Brighten Your Eyes with Lower Eyelid Surgery for Puffy Under Eye Circles

Do your eyes seem smaller than they used to be? Do you notice tissue and fat accumulating in your lower lids? Sagging or swollen eyelids can make you look older or tired. Drooping tissue, unwanted fat deposits, or loose eyelid muscles can also obstruct your eyesight and interfere with your daily life. North West Plastic Surgery Associates provides eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, to help patients who are unhappy with their eyes. At our Missoula plastic surgery practice, Dr. Hardy can perform lower eyelid surgery for puffy under eye circles to restore your ocular health and rejuvenate your appearance. Read on to learn more about this procedure and how you may benefit from it.

What Causes Puffy Under Eye Circles?

Allergies, skin conditions, or ophthalmological disorders can cause your lower eyelids to swell, but this is usually temporary and may change from day to day. If you consistently experience puffy under eye circles, this is most likely due to accumulated fat deposits or sagging skin tissue, both of which often result from the aging process. Certain congenital disorders or syndromes can also create these symptoms.

Lower Eyelid Surgery Candidates

To repair your puffy under eye circles, you’ll need to qualify for the procedure. Good candidates for lower eyelid surgery:

• Have already attempted treatment for other potential causes of puffiness, such as allergies, dietary issues, or infection
• Do not suffer from any ophthalmological conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma
• Are adults with fully developed eyes (most patients are over 40)
• Are in good enough health to undergo anesthesia and sedation
• Do not smoke (or are willing to quit smoking for a prescribed period of time before and after lower eyelid surgery)
• Do not have a compromised immune system or any chronic illness that could interfere with the recovery process
• Have realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery

Dr. Hardy will assess your eyes, review your medical records, and discuss your aesthetic concerns to determine if you are eligible for lower eyelid surgery at your initial consultation.

The Procedure

If you opt for lower eyelid surgery to enhance your under eye area, Dr. Hardy will begin your procedure by administering local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia to keep you comfortable during surgery. Then he will make a small incision either below your lash line or inside your lower eyelid. A transconjunctival incision within the lower eyelid provides a slightly more discreet scar, but Dr. Hardy will not be able to remove unwanted skin using this technique. Once he has made the incision, Dr. Hardy will tighten your muscles as needed and remove or redistribute excess fat. Finally, he will pull your lower eyelid skin so it is smooth and trim the excess away before suturing your incision. This process usually takes between one and three hours.

If you are concerned about drooping or puffiness above your eyes, Dr. Hardy can also perform upper eyelid surgery at the same time. He may recommend combining your blepharoplasty with non-surgical treatments such as or skin rejuvenation for excellent results. 

Reduce Your Puffy Under Eye Circles

You don’t have to live with puffy eyes. To learn more about lower eyelid surgery, find out if you qualify for this procedure, or schedule a consultation with Dr. Hardy, please contact North West Plastic Surgery Associates today.