Under Eye Bags are Not All Created Equal

Looking and feeling older can feel not so great. Even in this day of aging gracefully, we often look for ways to slow down the changes that make us look different that we always have. Lines and wrinkles are one thing, but conditions like severe eyelid sagging can be more than a little frustrating. In many cases, people look at under eye bags as a singular common problem to be handled with injectables, laser treatments, or blepharoplasty. Here, we discuss why it’s not that simple. 

Festoons: A Different Type of Under Eye Bag

Festoons are not your average under eye bags. Also called molar mounds, these bags are folds of skin that swell and sag not just beneath the eyes themselves but below the lower eyelid area and onto the upper cheek. You might differentiate festoons from your run-of-the-mill under eye bags by seeing if they look like a drape of tissue hung from one corner of the eye to the other. The lowest part of the tissue hangs on the cheek. 

Why is it Important to Know about Festoons?

When people see what they would call under eye bags, they may seek treatment designed for the average under eye bag. Why wouldn’t they? Knowing about festoons allows the patient to seek the right kind of care. A board-certified oculoplastic surgeon can provide this. Lower blepharoplasty, the surgical procedure normally performed for under eye bags, may not be appropriate for festoons due to the way that these pieces of sagging tissue fall downward on the cheek. Standard blepharoplasty could result in over- or under-correction, both of which could result in unsatisfying cosmetic appearance. 

Treatment for Festoons

All plastic surgery and reconstructive procedures are tailored to the individual. All have some degree of reliance on the surgeon’s training and expertise, first in identifying the real problem and second in correcting it. Festoons may be treated in one of several ways. The doctor makes their recommendation by identifying the severity and cause of the condition. It goes without saying that topical solutions are really no solution at all for festoons. In most cases, the surgeon will perform a lift procedure that focuses on the suborbicularis oculi fat. The repositioning of fatty tissue can restore smoother contours between the upper cheek and lower eyelid areas. 

Get the right help for your under eye bags. Contact our Amarillo office at (806) 351-1177 to schedule your consultation.