The Importance of Fat Around the Eyes

When patients think about eyelid surgery, they typically focus on only one aspect of that surgery: excess skin. This is to be expected, as folds and wrinkles are some of the most visible signs of patients who require a blepharoplasty (surgical eyelid lift). However, sometimes those wrinkles are caused or exacerbated by changes in fat deposits over time. That’s why, at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, Dr. Rostami and Dr. Nazemzadeh also offer fat repositioning and fat grafting blepharoplasty techniques. These techniques not only address folds and wrinkles in the skin but also focus on adding, moving, or eliminating fat deposits giving your eyes and face a more youthful and rejuvenation appearance. Sometimes this is referred to as eye bag removal, in reference to the “bags” under your eyes that can develop over time.

Because this adds an added layer of complexity to eyelid lift surgery, it’s important to ensure your blepharoplasty procedure is performed by the best surgeons available. At the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, Dr. Rostami and Dr. Nazemzadeh’s specialties of cosmetic facial plastic surgery, oculo-facial plastic surgery and ophthalmology make a unique and unparalleled surgical team. They are among the best in the nation, with years of experience and unparalleled expertise in the field of therapeutic and cosmetic eye surgery. If you’re concerned about the excess skin and/or deposits of fat around your eyes, contact us to schedule a confidential consultation. During this consultation, we will discuss the best approach to getting you the results you desire.

How Important is Fat Around the Eyes

In much the same way that skin around the eyes looks best when balanced between too much and too little, fat around the eyes looks best in moderation. A small amount of fat helps smooth out the skin and adds volume to the eyes in the right place.

• A normal amount of fat around the eyes can actually make the skin look smoother and more youthful
• Excess fat around the top of the eyelid can impair vision and make the face look sad or depressed
• Excess fat around the lower eyelid can make the face appear older and more fatigued than it otherwise would
• Excess fat around the lower eyelid is often referred to as a “bag under the eye” and many of our patients complain about the way it looks
• Sometimes, dark circles under the eyes can be caused by loss of volume beneath the skin
• Most patients want the skin around their eyes to look more smooth and youthful

The configuration of fat around the eyes plays a substantial role in the way that the eyes look and, thus, the way that the face is able to express itself. Having the ability to tailor these fat deposits makes the surgical team at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center a premiere option for any type of blepharoplasty procedure. After all, addressing the issue of excess skin will have only a minimal impact on the overall look of your eyelids if there are fat positioning issues that need addressing.

Removing Fat

In cases where there is simply too much fat around the eyes, fat removal and fat repositioning techniques may be used to make the eyes appear more youthful. This is generally accomplished by repairing the tissue responsible for “holding back,” or containing those fat deposits in the first place. This work is usually accomplished with a trans-conjunctival incision. This incision is actually made on the inside of the lower eyelid where it will be minimally observable (and any scarring that might develop will be well hidden). Once the incision is made, our surgeons can either remove fat, repair tissue, or reposition fat. In some cases, they perform all of the above.

Dr. Rostami and Dr. Nazemzadeh are experienced blepharoplasty surgeons, always careful not to remove or obfuscate too much fat during this process, as this can lead to a “hollow” or sunken look to the eyes. Our team at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center is exceptionally skilled and experienced when it comes to ensuring that patients end up with a well balanced, aesthetically pleasing final result.

Adding Fat (Fat Graft)

Some patients complain that their eyes look “hollow” or sunken in. This can make the face appear more exhausted and more worn out than the patient truly is. There are several ways to mitigate this particular issue, including some non surgical options. (please visit our non surgical eyelid rejuvenation page). However, one popular option is a technique known as a fat graft procedure. During a fat graft procedure, unwanted fat is removed from elsewhere on the body using a minimally invasive liposuction procedure. The fat is then purified and injected elsewhere into the face or body–in this case, it is injected under the eyes.

The addition of volume under the eyes can help even out the appearance of the eyes, making the face look more rested, more youthful, and more expressive. Patients are drawn to fat graft techniques for various reasons, but the primary factors are often the fact that this procedure acts as a two-for-one (removing fat from an unwanted area and adding it to a more desirable place) and also that the results look incredibly natural (because the fat is itself completely natural). When it comes to fat graft techniques, our surgeons at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center, serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, are an ideal choice to ensure you get excellent results.

Results of Fat Repositioning or Fat Grafting

Mitigating excess skin is only part of the total blepharoplasty process. In order to get optimal results, you may also have to address the fat deposits around the eye. But when both skin and fat are addressed, the results can be incredibly dramatic. Patients often notice being able to see a significant improvement in the overall visibility of the eye and expressiveness of the face. Patients who have fat repositioned or replaced will notice a smoother overall appearance around the eyes.

This means that, once recovered, patients look more youthful and energetic. Once patients see the final results, they often report a significant increase in confidence, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. It might seem like a small change, but subtle changes to the eyes and the adjacent structures can give the entire face a more energized and youthful appearance.

If you are interested in what a fat repositioning or fat graft procedure can do for your eyelids, contact the experts at the Sanctuary Cosmetic Center in Tysons Corner, VA, to set up a confidential consultation. Get started on your transformation today!

Click here for before and after photos