[20.07.17 Medical Today] Improving dark circles and the precautions for "under eye fat repositioning"

Improving dark circles and the precautions for "under eye fat repositioning"

If the fat under your eyes protrudes, looks dark, and the under your eyes are deep, you can give an image of your face looking more tired and older than others.

Under-eye fat usually occurs in people in their 40s and 50s, but recently, it is often seen in people in their 20s and 30s who want to improve it.

Lee Tae-hee, doctor of Faceline Plastic Surgery Clinic, says early aging comes because of the irregular living and stress of modern people. 

Depending on the case, you can consider pigmented lasers, procedures called sub-eye fat relocation, or lower-eye-section plastic surgery, and the short surgery time of about 20 minutes and a quick recovery period of three to four days are the advantages, he said.

The under-eye fat is the core fat that acts as a cushion for the eyeball, which is surrounded by a thin membrane called a capsule, which, when loosened due to its constitution and aging, pushes the fat forward, makes the under-eye protrude and deepens the furrows, and most of the under-eye fat protrudes, undergo under-eye fat reassignment surgery.

Under-eye fat reassignment surgery is a surgery in which a small incision of 3~4mm is made in the conjunctiva of the inner eyelid, a capsule is opened, some fat is relocated to the furrows under the eye, and some fat is removed. Relocation and removal vary depending on how much protruding and how furrows are turned off.

Since the mucous membrane inside the eyelid is incised, there are no external wounds and few bruises. In addition, it takes three to four weeks for bulky skin to stick tightly together, so the incision and fat relocation through the laser can minimize swelling and pain and make a quick recovery.

Director Lee advises that dark circles can also be improved by under-eye fat reassignment surgery, but that various side treatments should be combined. "The fat relocation under the eye does not completely fade the color of the dark circles, but the cause of the dark circles is very complex, so it needs to be accompanied by various surgeries and treatments, such as whitening and pigment laser treatment," he explained.

If the furrows under the eyes are unusually deep, they will be accompanied by filler or microfat transplantation. If you don't have much fat and only the furrow is deep, you can use filler or liposuction alone. Of course, if you are old and your skin is drooping, you can also consider a lower-eye surgery that will make your eyes look longer by controlling sagging skin.

Lee said, "The fat under your eyes is recommended to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon because you have to choose different treatment methods depending on the condition to give the best results. It's a relatively simple and safe operation, but it's because if an unskilled person undergoes the surgery incorrectly, there can be under-eye movement, pigmentation and bulging," he advised.