Dark Circles

Reducing dark circles beneath the eyes is one of the most effective ways to brighten your complexion for a more well-rested appearance. If you are struggling to conceal dark circles, we offer several customizable treatments that can address them with lasting results. Although changes to your lower eyelids are common due to aging, stress, and medical conditions, they do not need to be permanent. With both surgical and nonsurgical procedures, we can refresh your appearance for a smoother, more youthful look with lasting results.

Dr. Paul Phelps, a Chicago-based oculofacial surgeon and member of the Oculofacial Society, is well known for his innovative facial treatments that can enhance your complexion for a more youthful appearance and improve your quality of life. He is a leading expert in periocular and facial CO2 laser resurfacing, and his procedures are personalized for each patient. He will consider your underlying anatomy and the condition of your skin to help you achieve your aesthetic goals with minimal downtime.

Contact our office or call Chicago Oculofacial Plastic Surgery at (312) 888-5754 to learn more about how we can help you restore your self-confidence with customizable treatments designed to deliver lasting results.

Before and After Photos

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About Dark Circles

Dark circles are a common concern resulting from aging, illness, weight loss, skin conditions, and other factors. Dark under-eye circles have also been linked to stress, which can affect blood flow, resulting in a puffy and tired appearance. As you age, the collagen levels in your skin also decline, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity that can affect your perceived age and self-esteem. Gravity can also pull on the skin, resulting in a droopy appearance. Sun exposure, genetics, hormonal fluctuations, and pollution can also affect the quality and appearance of your skin. ⁽¹⁾ With customizable treatments, we can help you reduce the appearance of dark under-eye bags for a more well-rested and youthful-looking appearance.

Nonsurgical Dark Circle Treatments

CO2 Laser Resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing is a noninvasive treatment that can diminish the appearance of dark under-eye circles by increasing collagen levels and resurfacing the upper layers of the skin for a smoother appearance. Dr. Phelps can renew your skin barrier with gentle pulses of laser energy for natural-looking results and a more even skin texture. During the treatment, he can administer the energy in an even pattern to help your skin barrier repair itself and break up the pigment causing dark circles.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a nutrient-rich serum that helps your body generate new, healthy skin cells. Regenerative medicine helps your skin regenerate with growth factors that enhance your skin’s radiance. During the treatment, we will take a small blood sample and purify it in a centrifuge to extract the plasma and create a serum. We can administer the treatment directly to your skin to help your body produce new cells and reduce signs of facial aging.

Surgical Dark Circle Treatments

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower blepharoplasty (lower eyelid lift) is a procedure that reduces the appearance of dark circles beneath your eyes by repositioning the underlying fat pad to reduce puffy circles that emphasize facial shadows. During a lower blepharoplasty procedure, he will make a thin incision inside the lower eyelid to reposition and/or remove excess tissue and skin that is creating the appearance of puffy, under-eye bags.

Fat Repositioning & Grafting

Fat repositioning and grafting adjust the position of the underlying fat pads to reduce the appearance of dark circles beneath the eyes by restoring volume with a fat transfer. This treatment is usually performed during a lower blepharoplasty. Through a thin incision inside the lower eyelid, Dr. Phelps can reposition the underlying fat to smooth out hollows under the eyes for a more awake, youthful appearance. He can also remove fat from one area of the body with liposuction and administer it beneath the eyes to restore volume. 

Benefits of Treating Dark Circles

There are several benefits of treating dark circles, including:

Candidates

Suitable candidates for dark circle treatments want to achieve a more even skin tone for a brighter, more well-rested appearance. If you are in good overall health and do not smoke, you are likely a good candidate. Candidates must also be prepared to take good care of their skin. 

Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Phelps will ask about your medical history, aesthetic goals, and any previous cosmetic procedures you had to create the best treatment plan for your needs. If you have additional aesthetic goals, he can adjust your treatment plan to include additional treatments to help you achieve them.

Please come prepared with any questions you have about the treatment process. After examining your skin, he can let you know if you will need a series of treatments or a combination of multiple treatments to achieve your goals.

We can also combine a lower blepharoplasty with an upper blepharoplasty–a procedure that removes droopy skin and tissue from the upper eyelids for a smoother appearance and to improve your field of vision. The combined procedure (quad blepharoplasty) can rejuvenate your eyes in a single appointment for a brighter, more radiant complexion.

Preparation

We can provide specific instructions to help you prepare for your treatment. Although the preparation process for each procedure will be slightly different depending on your specific treatment plan, you will need to take good care of your skin ahead of time and avoid excessive sun exposure that could cause more fine lines and wrinkles to form since UV exposure is responsible for approximately 80% of skin aging. ⁽¹⁾

After Your Treatment

After your treatment, you can enjoy a more well-rested appearance, brighter eyes, and a more youthful-looking complexion. Many patients notice that their under-eye area is brighter, smoother, and less puffy after the treatments. Improving collagen levels can also reduce laxity and fine lines that increase perceived age. If you take good care of your skin, you can enjoy long-lasting results.

Additional Eye Rejuvenation Treatments

Sofwave™

Sofwave™ is an ultrasound energy treatment that lifts the skin for a firmer appearance. The FDA-cleared treatment can penetrate the skin at a deeper level than other nonsurgical treatments ⁽²⁾ and provides a nonsurgical upper eyelid lift–it can smooth fine lines and reduce laxity that affects your field of vision and appearance. If you would like to rejuvenate the upper eyes and address mild laxity, we can perform the treatment during your procedure for a complete makeover.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess tissue and skin from the upper eyes to address moderate to severe skin laxity affecting the patient’s field of vision. Dr. Phelps makes a thin, well-hidden incision along the curve of the upper eyelid. He then removes excess skin and muscle, tightening the skin for a smoother, more youthful look. Since he can permanently remove the excess tissue, the results are long-lasting.

The Cost of Treating Dark Circles in Chicago

The cost of treating dark circles will depend on the condition of your skin, whether you need additional treatments for your aesthetic goals, and whether or not you would benefit from a series of treatments.

Contact our office by calling (312) 888-5754 to learn more about how a simple treatment can rejuvenate your skin and enhance your quality of life.

FAQ

References

1. Ganceviciene R, Liakou AI, Theodoridis A, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Skin anti-aging strategies. Dermato-Endocrinology. 2012;4(3):308-319. doi:https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.22804 
2. Khan U, Khalid N. A Systematic Review of the Clinical Efficacy of Micro-Focused Ultrasound Treatment for Skin Rejuvenation and Tightening. Cureus. Published online December 4, 2021. doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.20163