If eyes are truly windows to the soul, then eye bags present a problem socially and aesthetically. Prominent bags under the eyes can draw attention away from the eyes and prompt invasive questions and comments like “Are you okay?” and “You look tired.” While this may not be a problem after one or two instances, it can be annoying or upsetting after hearing it several times. Those with hereditary eye bags or dark circles under their eyes may have had to deal with concerns of this nature for a good portion of their lives.
Are Your Eye Bags Aging You Prematurely?
In addition to calling attention to themselves and conveying exhaustion, having bags under your eyes is typically considered to be a sign of aging. The presence of puffy eyes on a younger person can add years to the face and also make one feel as if they are aging faster. This can be a source of embarrassment or anxiety for a young person maneuvering through the modern-day social landscape.
So What Causes Bags Under Eyes to Form?
Under-eye bags can form for several reasons. They can be caused by lifestyle factors, such as fluid retention due to a high-salt diet or too much sleep, dehydration due to alcohol consumption, rapid weight loss, sun exposure, etc. They can also be hereditary–some people are prone to having bags under their eyes because it runs in their family.
Often, puffy eyes are accompanied by dark circles under the eyes and are conflated into one condition. However, they can be caused by a different set of circumstances and occur independently of one another.
How To Get Rid of Bags Under Your Eyes
Makeup
One way of reducing the appearance of bags under the eyes is through strategically applying foundation or concealer. This application is slightly different than the method used to cover up dark circles since the foundation should be applied to the shadow of the under-eye bags, not the bag itself. For the best results, use an angled brush with a cream-based concealer.
Under Eye Patches
Under-eye patches are one of the most popular methods of treating puffy eyes. Patches can be found anywhere, from designer boutiques to drugstore beauty aisles. This accessibility, however, has an adverse effect in that it creates confusion; it can be difficult to tell which ones, if any, actually work when nearly all of them claim to be restorative and regenerative. A good rule of thumb is to look for key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and caffeine.
Many under-eye patches also boast colloidal gold as an ingredient, included for its supposed ability to act as an antioxidant and fight free radicals in the skin. However, a 2013 study from Stony Brook University found that gold nanoparticles found in skincare products can actually accelerate the aging process as well as the onset of wrinkles.
Cooling Sleep Mask
A cooling sleep mask can function as a cold compress over the eyes, reducing swelling by constricting the blood vessels. It is important to note, however, that the effects of this type of quick fix typically last for a few hours at best.
Dermarollers
Dermarollers have become a popular at-home method of reducing under-eye bags and dark circles. The hundreds of needles attached to the roller are rolled all over the face to create micro-injuries to the skin, which triggers the skin to increase collagen production to repair itself. Dermarollers are often sold in sets of different needle sizes, along with various different serums to be applied before and after the treatment. This, coupled with the fact that the rollers need to be replaced after two to three uses for hygiene, makes derma rollers a costly habit to keep up with.
Dermarolling is often compared to the “vampire facial” popularized by Kim Kardashian in 2013. The facial combines microdermabrasion and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) application. The needles used in in-office microdermabrasion tend to pierce deeper into the skin, promoting collagen production, while the PRP is used as a serum before and after the dermabrasion.
Dermal Filler
While many practitioners recommend using dermal fillers composed of hyaluronic acid to offset the appearance of chronic under-eye bags, the Dr. U Skin Clinic in Los Angeles does not recommend their use in the under-eye area. The main reason is due to the Tyndall effect. This is the phenomenon in which the clear colloid suspension of hyaluronic acid fillers bends light rays and results in a blue-tinted dislocation at the injection site.
Non-Surgical Long-Term Treatment for Puffy Eyes
While dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero are reliable non-surgical treatment options for fine lines and wrinkles, their clear-colored nature, combined with the thinness of the skin in the under-eye area, makes Radiesse the best option for correcting bags under eyes. Radiesse is white and opaque, so it bypasses the Tyndall effect problem. Radiesse can also correct dark circles while reshaping the bags under the eyes. This dermal filler can last up to 9-12 months in the body before being processed out, which is significantly longer compared to the shorter efficacy of hyaluronic acid fillers.
Video: Getting Rid of Bags Under Eyes With Radiesse
In the video below, the young woman sought treatment for her under-eye bags and dark circles. After consulting with Dr. U at Dr. U Skin Clinic in Los Angeles, Radiesse was determined to be the best course of action for correcting both cosmetic issues. Four months after her initial injection, the patient still enjoys the corrective effects of the dermal filler.
Eye bags are somewhat of a meme these days. Hordes of people making self-deprecating jokes about their own chronically puffy eyes on social media. Twitter users, in particular, set the tone for this eye bag-related humor as both wildly exaggerated but still somehow relatable. See the examples below:
Thankfully, humor doesn’t have to be your only tool in dealing with bags under your eyes. Click the button below to ask Dr. U whether you could benefit from a Radiesse treatment for under-eye bags.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bags Under Eyes
Why are my eye bags worse in the morning than they are throughout the rest of the day?
Bags under the eyes can be more prominent in the morning because of fluid shifts. When you lay down to sleep, fluid accumulates in the tissues surrounding your eyes. With the help of gravity and blinking your eyes, fluids redistribute properly throughout the body upon standing upright. Adding an extra pillow to keep your head slightly elevated when sleeping can help avoid this occurrence.
Do bags under the eyes get worse with age?
Under-eye bags become more noticeable as we get older. As we age, the skin’s elasticity decreases, and eyelids droop and sag. The ligaments that hold the fatty tissue around the eyes weaken as collagen and elastin production breaks down. This breakdown allows the fatty tissue to herniate forward. Coupled with the loss of facial volume in the cheeks, eye bags can form and appear more prominent.
I stay away from salty foods and alcohol and get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Why do I still have dark circles and bags under my eyes?
Some people are prone to having bags under their eyes due to their genetics. Lifestyle improvements will not change and treat the underlying issue behind hereditary eye bags or under-eye circles. Many people who experience both eye conditions feel that their only two options are applying makeup daily or getting a lower lid blepharoplasty. The former option can be time-consuming and cumbersome, while the latter only addresses the issue of eye bags. This means that even after invasive surgery, one might still have to apply concealer to the under-eye area. Fortunately, the white calcium hydroxyapatite composition of Radiesse makes the dermal filler a viable long-term solution that can address both inherited under-eye features.
Further Reading
