Can aging-related under-eye concerns be resolved with lower eyelid surgery?

 When it comes to areas most noticeably affected by aging, the under-eye area is perhaps the most prominent. Due to aging, sagging under-eye skin and bulging fat or wrinkles can make one look older or unwell with noticeable dark circles, leading many to feel increasingly stressed about their appearance.

As a result, many consider lower eyelid surgery, known to be effective in improving bulging under-eye fat and wrinkles. At this point, many wonder to what extent lower eyelid surgery can resolve these under-eye concerns.

Can aging-related under-eye concerns be resolved with lower eyelid surgery?

To give a conclusion, lower eyelid surgery can somewhat improve issues like bulging, uneven under-eye fat, sagging, and wrinkles. However, there are parts that are difficult to improve, and some aspects may not change with lower eyelid surgery alone. Therefore, today we will explore what can be improved with lower eyelid surgery, what is difficult to improve, and what remains unchanged due to aging-related under-eye concerns.

Lower eyelid surgery is performed when aging causes the under-eye skin to sag, making the fat look bulging and wrinkles appear, which can make one look older and tired; it involves incisions under the eye to tighten and smooth out the sagging skin.

The surgical method involves evaluating the amount of skin to be removed based on the sagging skin and fat, making an incision near the lower eyelash line to remove the excessive skin and fat, and repositioning the remaining fat to be anchored to the periosteum at the outer corner of the eye.

This can address the issues of bulging under-eye fat, sagging skin, and fine wrinkles caused by aging, resulting in a firmer and brighter appearance.

Areas difficult to improve with lower eyelid surgery

However, there are aspects that cannot be improved by merely tightening and smoothing the sagging skin with lower eyelid surgery.

For example, if wrinkles have become deep-set like scars, despite surgery, there is a limit to the amount of skin that can be removed; thus, it is difficult to improve deep under-eye wrinkles or severe sagging.

Aspects that do not change with lower eyelid surgery

There are parts that cannot be changed by surgery that tightens and flattens the sagging skin under the eyes. The dark under-eye color and the Indian band (wrinkle) beneath the tear trough do not change with lower eyelid surgery.

Even if the skin is tightened, the Indian band (wrinkle), attached to a ligament below the tear trough, is a different structure and will not be tightened by pulling the skin under the eyes.

Therefore, since the Indian band (wrinkle) cannot be altered by lower eyelid surgery, it may be necessary to consider other treatments or surgical methods for this issue.

Today, we've explored concerns related to aging under the eyes, the aspects that can be improved with lower eyelid surgery, those that are difficult to improve, and those that remain unchanged. Lower eyelid surgery is more effective when performed before the sagging or loss of elasticity under the eyes becomes severe.

Moreover, depending on each individual's skin condition and the degree of sagging, improvement can be enhanced through other treatment methods rather than lower eyelid surgery alone, so it is essential to receive an accurate diagnosis first. Therefore, if you are concerned about under-eye fat or wrinkles, it is advisable to consult with medical professionals who have extensive anatomical knowledge of the eye to address your under-eye concerns.