Baggy eyelids usually result from heredity and aging. As people age, the skin around the eyes stretches, the muscles weaken and fat moves forward in the eye socket. The loose eyelid skin and muscle, along with the fat and in some cases fluid, make people look older and more tired than they feel.
Cholesterol can deposit around the eyes to form fatty, yellowish bumps on or near the eyelid known as xanthelasma. While usually harmless, these deposits sometimes signal a serious underlying condition. Natural fats, including cholesterol, can form growths around the eyelids.
In fact, baggy eyelids can sometimes appear relatively worse after weight loss since the face can lose fat, whereas eyelid fat typically remains unchanged. While losing weight can improve one's self-confidence, the loss of fat with resulting tissue sag in the face can be a disappointing side effect.
Symptoms of high cholesterol in the eyes include yellow plaques, white rings around your cornea, and “mini-strokes” where a cholesterol plaque has blocked blood flow to part or all of your eye. It is a good idea to see your doctor if you are concerned about your cholesterol or have one of these symptoms.
In some cases, however, surgery isn't necessary. Laser resurfacing, nonsurgical skin tightening and lifting, dermal fillers, micro fat grafting, and even an enhanced skincare regimen are treatment options that can improve the appearance of both the upper and lower eyelids for some patients.
Xanthelasma are cholesterol-filled plaques and can't be squeezed out.
Xanthelasma
People with high cholesterol often have a common eye symptom which is known as xanthelasma — a raised or flat yellowish area that forms around the eyes or close to the nose. Cholesterol build-up under the skin results in deposits. However, this condition doesn't affect the vision.
What Is Pinguecula? A pinguecula is an alteration of normal tissue resulting in a deposit of protein and fat in the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Unlike a pterygium, a pingueculum does not actually grow onto the cornea.
Cholesterol deposits that occur due to underlying health conditions may disappear when a person gets treatment for that condition. In other cases, a person may wish to remove the cholesterol deposits for cosmetic reasons.
Consuming foods high in quercetin, a natural chemical found in plants may reduce cholesterol levels. ¹⁰ Onions, among other fruits and vegetables, are high in quercetin.
Yes, both malar bags and festoons can be removed surgically. Lower blepharoplasty, surgery to correct problems with the lower eyelids, can often improve the appearance of malar bags. A mid-facelift can also help to improve the appearance of festoons.
Once prolapsed orbital fat is sculpted and removed, that same fat does not come back. It is not uncommon for patients to have the results of their under eye bag surgery last 20 years with no recurrence of their eye bags.
Most of us are familiar with the benefits of BOTOX for smoothing forehead lines and wrinkles, but you may be surprised to learn that BOTOX can also help to lift drooping brows and correct hooded eyes in some patients.
If you see yellowish-orange growths on your skin, you may have deposits of cholesterol under your skin. These painless deposits can appear in many areas, including the corners of your eyes, lines on your palms, or the backs of your lower legs. If you notice these growths on any area of your skin, see your doctor.
Genetics, aging, and minor medical conditions can all contribute to excessive skin around the eyelids that causes drooping. Heavy eyelids can still be debilitating, however, especially when they cause issues like vision impairment. There are a variety of treatment options that can improve heavy eyelids.