If you work in a job with any kind of stress level, you will understand that the constant “no sleep” situation is very real. There are thousands of lotions and potions promising an answer to the dreaded eye bags and dark circles, but very few live up to expectation. Because the reasons for bags and circles are often due to your structural or genetic makeup, it is no surprise that applying a “magical” cream will hardly reverse them. Here are what doctors and surgeons are recommending for under eye bags and circles:
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Collagen-Boosting Eye Cream
Dark eye circles are often due to thin eyelid skin. Being the thinnest skin in the body, the translucency of eyelid skin lets blood vessels show through under the eyes. The thin skin also accentuate sunken eyes, worsening dark eye shadows.
There IS one ingredient that is proven to thicken skin and improve the structure of the skin. Regular use of retinol, which stimulates the production of collagen, will gradually thicken skin and mask dark circles. Dream Cream Eye Repair Cream contains co-enzyme Q, in addition to retinol, which also targets dark skin discoloration around the eyes.

The humble cold teabag helps too. The secret is caffeine and coolness – both helps to shrink blood vessels and reduce puffiness. Steep two tea bags in warm water, then chill the bags in the fridge for a few minutes and place one tea bag on each eye for five minutes. Use green tea bags for added anti-oxidant effect.

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Camouflage With Fillers
The popularity of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection for under eyes is on the rise. This is hardly a surprise considering how it can erase bags and circles, sans scalpel. When injected into the undereye area, or tear trough, HA will plump up the skin, and help to camouflage bags and hide shadows. “The skin under the eye is extremely thin,” explains Dr Chia Hui Ling, Consultant Plastic Surgeon from SW1 Plastic Surgery Clinic specialising in eye rejuvenation, “so it is crucial that the filler is specific for the undereye area and the technique must be precise, to avoid leaving visible lumps of filler under the eyes.” The Revitalift Eye treatment at SW1 Clinic uses fillers specially tailored for the undereye, which not only camouflages but brightens at the same time.

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“Tone” The Lower Eyelids
Many have dark eye circles due to heavily pigmented under eye skin. Mostly due to genetic predisposition, these pesky pigmentation are notoriously difficult to treat. Toning lasers, which act like pigment-seeking missiles, target and break up pigmentation. To achieve a brightening effect, at least a few sessions are required. SW1 Clinic’s Eye Illuminator Program combines Revitalift Eye filler and Quattro Toning treatment, which features the Pico Discovery, latest and the most powerful laser in the market for pigment removal.

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Scarless Lower Eyelid Surgery
Eyebags are largely caused by the “orbital” fat under the eyes. With age, the eyebags get worse because the “bag” the holds the fat in, starts to give way, causing the fat to bulge out. “To remove orbital fat, I use a scarless technique from inside the lower eyelids,” days Dr Chia. Dr Chia explains that using this lower eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, technique, there is no external scar and the downtime is short (3 – 5 days).

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Skin Tightening
On top of circles and bags, “It is common to have other accompanying problems such as loose, sagging skin and wrinkles,” added Dr Chia. The solution for these will depend on the severity of the problem. Laser treatment or Nanofat Injection can smoothen mild skin wrinkles. For more severe loose skin and wrinkles, surgical skin removal is the best way to tighten the sagging skin.

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