Blepharoplasty to Fix Dark Circles?

Question:

My mother and her sisters have always had horrible dark circles under their eyes and I’m worried that I’ll end up with the same. I’m already beginning to see some darkness and I was wondering if there is anything that I can do to prevent them and if they do get worse, does a blepharoplasty fix this?

Answer:

Dark circles beneath the eyes can be difficult problems to treat. I have many people come to me seeking advice on how to treat the dark circles beneath the eyes. In many patients a blepharoplasty or lower eyelid surgery will really help decrease the appearance of the dark circles beneath the eye. The theory is that the pigment which is in blood which is in herniated fat of the lower lid has stained the skin or is visible through the skin, thus giving the lower lid the appearance of dark circles. If there is excess fat of the lower lid, then removing and repositioning this fat will help with the darker pigment. Bleaching agents, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing are also helpful in diminishing the appearance of dark circles of the lower lids. I am often cautiously optimistic when discussing this particular problem with patients.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld