Eye Bag Removal: Home Remedies, Plus Medical, and Surgical Options

Do you see dark, puffy circles under your eyes that make it seem like you haven’t slept in days? Even more frustrating is that they appear to be a constant companion no matter how much you sleep. If you can relate, please know that you’re not alone. Under-eye bags are a common concern for many people, but the good news is that they are rarely a sign of a health problem. Still, wouldn’t it be great if you can get rid of these bags under the eyes for good? Here are some strategies for eye bag removal. 

Home Remedies

Before purchasing cosmetic products for eye bag removal, consider the following home remedies first:

• Catch up on sleep. Sleep deprivation is a common cause of under-eye bags, so make it a habit to have 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. However, please note that there’s no definite time frame for when your eye bags will disappear once you get enough snooze time, since many other factors may come into play.
• Hydrate. Did you know that dehydration can make the skin around the eyes saggy? Make sure to drink plenty of water and limit alcohol intake since it contributes to dehydration.  
• Stop smoking. Cigarettes increase collagen loss, leading to thinner skin that makes the blood vessels more visible. 
• Don’t go into yo-yo dieting. Yo-yo dieting may cause drastic changes in your weight, and this might affect the distribution of fat in your face, contributing to under-eye bags. 
• Add an extra pillow. Are the dark circles under your eyes puffy? If so, consider sleeping with an extra pillow to elevate your head further. This might help prevent fluid buildup in your eye area. 

Eye Bag Removal: Non-Surgical Medical Options

Along with home remedies, you can also try the following non-surgical eye bag removal treatments: 

• Creams. Experts reiterate that there’s no magic potion for eye bag removal, but some mild creams may help. Consider creams that contain ingredients such as vitamin C, caffeine, CoQ10, and retinol. However, go for those with mild concentrations because too much might irritate the skin. 
• Chemical Peels. Peeling, which removes the superficial toplayer of the skin, may help improve the appearance of eye bags due to wrinkling. However, since the skin around the eyes is sensitive, it’s best to trust a dermatologist for this procedure. 
• Laser Resurfacing. Similar to peeling, laser resurfacing also removes the upper skin layers, encouraging collagen growth and resurfacing newer, tighter skin.  
• Fillers. Another option for eye bag removal is to have jelly-like fillers injected in your under-eye area to smooth out the sagginess.
• Botulinum or Botox. Some experts also count Botox as an eye bag removal treatment because it alleviates wrinkling and sagging. 

How quick the improvement happens or for how long it lasts varies depending on the procedure and some other factors like your age and skin type. 

Surgical Options

It may sound extreme, but your doctor may also recommend a surgery called blepharoplasty depending on what’s causing your under-eye bags. In this outpatient operation, the surgeon removes the extra fat in the lower lid, making the skin tighter.  

Learn more about Skin Health here.