Eye Bag Removal Surgery

You should schedule your procedure when you are ready for it. But before undergoing the surgery, you need to take some preoperative measures. Your doctor will tell you about these instructions beforehand.

Some preparing measures for eye bag surgery include:

• Basic instructions before surgery like what you should eat or drink a day before surgery.
• Eye drops or other medications, you need to take before surgery
• A caregiver to bring you home after surgery
• Have these items with you
  • Cloths and ice packs for cold compresses
  • Sunglasses to protect your eyes

Dark circles are the result of different types of conditions including:

• fat pad in the lower eyelid
• bulging of the lower eyelid
• hyperpigmentation in the eyelid skin (brown pigment)

As there are different causes for dark circles, the treatment methods are also different. In cases of hyperpigmentation, non-invasive laser treatments can help to lighten the discolouration.

On the other hand, if it is due to a fat pad or bulging of the lower eyelid then eye bag surgery treatment will be more suitable.

Skin on the facial area and body area is slightly different and so is its healing.

Previously pierced skin (pierced ears) can give you an idea of how your body will respond to the eye bag removal surgery.  The facial region is a sensitive area. The good thing is that it is replete with numerous blood vessels so healing is better as compared to other parts of the body.

You should show any previous scars (such as keloid scars) to the doctor at the time of consultation. The plastic surgeon will then provide you with a realistic assessment of the healing potential after eyelid surgery. For individuals who have a history of abnormal scarring, the likelihood of such outcomes can be reduced with the use of specific medications.

Yes, following an ideal diet is extremely important. The ideal diet following an eye bag removal surgery is discussed below:

• Try consuming a liquid diet the next day after surgery to avoid major movement of the facial muscles
• Consume only soft, easily chewable food items for at least a couple of days after surgery
• Have a balanced diet with the right proportions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and minerals
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
• To avoid post-surgical constipation add some fibrous fruits such as watermelon, avocados, etc. to the diet

In addition to the dietary modifications, you can adopt these lifestyle changes to live a better life after operation:

• Abstain from alcoholic beverages for 3 weeks post-procedure as it may lead to complications such as fluid retention
• Avoid smoking as it can delay the healing process
• Take the prescribed medicines on time
• Do not use drugs such as aspirin unless your surgeon approves

A surgical procedure is an invasive procedure. However good the procedure is performed, there are still some common side effects to every surgical procedure. The complications of eye bag removal are temporary and easily manageable. The side effects include:

• Pain
• Swelling and bruising
• Infection can occur
• Bleeding (very rarely)
• Scarring (due to incisions being made)

How To Manage These Side Effects?

You can use doctor-prescribed ointments and medications to subside facial swelling and bruising. Scarring relies on the skill of the surgeon. However, ointments can reduce scar formation.

You can take over-the-counter analgesics (pain medications) for pain management.

You can simply avoid bleeding by keeping your head elevated during the rest periods and by avoiding large movements of your facial muscles. If it occurs, consult your surgeon.

In case of wound infection, revisit the hospital and discuss the condition with your surgeon.

It is proven by research studies that eye bag removal surgery is safe if done under the hands of a qualified plastic surgeon as it removes orbital fat safely in a quantified manner. The chances of potential complications, like lid malpositioning, hemorrhage, infections, corneal abrasion, etc, are minimal and can be prevented and easily dealt with by various therapeutic measures.

The final results of the surgery vary from one individual to another. However, the improvements in the eyelids is easily notable immediately after a surgery. Postoperative swelling kicks in soon after the surgery and continues to peak on the 3^rd or 4^th day. That may cause some discoloration and distort the final results. At the end of 7 to 10 day period, majority of the swelling and bruising should have subsided. Results will look more natural and the contours under eye will look much smoother.

The remaining swelling tend to take a longer time to subside. Therefore, the final results of the eye bag removal surgery are seen 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery.

No, the non-surgical eye bag removal process is a non-invasive alternative to surgical eye bag removal. There are no incisions and stitches It usually takes the doctor 30 minutes to perform this and the patient is free to go after just one appointment.

IV sedation, local anesthesia or both can be given to you before the process begins. Normally, after the anesthetic injection has anesthetized the area, the plastic surgeon starts by creating an entry for the laser using a needle prick. Unlike the surgical procedure, no skin tissue is removed. In this process, an optic fiber laser is inserted through the hole created by the needle prick.

The laser liquefies the fatty tissues which is then removed via a small cannula. You do not need to worry about any remaining fat because if any damaged fat tissue is not removed by the cannula, it resorbs and gets eliminated naturally within the next couple of months.

The procedure does not involve incision, hence recovery is relatively quick and takes around 3 to 5 days. During recovery, it is common to expect minor swelling and bruising. Regular application of cold compress can help to reduce swelling quicker.

Normally just 1 session is sufficient to correct mild eye bag condition. Patients with moderate eye bagging may require an additional session for better results.

Once the fatty eye bag is liquified and removed via a laser, the collagen activity of the region is enhanced. The stimulated collagen growth paves way for healing and elimination of any remaining fat. In most cases the results are long-lasting. However, the results rely on the following factors:

• Age of the patient
• Condition of the skin (texture)
• Structure of bone
• Presence of underlying disease (metabolic disease, etc.)

It must be noted that the procedure will only help impart a younger and fresher look, but it cannot stop the eye (muscles and skin) from growing old.