A Guide On Non-Surgical Eye Bag Removal: What To Know

The eyes are arguably the most noticeable features on a someone’s face. A pair of large, bright eyes can make one look younger and much more attractive. However, the reverse is also true, as saggy, puffy eyes weighed down by eye bags makes one look tired, listless and look much older than the actual age. Although eye bags can be easily removed with surgery, not everyone is willing to go under the knife. With this in mind, The Clifford Clinic is pleased to offer several non-surgical eye bag removal procedures to meet the needs of our patients.

What are eye bags and what causes them?

Eye bags are one of the most common aesthetics concerns. The root cause of eye bag formation is the aging processes in the skin. As we age, more fat is deposited in the area beneath our eyes. Additionally, our skin loses their support structures like collagens and elastin, causing it to lose elasticity and begin to sag. The combination of these 2 often forms a visible bulge underneath the eyes, creating eye bags.

Contrary to popular belief, eye bags are not limited to older individuals. Although it is true that older people are more susceptible, the aging processes causing eye bags can be accelerated by several factors. Hence, it is not uncommon for younger adults in their 20s and 30s to have eye bags as well. Some of these factors that accelerate aging processes may include:

• Genetics
• Radiation damage like sun exposure
• Stress
• Smoking and tobacco consumption
• Dietary habits

Depending on the number of contributing factors, eye bags can be generally classified into 3 types:

• Type I: This is the mildest form of eye bags where the fatty deposits form a visible bulge, but the skin is still relatively taut. These may occasionally be hidden until one looks up.
• Type ll: In this case, the sagging of the skin beneath the eyes become obvious. The eye bags become much more visible as the effects of lax skin compounds with the bulging fatty deposits
• Type lll: The fatty deposits form a very prominent large semicircular bulge under the eyes, which make the eyes look swollen and tired. This may be further complicated by the loss of volume in the area above the cheeks, known as “tear troughs”

Before committing to treatment however, it is important to determine if your “eye bags” are true eye bags. The area around the eyes can become puffy for various reasons like fluid retention, lack of sleep, allergies and other reasons. These are not considered eye bags and should be treated with corresponding procedures.

How do I get rid of eye bags without surgery?

Even though surgical removal is still widely regarded as the most effective and long-lasting treatment for eye bags, non-surgical treatments have greatly improved in the past years and now possibly rival surgical removal in effectiveness. In fact, in the hands of skilled and experienced doctors, these non-surgical treatments can deliver results comparable to surgical removal, without the inherent risks of surgical. Here are some of the non-surgical eye bag removal treatments offered by The Clifford Clinic.

1. Clifford Eye Bag Protocol – AGNES and Secret RF treatment

At Clifford, AGNES and Secret RF is our signature treatment for removing eye bags. Both AGNES and Secret work on the same principle: Breaking down subcutaneous fat with Radiofrequency (RF) energy. Both machines feature extremely fine micro-needles that penetrate the skin and delivers RF energy to subcutaneous fat. This energy breaks down the fat, which will naturally be transported away by our body. In addition, the heat produced by the RF energy also stimulates collagen production in the dermis, tightening the skin. In essence, RF treatment targets 2 factors that form eye bags, which is why it is so effective.

Although AGNES and Secret RF work fundamentally on the same principles, they have important differences that make them complement each other well. AGNES delivers fixed depth, concentrated RF energy at the tip of the micro-needles, while Secret delivers RF energy at more controlled levels across all layers of the subcutaneous fat. Combining the 2 produces synergistic effects for a highly well-rounded treatment that effectively breaks down the fat pads causing the eye bags.

During the treatment, both numbing cream and local anaesthesia is administered to minimise the pain and discomfort felt. Next, our doctors will use the handpiece of the AGNES or Secret device to inject the micro-needles into the under-eye region and deliver RF energy. Each session will take roughly an hour to complete. Finally, cooling  gel packs are placed on the treated are to sooth the skin

AGNES and Secret RF typically produces the best results after 1 to 3 sessions over 1 to 2 months. However, some patients have reported visible results just 2 weeks after the first session. These results usually last 3 to 5 years in most patients but can be permanent in some cases with proper skin maintenance and good lifestyle habits.

2. Tear trough fillers

The tear trough is a hollow region just above the midcheeks seen in some people with sagging facial skin. Unlike AGNES and Secret RF, tear trough fillers do not address the fatty deposits beneath the eyes. Instead, it tackles loss of volume and sagging skin, which is another factor contributing to eye bags. By replacing the lost volume in this region with fillers, our doctors can reduce sagging skin, and eliminate shadows cast beneath the eyes. When done correctly, tear trough fillers can have surprising effects, even when no fat is removed.

Tear trough fillers have immediate and very visible results, with little to no downtime. However, they are not suitable for those with large fat deposits beneath the eyes and minimal loss of volume and sagging. They usually last for 6 to 12 months and require follow-up sessions to maintain the desired effect.

3. Combined treatment

In most cases, eye bags are not caused by a single factor alone. Fat deposits, loss of volume and skin laxity should all be addressed together. A combination of RF treatment with tear trough fillers can achieve most, if not all of these factors, and give the most pleasing results.

Key Takeaways

 At the end of the day, eye bags are a very manageable condition. However, this will still largely depend on how you take care of your skin and under-eye area. Although aging is inevitable, you can effectively slow the process down by playing an active role in maintaining and taking good care of your skin.

If you are bothered by the growing eye bags underneath your eyes, do contact us and schedule a consultation with our doctors. Being pioneers in using AGNES and Secret RF for eye bag treatment, they have years of experience with the devices and are confident in the results. In addition, they also customise the treatment protocol with each patient based on their individual conditions. Book a consultation and visit us now!