John J. Martin, Jr. MD

As we age, many people notice an increase in fat and skin in their lower lids. This puffy appearance can make a person look tired, with dark circles under the eyes. Surgery to correct this condition, called a blepharoplasty, has undergone some significant changes over the last ten years. In the past the fat pads and any excess skin were removed, resulting in a smoother look. However use of this procedure frequently created hollowing of the lids. This hollowing could accentuate the dark circles, and often the person appeared even older due to the hollowing. Now we usually reposition the fat and move it down into the area of the dark circle. This is done with an incision made on the inside of the lower lid. Excess skin is sometimes still excised, or tightened by resurfacing the skin with a laser.. This results in a more rejuvenated look to the lid, with a smooth transition from the lid into the cheek and no hollowing.