Lower Blepharoplasty

A lower lid blepharoplasty (eyelift surgery) addresses the fat pads of the lower lids that cause the appearance of bags underneath the eyes. However, this procedure does not properly address crow's feet. A better option of the treatment of crow's feet, include Botox. Other potential treatment options for crow's feet include skin resurfacing (such as a fractionated laser resurfacing) and hydration with a good eye cream.

There are several possible causes for dark circles under the eyes. One possible cause is pigmentation to the skin. Some treatment options for skin pigmentation include bleaching creams, chemical peels such as the VI Peel, our Isolaz laser system, broadband light (BBL) by Sciton, and fractionated lasers. Another possible cause for dark circles under the eyes is prominent blood vessels underneath the skin. One of the more common causes for dark circles under the eyes is fullness beneath the eyes that cause a shadow; it is this shadow that gives the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Often, people with fullness of the lower eyelids also have a hollowness between the lower eyelids and cheek. This hollowness appears as a dark circle. There are several treatment options for this situation. One non-surgical option is injeciton of a filler, such as Juvederm, into the area of hollowness to provide a smoother contour between the lower eyelid and cheek. One surgical option is eyelid surgery (lower lid blepharoplasty) to remove some of the fat pad that causes fullness of the lower eyelid; at the same time, I may place some of that excess fat into the areas of hollowness to provide a more youthful appearance to the lower eyelids (this technique is referred to as fat transposition).

There are several possible causes for lower eyelid bags, or fullness of the lower eyelids. One potential cause is allergies; therefore, during the initial consultation, we inquire about history of allergies and allergy symptoms. If there is a history of allergies and/or allergy symptoms, I refer my patients to my father, Dr. Kamal Batniji, who is an Otolaryngologist-Head & Neck Surgeon (ENT) for allergy testing. Another potential cause for lower eyelid bags is thyroid disorder. The symptoms for thyroid disorder can be vague at times and include such symptoms as heart palpitations, temperature changes (feeling cold or hot), eyebrow thinning, brittle hair, lethargy and/or hyperactivity. A blood test can determine if you have a thyroid condition. The most common cause of lower eyelid bags that I see in my patients is caused by fat pads in the lower eyelids. We all have fat pads in the lower eyelids; this is part of our normal anatomy. But, for a variety of reasons, these fat pads can become more prominent. Surgery (lower lid blepharoplasty) can be performed to remove these fat pads and provide a natural, more rested appearance to the eyes. If you have hollowness beneath the lower eyelid bags (this hollowness is typically called nasojugal groove, tear trough deformity, and/or infraorbital hollows), I may recommend surgery to re-position the excess fat pads into the areas of hollowness. This procedure, commonly known as fat transposition, provides a smoother contour between the lower eyelids and cheek. Another option for treatment of the lower eyelid hollowness is injection of filler material (such as Juvederm). This injection procedure is performed in the office and can provide a beautiful result; I may recommend a fractionated laser resurfacing as well to address fine lines, wrinkles, and/or pigmentation to the skin of the lower eyelids as well.

Lower eyelid surgery, also known as lower blepharoplasty, is an excellent procedure for the treatment of fullness of the lower lids, hollowness between the lower lids and cheek region, and excess skin of the lower lids.  For a full description of the surgical procedure, click here. At times, individuals present to my office with an interest in addressing lower eyelid fullness and hollowness between the lower lids and cheek region but are interested in a procedure with little to no downtime.  For those individuals, injection of hyaluronic acid filler (Restylane, Juvederm) provides temporary improvement to the appearance of the lower lid.  I place the filler material in the hollow region (also known as tear trough deformity, nasojugal groove, and lower lid/cheek hollows, among other names).  By placing the filler material in the hollow region, I provide a smooth contour between the lower eyelid and cheek, thus resulting in a more youthful contour.  For an example of this procedure, click here. This is an in-office procedure.  The results can last approximately 6-12 months.  In an effort to minimize potential bruising, we ask patients who are considering this and any other treatment to avoid Aspirin, Aspirin-containing products, Ibuprofen, and Ibuprofen-containing products for 2 weeks prior to treatment.  To minimize discomfort associated with the procedure, I mix the hyaluronic acid with numbing medicine.  To find out if you are a candidate for this procedure, call my office at 949.650.8882 or contact us to schedule a consultation with me.