Can An Eyelid Lift Help My Dark Circles?

Do people often think that you’re tired when you’re not? Dark circles under your eyes can make you look permanently tired and more disinterested in others. They can even make you look older than you are. If you’ve tried all the over-the-counter eye creams and nothing has helped, you may have another option: an eyelid lift.

Eyelid lifts often make your dark undereye circles look less prominent. This may seem like a paradox since it’s the skin under your eyes that you want to repair, but sometimes eyelid surgery is what you need. However, it’s not right for all cases when you want to get rid of dark undereye circles. The specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center offer this guide to help you determine the best option to get rid of your dark undereye circles, once and for all.

What causes dark undereye circles?

Dark undereye circles make it look like you’re always tired, and in some cases, lack of sleep can cause the problem. Other causes of dark undereye circles include:

• Allergies
• Thin or weakened skin
• Volume loss
• Protruding fat pockets
• Genetics
• Medical conditions, such as a thyroid disorder
• Hyperpigmentation of the skin

Sometimes, you may have difficulty determining what’s causing your dark undereye circles and may need an objective, professional opinion.

How to treat dark undereye circles

Treating dark undereye circles depends largely on what we’re able to determine as a cause of them. Allergies are often treatable by eliminating your exposure to the allergen. Thyroid disorders are also treatable, and the dark circles may go away once you take thyroid medication.

However, for most people, the problem that causes dark circles under your eyes is a combination of thinner skin and volume loss. This combination is often a normal part of getting older, but it’s one that we don’t appreciate--and shouldn’t have to anymore.

Another common cause of dark undereye circles is excess skin under your eyes. Sometimes, people may think they have hyperpigmentation causing their undereye circles to appear darker, but this is usually not the case.

How eyelid surgery can help

Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, removes excess skin from your upper lids and under your eyes. Often, just lifting the skin around your eyes causes the appearance of dark undereye circles to disappear.

The space behind your eye, called the orbit, contains a lot of fatty tissue. As we get older, the structures that support this fatty tissue weaken, making it look more prominent. In addition to doing an eyelid lift, we can also remove some of this excess fatty tissue and make the area under your eyes look smooth again. 

You’ll find that after eyelid surgery, you instantly look younger and more refreshed. Instead of having people ask if you’re tired, they’ll assume that you just got back from vacation.

Recovery from eyelid surgery

Although the surgery is done on an outpatient basis and you can go home the same day of your surgery, it will take a few weeks to see the results. Be patient!

For the first 7-10 days following surgery, you should expect some bruising and possible swelling around your eyes. You may find that your eyes get drier more easily during this period, so you should avoid things that strain your eyes, such as long periods of computer or phone use or watching TV. You’ll also want to avoid wearing contact lenses or makeup and strenuous exercise.

At ten days after surgery, you can usually return to work. In addition, you can wear contacts, makeup and engage in strenuous exercise. You may still have light bruising, but it should have mostly faded.

If you want to refresh your appearance and look younger, an eyelid lift could provide the solution. Contact the specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center today for a consultation or request an appointment online.