Skip to main content

Lower eyelid lift (bags under the eyes)

Unterlidstraffung

The eyes as a mirror of the soul.

Lower eyelid lift: remove bags and dark circles under the eyes

Duration of the OP
approx. 2 hours
Aftercare
Some physical rest in the days following the operation, otherwise no restrictions
Sociability
(e.g. invitation to dinner): approx. 2 weeks
Sport
from approx. 2 weeks (depending on the sport)
Pain
low

Perhaps the most important expression of a person: their eyes. They express whether we are laughing or crying, whether we are happy or sad, tired or alert. In addition to the excess skin on the upper eyelids, also known as drooping eyelids, the appearance of the lower eyelids also plays a major role in assessing the appearance of the eyes.

Bags under the eyes, wrinkling and excess skin on the lower eyelid in particular are disturbing factors that can affect appearance. A distinction is made between the following changes to the lower eyelid

  1. Bags under the eyes without excess skin (possibly in combination with dark circles)
  2. Bags under the eyes with excess skin (possibly in combination with dark circles)
  3. Excess skin alone (possibly in combination with dark circles).

Depending on the initial findings, even minor surgery can help to significantly improve the appearance of the lower eyelids. Corrections that are too extreme should be avoided at all costs in order to maintain a natural appearance. The operation should be performed by an experienced specialist.

In the case of a pure excess of fatty tissue on the lower eyelid (classic "lacrimal sac"), the operation can be performed without a skin incision and the fatty tissue can be removed in a minimally invasive manner through an incision in the eye. In other cases, where there is also excess skin on the lower eyelid, a small incision on the edge of the eyelid can be used not only to correct the lacrimal sac, but also to gently remove the excess skin.

The lower eyelid lift is often supplemented by an upper eyelid lift, as we view the eye as an aesthetic unit and always analyse whether a so-called 4-lid lift, i.e. a combination of an upper eyelid lift and lower eyelid lift, is the better way to achieve a fresh appearance.

Both the upper eyelid lift and the lower eyelid lift are minor surgical procedures, but they should always be performed by an experienced specialist, as the eye does not forgive even the smallest mistakes. A professional is needed here.

Let our specialists advise you on upper eyelid lifting, lower eyelid lifting, drooping eyelids and bags under the eyes and find out which options are best for you to rejuvenate and improve the appearance of your eyes.

 

For further information, please see the bottom of the page. This is where the advantages and disadvantages of the procedures are presented and the risks and side effects are explained. However, this cannot replace a personal consultation (also via video), in which these aspects are explained and adapted individually. We therefore look forward to a personal consultation with you!

Who is it for?

A lower eyelid lift, also known as lower blepharoplasty, can be useful for people who have certain aesthetic or functional problems in the lower eyelid area. Here are some reasons why a lower eyelid lift may be considered: 1. bags under the eyes: people with pronounced bags under the eyes caused by sagging skin or bulging fatty tissue may benefit from a lower eyelid lift. 2. sagging skin: If the skin under the eyes is sagging, leading to wrinkles and a tired appearance, a lower eyelid lift can help tighten the skin and restore a more youthful appearance. 3. sagging or drooping skin: People with excess, sagging skin on the lower eyelids can improve their appearance with a lower eyelid lift. 4. dark circles under the eyes: In some cases, dark circles can be caused by excess fatty tissue or skin problems. A lower eyelid lift can help correct these issues and rejuvenate the eye area. 5. aesthetic improvement: Some people also opt for a lower eyelid lift for aesthetic reasons in order to improve their overall appearance and achieve a more vitalised look. Arguments against a lower eyelid lift are rare. In most cases, a combination with an upper eyelid lift can make sense - a decision that you can discuss with our specialists during the planning stage.

Details

In pure lacrimal sac correction, the procedure can be performed without an external incision. Under a short anaesthetic (gentle anaesthetic procedure), the fatty body is located and removed via an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid. From the outside, the skin remains completely intact and the consequences of the operation are not visible, only small bruises may occur. The procedure is very gentle and can be easily integrated into everyday life. If the lower eyelid not only has bags under the eyes, but also wrinkled excess skin or only excess skin (without excess fatty tissue), a different technique is used: lower eyelid blepharoplasty. In this procedure, a very fine incision is made at the edge of the lower eyelid to access the underlying muscle. This is carefully opened and the unwanted fat on the lower eyelid is removed before the excess skin is tightened and also removed. It is important to ensure that no excessive correction is carried out. Inexperienced specialists occasionally cause complications here, which are very rare in the hands of experienced doctors. It is therefore important to entrust this operation in particular to a professional, as the complications are bothersome and costly to correct. If an upper eyelid lift (correction of drooping eyelids) is performed in addition to the lacrimal sac lift and lower eyelid lift, this is known as a 4-lid lift. This operation makes sense in many cases, as the youthfulness of the entire eye area can be restored in a single procedure. Another advantage is that you as the patient only have one period of downtime and the operation can be better integrated into your everyday life than two separate procedures.

After Treatment

Both upper eyelid lifting and lower eyelid lifting with lacrimal sac correction usually result in bruising after the operation, which entails a certain amount of downtime. After the operation, the surgical area is always covered with skin-coloured plaster strips (so-called steristrips) to reduce the formation of bruising and stabilise the result. Nevertheless, the consequences of the operation are visible to the person opposite and a downtime of approx. 10 days (upper eyelid lift) or 14-16 days (lacrimal sac correction, lower eyelid lift) must be expected. The pain is minimal and there is little to no restriction on everyday activity. The stitches are removed after approx. one week and require another visit to one of our clinics.

Results & risks

Lower blepharoplasty is generally a safe surgical procedure, but as with all medical procedures, there are certain risks and possible complications. It is important that patients are aware of these. The following are some of the potential risks of a lower eyelid lift: 1. bruising and swelling: Temporary bruising and swelling may occur after surgery. These are usually temporary but can affect the aesthetic recovery. 2. infection: Although infections are very rare, there is a risk of infection with every surgical procedure. Careful post-operative care and following the surgeon's instructions can minimise this risk. 3. asymmetry: There is a risk of the eye area looking asymmetrical if the lift is not performed evenly. However, experienced surgeons endeavour to achieve a balanced and harmonious result. 4. over- or undercorrection: In some cases, over- or undercorrection can occur, which can lead to undesirable results. This can be minimised through careful planning and precise execution. 5. dry eyes: After the operation, there may be a temporary increase in dryness of the eyes. This can be treated with artificial tears or eye drops. 6. scarring: Although plastic surgeons endeavour to make scars as inconspicuous as possible, visible scars can still occur. Genetics, skin type and individual wound healing play a role here. 7. changes in the position of the eyelid: In rare cases, there may be changes in the position of the eyelid after surgery, which may require a follow-up correction. It is important that patients discuss all possible risks and complications with their surgeon in advance and ensure that they have realistic expectations of the outcome. A thorough pre-examination and careful aftercare can help to minimise the risk of complications.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOW