Eye Bags
Under eye bags appear as sagging or puffy skin beneath the eyes that is sometimes darker in colour than the surrounding facial skin. They are one of the most common facial concerns we see, and they can significantly affect the overall appearance of the face, making patients look tired or older than they feel. In many cases, effective non-surgical treatments are available to meaningfully reduce their appearance and restore a more refreshed and youthful look.
What Causes Bags Under the Eyes?
If you have undereye bags, you may be self-conscious about having a tired facial appearance, which may affect your overall self-confidence. Bags under the eyes appear as sagging skin that is sometimes darker in colour than the rest of the face. You can also experience bags on the upper lids, when your eyelids droop due to a loss in elasticity. There are a number of causes of bags under your eyes, including difficulty sleeping, sun exposure, and genetics, among other causes. We’ll review why you might have or have developed under eye bags below.
Sleep Issues: Having bags under your eyes is associated with fatigue and a lack of sleep, for good reason: under eye bags can actually be caused by sleep issues, including lack of sleep or insomnia, or poor quality sleep. It is possible to reduce the appearance of eye bags by trying to get at least six to eight hours of sleep per night, and also by improving the quality of your sleep: avoid eating too close to bedtime, keep any screens or digital devices out of the bedroom, and try to reduce noise, light and other distractions in the room where you sleep.
Allergies and Sinus Problems: Allergies and sinus congestion can cause irritation and swelling around the eyes. Repeated rubbing or scratching at the eye area due to allergic irritation can also worsen the appearance of under eye bags over time.
Medical Conditions: In some cases an underlying medical condition can contribute to puffiness around the eyes. Thyroid conditions in particular can cause the eyes to appear swollen and may require medical management before cosmetic treatment is considered.
Alcohol Use Alcohol dehydrates the body and the skin, causing it to become slack and lose its natural firmness. Reducing alcohol intake and maintaining adequate hydration can help lessen the appearance of mild under eye bags.
Aging: Aging is the most common cause of eye bags. As we age, the muscles and tissues supporting the eyelids gradually weaken, causing the skin to sag and the fat pads around the eyes to shift forward, creating visible puffiness and bags beneath the eyes.
Sun Exposure: Prolonged sun exposure increases melanin production in the skin and contributes to dark circles and under eye bags over time. Consistent daily use of broad-spectrum SPF is one of the most effective preventive measures available.
Genetics: A genetic predisposition to dark circles or under eye bags means that some patients will develop this concern regardless of their lifestyle habits. While genetics may make it difficult to prevent eye bags entirely, appropriate skincare and non-surgical treatments can meaningfully lessen their appearance.
Can Lifestyle Changes Help?
Avoiding alcohol and smoking, protecting the skin from sun exposure, maintaining consistent and adequate sleep, and following a gentle skincare routine that includes daily SPF can all help prevent or slow the development of under eye bags over time. For bags that have already developed, particularly those driven by aging, genetics, or volume loss, non-surgical clinical treatments are typically the most effective solution.
Non-Surgical Way to Get Rid of Eye Bags
Injectable Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid are one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for under eye bags caused by volume loss. By carefully restoring the volume beneath the eyes, fillers reduce the appearance of hollowing, shadowing, and puffiness, and restore a more youthful and rested contour to the under eye area. Results are immediate and can last a year or more depending on the product used. Available filler options at SpaMedica include Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, and Sculptra.
Fractional CO2 Laser: Fractional CO2 laser treatment delivers microscopic columns of energy into the skin beneath and around the eyes, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. This helps to improve skin firmness, reduce pigmentation, and restore volume and elasticity to the under eye area progressively over the weeks following treatment.
Chemical Peels: Chemical peels work by removing the outer layer of damaged skin and stimulating collagen production, which helps to restore elasticity and improve the texture and tone of the skin around the eyes. They are particularly useful for patients whose eye bags are accompanied by surface pigmentation or uneven skin tone in the under eye area.
Solutions
Injectable Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid are one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for under eye bags caused by volume loss. By carefully restoring the volume beneath the eyes, fillers reduce the appearance of hollowing, shadowing, and puffiness, and restore a more youthful and rested contour to the under eye area.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels work by removing the outer layer of damaged skin and stimulating collagen production, which helps to restore elasticity and improve the texture and tone of the skin around the eyes.
Fractional CO2 Laser
Fractional CO2 laser treatment delivers microscopic columns of energy into the skin beneath and around the eyes, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin.
