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Style | 08/27/2008 1:45 pm

New Study Explains Why the Lower Eyelids Sag With Age

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Saggy eyelid
© Shutterstock

Ever wonder why the lower eyelids sag with age?

Many theories have sought to explain what causes the baggy lower eyelids that inevitably come with aging, but a recent study suggests the primary culrpit: fat expansion in the eye socket.

UCLA researchers looked at MRIs of 40 subjects (17 males and 23 females) between the ages of 12 and 80. What they found was that the lower eyelid tissue increased with age and that the largest contributor to this size increase was fat increase.

As a result, the researchers say, fat excision should be a component of treatment for patients seeking cosmetic surgery.

Currently, many plastic surgeons performing procedures to treat baggy eyelids do not remove any fat at all. They reposition the fat or conduct more invasive tightening of the muscle that surrounds the eye, or they tighten the actual ligament that holds the eyeball in place, according to a UCLA press release.

"A common treatment performed in the past and present is surgical excision of fat to treat a ‘herniation of fat’ — meaning that the amount of fat in eye socket does not change but the cover that holds the fat in place, the orbital septum, is weakened or broken and fat slips out," the study’s lead author, Dr. Sean Darcy, said. "However, our study showed there is actually an increase in fat with age, and it is more likely that the fat increase causes the baggy eyelids rather than a weakened ligament."

Co-author Timothy Miller hopes plastic surgeons take this study seriously. According to a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, eyelid surgery (aka blepharoplasty) is the fourth most popular procedure in the United States.

"Our findings may change the way some plastic surgeons treat baggy eyes," Miller said. "Our study showed that a component of a patient’s blepharoplasty procedure should almost routinely involve fat excision rather than these procedures."

The new findings are published in the September issue of the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Read more about: Health, News, Plastic Surgery

6 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Juanita Ward
I do not know about others-persons, but I have been using Mary Kay for years, I have never had the pleasure of having, bags under my eyes. And being a lady of color, looking at other women of color have not either. And for the record I’m 60 years old.
By Juanita Ward on 08/27/2008 2:26 pm
Marjorie C.
Juanita, Aha. I’ve often observed that people of color, men and women, do not seem to age at the same speed as white folks. They hold up better and longer, so to speak. I thought maybe the melanin in the skin was a protection, but apparently there’s more going on than that. It never occured to me that it was the bags under the eyes, or absence thereof, but I can see where it could be. Interesting.
By Marjorie C. on 08/28/2008 6:33 am
Peggy Sue
Thanks very much for this information. I have often thought about having this procedure done. I have quit wearing contacts since I dislike the bags. I hide behind the glasses. It would be wonderful to have a less invasive procedure in order to make me get out from behind. I would also hope it would be less expensive. Now off to research who is capable of doing this well.
By Peggy Sue on 08/27/2008 2:32 pm
Pamela Munro
I don’t know - I have allergy-sensitive eyes and had to deal with swelling early on. I found that a dab of witch hazel under eyecream really helped with the swelling - & if all else failed - cold black tea compresses. I have read that if you are very careful you can pat your lower eye area to distribute the fat deposits, too. But all of this depends on starting EARLY! If only my dear husband would follow my advice! Take if from an actress - keeping things from sagging in the beginning is the more economical way to go!
By Pamela Munro on 08/27/2008 5:30 pm
HA BIBI
I’m glad I don’t have this problem….The picture of the persons eye made my eyes water.Gosh, It looks painful!
By HA BIBI on 08/27/2008 7:29 pm
Helen O'Reilly
Why is it that you can donate blood, and other organs, but not fat?
By Helen O'Reilly on 04/07/2009 11:07 am