Today, I want to talk to you about non-surgical lower eyelid surgery. Normally, there are three fat pads on the inner, middle, and outer parts of the lower eyelids, which act like airbags. These fat pads, crucial for protecting our eyes—one of our body’s most important organs, can deform over time and eventually become an aesthetic issue for us.
In our youth, these fat pads are not prominent. As we age or sometimes even in our youth due to genetic factors, the connective tissue that surrounds our fat pads, as well as skin loosening and loss of elasticity, can occur. Sometimes, this loss of elasticity can be so significant that it disrupts the normal anatomy of the eyelid. Over time, the gravitational force causes the fat pads to weigh down on the lids, pulling the lower eyelids downward. As a result, the lid’s closing function weakens and starts to deteriorate, leading to issues like watering, frequent redness, and dry eyes. Of course, this is the functional aspect of the process. On the other hand, aesthetically, the protrusion of fat pads forward and downward can cause multiple depressions, unevenness, and changes in color on the lid, making us appear older.
Getting rid of fat tissues with a minimal invasive intervention
By making small incisions from the inside of the lower eyelid, we can easily access the fat pads. With this procedure, protruded fat pads can be removed in the right amount or reshaped by changing their positions to give the lower eyelid a better form. The procedure is done from the inside of the lower eyelid, known as the fornix. Since the incision sites are quite small, around 3-4 mm, there is no need for stitches after the surgery. The surgery can be easily performed under local anesthesia, and the duration is approximately 30 minutes.
What are the advantages of this procedure?
• No visible scars from the outside
• Stitch-free
• Minimal swelling and bruising after surgery
• No damage to the anatomy of the lower eyelid due to the small incisions
• No potential downward pull of the lower eyelid after surgery
• No problem with lid closure after the surgery, among many other advantages.
How is the recovery after the surgery?
As the name suggests, since it’s a minimal intervention, the recovery time is quite fast. Some complaints such as a slight redness on the inner side of the eye and a foreign body sensation in the eye can be experienced in the first few days after the surgery. All complaints usually disappear within about a week to ten days, and the lid returns to its normal state.
Are there any risks?
I always tell my patients that nothing in life is completely risk-free. Every surgery or procedure has some level of risk. However, speaking specifically about this procedure, if performed by an experienced eye doctor, the risk is almost close to zero. Eye doctors do not view eyelids merely as aesthetic objects; they understand the crucial protective roles of the lower eyelids for the eyes. Considering these functions is essential and should be a priority in procedures related to the lower eyelid.
Will it happen again after the surgery?
For under-eye bags, this procedure is the most definitive solution, and we do not expect it to recur. However, as we age, skin sagging will continue, and the development of skin laxity is quite normal.
