under the eyes for Total Eyelid Rejuvenation.
Traditional blepharoplasty, known as eyelid surgery or eyelid tuck, the plastic surgery operation that is done to remove eyelid bags and remove the loose skin from the lower eyelids is the third most common plastic surgery operation performed in the United States. Eyelid rejuvenation is one of the first facial rejuvenation procedures that many people seek. Most people who seek blepharoplasty complain of a tired look.
While blepharoplasty alone can achieve satisfactory eyelid rejuvenation for many people, the standard blepharoplasty alone cannot remove dark circles under the eyes.
In fact, many people complain that after they have had a blepharoplasty on the lower eyelids, they notice that the dark circles under their eyelids are worse than before they had eyelid surgery.
A newer blepharoplasty technique, which includes a procedure called an arcus marginalis release with fat repositioning, can correct the dark circles under the eyelids for many people. This plastic surgery operation can be done as a part of the transconjunctival blepharoplasty, a standard incisional blepharoplasty or a laser blepharoplasty. The blepharoplasty operation alone does not provide wrinkle removal, for that botox and/or laser skin rejuvenation using the revolutionary new ActiveFX laser peel is necessary. Blepharoplasty can however achieve some degree of skin tightening
The dark circle is caused by the fact that a small ligament called the arcus marginalis tethers the dark circle to the bone of the eye socket. As the lower eyelid ages and becomes lax, and the fat supporting the eyeball begins to push out against the lax lid, the lower eyelid skin begins to fall or sag down towards the cheek.
Because the dark circle is tethered and cannot sag along with the lower eyelid skin, the sagging lower eyelid skin falls over the dark circle. This creates a shadow in the dark circle and makes the dark circle darker and more noticeable.
In some patients, a blepharoplasty can make the dark circle worse, especially if too much fat is removed during the eyelid surgery.
To correct the dark circles under the eye, a newer blepharoplasty technique that includes release of the arcus marginalis is done. When the arcus marginalis is released the dark circle is free to move downward with the lax lower eyelid skin and the shadow causing the dark circle is lessened.
Because the eyelid skin of the dark circle is thinner a depression is created which helps create the shadow. To compensate for the thin skin of the dark circle, after the arcus marginalis release is done, fat is placed beneath the dark circle to plump up the dark circle and lessen the shadow of the dark circle.
I call the combination of a transconjunctival blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release, fat grafting, and the ActiveFX laser peel, total eyelid rejuvenation, something that was impossible to achieve before the advent of laser surgery. This new modern blepharoplasty technique for the first time allows me to remove dark circles under the eyes and achieve a truly refreshed younger eyelid look.
Contact me by email or by phone at 617-262-2208 to learn more about this procedure, or read Save Your Face.