Under-eye bags (lower eyelid swelling): causes and treatment

Under-eye bags are among the most bothersome problems, because they make the face look older than it is.

Causes of lower eyelid swelling

• Sagging skin and weak muscles, so the fat behind the eye bulges forward.
• Lack of sleep and fatigue.
• Genetics.

Under-eye bags usually appear from the age of forty, and may appear after sixty.

Do under-eye bags affect vision?

Besides giving a tired, older look, lower eyelid swelling can affect the field of vision in some cases.

Treatment of under-eye bags

Dr. Mahmoud El Samkary treats lower eyelid swelling in one of two ways:

1. A cosmetic incision below the lashes: to tighten the skin, strengthen the muscle and remove excess fat.
2. An internal incision with a laser: to remove the bags and excess fat without an external incision.

After surgery

• Swelling and bruising may occur, and improve with cold compresses for two days, then warm compresses for a week.
• The patient can see and carry out daily activities on the same day.
• Return to work is within about 10 days; sport and strenuous effort should be avoided for one week to ten days.