Under-eye bags can be the bane of your mornings, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. But when they stick around and haunt us in every mirror and photo, it’s clear something needs to be done. While occasional puffiness might resolve on its own, persistent under-eye bags usually signal it’s time to explore some effective solutions. Here, experts share their top tips for treating under-eye bags, from must-have products to the latest surgical options.
Featured Experts
- Lori Leib is a makeup artist and founder of Bodyography
- Dr. David Schlessinger is a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon based in Woodbury, NY
- Dr. Noelani Gonzalez is a board-certified dermatologist in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Dr. Robert Schwarcz is a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon based in New York
- Lee Ann Klausner, MD is board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York
Conceal and Neutralize
For an immediate cover up, grab your makeup bag. Lori Leib, makeup artist and founder of Bodyography, says to conceal dark circles effectively, prep the under-eye area to keep it hydrated and plump. “Use a corrector and a concealer for optimal results. Bodyography Cover + Correct ($30) combines both, addressing darkness, stimulating circulation with caffeine and protecting against aging with Vitamin A. First, press the corrector onto the skin with your fingers, then apply the concealer on top. The peach corrector neutralizes darkness, while the concealer brightens and conceals the under-eye area.”
Start with Skin Care
Under-eye bags often have us reaching for products that promise miracles, but there’s no magic cream that will completely remove under-eye bags. However, certain ingredients can improve the skin’s superficial appearance.
“True eyelid bags can’t be treated effectively with topical products,” says Woodbury, NY oculoplastic surgeon Dr. David Schlessinger. “There are treatments with a glue-like substance that can temporarily shrink back bags, but these can crack and stop working after a few hours. Other topicals containing vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, caffeine and peptides can improve the superficial appearance of the eyelid skin but don’t treat the bags.”
New York oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Robert Schwarcz adds, “Most products are pretty similar and contain some sort of retinol-like product for cell turnover and wrinkle reduction, hydration, antioxidants and caffeine for depuffing.”
Noninvasive Fixes
If you’re not ready to commit to surgical options, noninvasive treatments offer a middle ground. Injectable fillers like Juvéderm Volbella and Restylane Eyelight can add volume to under-eye hollows and reduce the appearance of bags. “Fillers can be quite effective in treating the overall appearance of the skin under the eyes if the patient is the ideal candidate, which can be very tricky and best left to a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon,” says Dr. Schwarcz. “While fillers will not treat the undereye bag itself, they can be used strategically mask the transition zone and to fill in hollows and shadows, which results in a more even appearance to the skin.”
Radio-frequency microneedling treatments can help trigger collagen and elastin production, tightening the skin and reducing bags. “Microneedles penetrate the top layer of the skin, creating microinjuries that trigger a healing response. Radio-frequency waves create heat that penetrates the skin, which also aids in creating new collagen and elastin for a more youthful appearance,” explains Dr. Schwarcz.
Dr. Gonzalez adds that lasers work similarly to heat up and help shrink the delicate under-eye skin. “Energy-based devices or lasers like a CO2 laser can help tighten the skin underneath and improve the under-eye bags.”
Combining Treatments
To kick it up a notch from noninvasive methods without having to undergo full surgery, a combination approach may be recommended. “If a patient has deep infraorbital hollows and mild under-eye bags, I’ll treat with a hyaluronic acid filler. If they have skin laxity in addition to the under-eye bags, then they’re most likely a candidate for a laser treatment such as fractionated CO2 or radio-frequency with microneedling.”
“Combination treatments aren’t anything new,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann Klausner, MD. “To improve the appearance of loose skin and reduce puffiness, consider treatments such as radio-frequency microneedling, Ultherapy and the Nuvissa plasma pen.”
When to Choose Surgery
For those with severe under-eye bags or when other treatments fail to deliver desired results, surgical options provide a more permanent solution. A lower eyelid blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is the gold standard for addressing significant under-eye bags. “I usually start my consultations by evaluating old photographs and understanding the specific needs of the patient,” notes Dr. Schwarcz. “If surgery is appropriate, this can often result in patients receiving the treatment in a day and returning to their regular routine, usually within 24-48 hours.”
“Nothing can take the place of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty surgery that accurately targets the underlying problem,” he says. “A lower blepharoplasty can remove excess skin or fat, which leads to a reduction in shadows and dark circles and a more even appearance overall.”
“Every patient is unique,” adds Dr. Schlessinger. “Some patients simply need laser or less invasive treatments while others need a true blepharoplasty with fat removal and/or fat transfers. I always treat the skin when doing a blepharoplasty, either with a skin pinch removing minimal skin, or laser, and I frequently perform a canthoplasty to reduce the likelihood of lower lid retraction and to give the lower eyelid a more rejuvenated appearance.”
While a myriad of options are available to treat these pesky bags, the experts say the best approach is a mix of the treatments, and sometimes the surgery mentioned, paired with a smart skin-care routine. “I’m never shy to refer out to a surgeon if I think the patient is a right candidate for surgery,” says Dr. Gonzalez. “This is what patients should look for—providers who have knowledge regarding all of the possible options and what the best one would be for that patient.”
