Question:
I am 52 years old and look tired all of the time due to the dark bags under my eyes. It feels like fatty tissue. I would like the fat removed. Can this be accomplished with gentle liposuction or is blepharoplasty necessary?
Answer:
A great deal goes on in the lower eyelids that contribute to you looking older. Although fat herniation definitely contributes to the appearance of looking tired, excess skin, and loose muscle and supporting mechanisms of the lower lid also contribute to the aging process of the lower lids. Liposuction is rarely if ever an indicated procedure for rejuvenation of the lower eyelids. Fat removal during a blepharoplasty is one of the steps in lower eyelid rejuvenation but, I prefer fat repositioning to fat removal during lower lid blepharoplasty. Maintaining the fat in the lower lids is important as we age further as removal of too much fat will leave you with a hollow and skeletanized appearance. I think that a thorough evaluation of your eyelids would be beneficial to both you and your surgeon and they will be able to tell you which procedures would be best for you.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld