When people are young, it’s typical for them to take their youth for granted. In their 20s, people’s faces are full of youthful collagen and they can pull an all-nighter and “fake” it the next day as if they’ve had a good night’s rest as long as they have their Starbucks. Most people will skate through their 20s looking and feeling good, without putting much thought into how old they look.
Then, one day, around the age of 38 or 40, everything changes. Suddenly, their eyes look puffier, and those pesky dark circles that used to creep up only once in a while seem to have taken a permanent residence on their face, even on nights when the person had eight luxurious hours of sleep. What gives? Could it be...aging?
Aging is the Culprit
When people have puffy eyelids and dark circles, we usually associate them with being tired, sick, having allergies, or too much sodium from a dinner the night before. But when dark circles become a daily event, that’s just not the case. Permanent dark circles under the eyes can have a variety of causes, such as genetics, sun exposure, smoking, and even stress, but in most cases, it’s because of aging.
If you have puffy eyelids and permanent dark circles, they’re no cause for alarm, but if you’re like most people, you’d probably like to see them go away for cosmetic reasons. You may have tried concealer and getting sufficient sleep, but nothing seems to work. That’s because quick fixes aren’t permanent solutions when the cause of your dark circles is aging.
Why Aging Causes Dark Circles
Why does aging cause dark circles? It’s because as we age, our skin loses elasticity and volume and it can be very visible under the eyes. Fat is displaced and bags develop under the eyelids as a result of this natural process. Swollen and puffy eyelids also cast shadows, which is only worsened by ambient light.
Non-surgical ways to address dark circles:
- Get extra sleep if you’re constantly sleep-deprived and that’s one of the causes of your dark circles.
- If allergies are to blame, consider taking antihistamines.
- If you’re not using concealer, you can use it to cover the shadows under your eyes.
- When you go to bed at night, you can elevate your head with extra pillows to prevent fluid buildup under your eyelids.
- You can explore noninvasive, non-surgical treatments, but they are not permanent solutions.
Should I Consider Blepharoplasty? Non-Surgical Blepharoplasty
For many people, there is no quick fix for dark circles; the only solution is lower-eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). It is the single, most effective way to treat dark circles and baggy eyelids.
When surgery is performed on the lower eyelid, excess skin is removed and excess fat is either removed or repositioned in the lower eyelid, which makes the dark circles disappear and creates a rejuvenated, more “awake” look. This procedure treats a variety of issues, such as puffy eyes, fatty deposits above and below the eyelids, bags under the eyes that make patients look tired or older, baggy skin around the eyes, etc.
Non-Surgical Blepharoplasty
Non-surgical options for blepharoplasty involve filling in the hollow area around the eye with temporary fillers or using the patient’s own fat and platelet rich plasma. These treatments help improve the dark circles and hide the transition between the lower lid and the cheek that is responsible for the aging appearance. Skin resurfacing may also be performed with a CO2 laser or NeoGen plasma, which help to stimulate collagen and skin tightening to improve skin firmness and boost collagen to make the skin more youthful.
Next: Why Weight Loss Makes You Look Older
Eyelid surgery is meant to create long-term results, but if you are not ready for surgery and are hoping to explore some less invasive options, such as fat transfer, filler injections, PRP, or skin resurfacing, contact our office today.