Houston Lower Eyelid Surgery

The goal of lower blepharoplasty or under-eye bag surgery is to improve the tired or puffy appearance of the area beneath the eye.  Dr. Etai Funk is a Double Board Certified facial plastic surgeon in Houston, TX and performs both lower and upper eyelid surgeries to create a more rested, refreshed, and youthful appearance. With a lower eyelid lift, patients can expect tightening og the lower eyelid skin to remove the crepe, thin, and wrinkled appearance in this area.  

The "bags under the eyes" are due to the fat that has started to push on a weakened wall of connective tissue that holds the fat back.  Lower blepharoplasty addresses this fat through an incision just below the lower lid or from the inside through the pink (conjunctiva) portion of the eye. If necessary, fat can be repositioned to fill the tear trough area and improve the dark circles under the eyes.  Dr. Funk typically would remove the excess fat and trim some of the excess skin with lower eyelid surgery.

Houston Lower Eyelid Surgery Before & Afters View Lower Eyelid Surgery Before & Afters

Eyelid Lifts for Puffiness & Aging

Many patients complain of puffiness under the eyes or a heavy appearance of their eyelids. Patients may complain of tired-looking eyes. One of the first areas where a person begins to notice the signs of aging is surrounding the eyes. It is typically the first area a person will inspect when looking in the mirror, and the eyes are where our attention is directed during a patient-doctor consultation. It is important to address the upper and lower eyelids separately when discussing eyelid rejuvenation surgery.

Lower Eyelid Patient Testimonial

Common Lower Blepharoplasty Questions

What is lower blepharoplasty with fat repositioning?

When patients have significant bags under the eyes due to periorbital fat, this can also create the dark circles under the eyes from the shadowing of the fat.  In order to prevent a hollowing effect from simply removing the pseudoherniated fat, Dr. Funk will frequently reposition this fat into the tear trough where the dark circles are formed.  This will avoid the hollowing effect and allow for a better transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek.  

Is lower eyelid surgery painful?

Many of my Houston eyelid surgery patients question the pain associated with eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty. Upper eyelid surgery is a pretty straightforward procedure requiring minimal downtime and is not a painful procedure at all. Lower eyelid surgery or lower eyelid bags surgery requires a little more downtime, approximately 8-10 days, but also is not a painful procedure. I tell my Houston blepharoplasty patients that eyelid surgery is not painful but patients can expect itchy eyes and slight irritation but not necessarily pain.

Will my lower eyelid shape change after eyelid surgery?

Sometimes, the lower eyelid may need to be tightened if you already have a saggy or droopy lower eyelid. You can expect your eyelid to look more refreshed, youthful, & less tired.

How much does lower eyelid surgery cost?

Lower blepharoplasty is a more involved surgery and requires a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon. Procedures that can increase cost include:

  • Lax lower eyelids that may require canthopexy or canthoplasty in addition to eyelid surgery.
  • A transconjunctival versus a skin flap approach with the surgery.
  • Fat repositioning rather than simple fat removal.

Can Dr. Funk improve the bags under my eyes?

The goal in lower blepharoplasty or under eye bag surgery is to improve that tired or puffy appearance to area beneath the eye.  With a lower eyelid lift, you can also tighten the lower eyelid skin to remove the crepe, thin, and wrinkled appearance in this area.  The "bags under the eyes" are due to fat that has started to push on a weakened wall of connective tissue that holds the fat back.  Lower blepharoplasty addresses this fat through an incision just below the lower lid or from the inside through the pink (conjunctiva) portion of the eye. If necessary, fat can be repositioned to fill the tear trough area and improve the dark circles under the eyes.  Dr. Funk typically would remove the excess fat and trim some of the excess skin with lower eyelid surgery to create a more rested, refreshed, and youthful appearance.

Is Eyelid Surgery common for men?

Eyelid surgery is a common procedure for men with significant hooding of skin over the eyes and/or bags under the eyes.  This provides a more youthful and refreshed appearance to a man as is evident in the before and after photos after upper eyelid surgery of the man below.

How long is recovery from lower blepharoplasty?

There is typically a mild amount of bruising with an eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty patients recover around 1 to 2 weeks after their surgery and can return to work and social activities.