 |
| Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser |
Just two years ago, Emily Gordon found herself fixated on a particular feature: her under eyes. Puffy yet hollow, they gave her a perpetually exhausted look something she didn’t expect to grapple with at just 27. Despite trying everything from improved sleep habits to clean eating and premium skincare, her eye bags remained, stubborn and unbothered.
“I’d wake up, catch my reflection, and instantly feel deflated,” Gordon said. “I avoided mirrors as much as I could.”
That changed when she discovered a growing community on TikTok: women just like her, frustrated by the same under-eye issues but documenting their solution, not just their struggle. The answer? Lower blepharoplasty, a 90-minute surgical procedure costing around $5,000, designed to permanently remove or reposition excess skin, fat, or muscle beneath the eyes.
Four months later, Gordon joined their ranks. Today, she beams with satisfaction.
“I have no eye bags. My under-eye area is smooth and refreshed,” she said. “It was absolutely the right choice.”
Although most blepharoplasty patients are in their 50s and 60s, Gordon represents a growing number of younger women seeking the surgery. Data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) confirms the trend: more women under 30 are undergoing the procedure.
“There’s definitely a shift happening,” said Dr. Pradeep Mettu, a North Carolina-based oculofacial plastic surgeon. “What used to be mostly 40s and up now includes more women in their 20s.”
Once a quiet favorite among the aging elite, lower blepharoplasty is now gaining traction with Gen Z and millennials, many of whom are looking to tackle their eye bags and the insecurities that come with them long before middle age.
Why Women in Their 20s Are Opting In
Smooth, filter-perfect under eyes have long been idealized well before social media amplified the pressure. Even beauty ads from the 1950s showcased concealer as a magic wand for aging eyes. But for some young women, under-eye bags aren’t age-related; they’re inherited.
“Many of these patients tell me they’ve had eye bags since childhood,” said Dr. Ivan Vrcek, a Dallas-based oculoplastic surgeon. “It’s not about aging. It’s about anatomy.”
That means no serum, diet, or hydration hack will fully eliminate them. Surgery, however, can and it’s becoming an increasingly popular long-term investment, especially as interest in injectables wanes. In 2024, filler use increased by only 1%, per ASPS data, while surgical solutions like blepharoplasty surged.
 |
| Emily Gordon before and after her lower blepharoplasty (plus CO2 laser and fat transfer). Emily Gordon |
Gordon, for instance, had little interest in temporary fixes like filler or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, which require repeat sessions and costs that add up over time. Filler can run $500 to $1,500 per syringe. PRP can range from $500 to $2,000 per treatment and you typically need three or more sessions.
In contrast, her one-time lower blepharoplasty cost $9,500, including general anesthesia, CO2 laser skin tightening, and fat transfer for volume.
“When I looked at the lifetime cost of filler, surgery just made more financial and emotional sense,” she said.
Performed through a transconjunctival incision (inside the eyelid), the procedure often results in minimal visible scarring, mild swelling, and manageable pain if any. Gordon described her post-op discomfort as nearly nonexistent.
“I felt nothing,” she said. “Even in the days after, no pain and that surprises most people.”
According to Dr. Vrcek, many patients return to work within a week.
A Demographic Shift in Blepharoplasty Patients
Vrcek says the demand for lower blepharoplasty in his practice has “exploded.” Of the 12 such surgeries he performs weekly, about half are for women in their 20s and 30s.
Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel, a leading plastic surgeon in Boston, said he recently consulted with five patients under 30 for the procedure.
Dr. Mettu confirmed the shift: “I’m seeing far more patients between 20 and 29 than ever before.” One of his most recent blepharoplasty patients? A 20-year-old who traveled from another state just for the surgery.
 |
| Sugelly Machado before and after her lower blepharoplasty. Sugelly Machado |
“Some still believe surgery is only for older patients, but that’s outdated,” Mettu said. “If a patient is over 18, healthy, and understands the risks, they can be a good candidate.”
Social media has accelerated awareness. Gordon’s TikTok posts about her experience racked up over 7 million views. Influencer Madeline White shared her own journey, generating nearly 14 million views. And Jas Anahis, a 26-year-old who saw Dr. Mettu, attracted 11 million views with her videos.
Mettu said just one video triggered over 10 consultation requests in a single day.
Among those inspired? 27-year-old Sugelly Machado. After discovering Anahis’s content, she drove from Connecticut to North Carolina for her procedure.
“I didn’t hesitate,” she said. “This was something I’d been self-conscious about for years.”
Machado says the bags were her one insecurity. She relied on filters and avoided going out without makeup.
“People would always ask if I was tired,” she said. “But I wasn’t. I was just born with these bags.”
Three months post-surgery, her confidence has soared.
“I feel beautiful,” she said. “And I’m not hiding anymore.”
When It’s About More Than Aesthetic It’s Identity
Dr. Spiegel says that our eyes hold immense social and emotional value. Whether it’s on Zoom or social media, we’re constantly staring at our own reflections.
That was the case for 30-year-old Kiana Robinson, who first noticed her bags in 2017 but didn't seriously consider surgery until remote work and constant video calls made them unavoidable.
 |
| Kiana Robinson before and after her surgery. Pradeep Mettu, MD and Raleigh Eye and Face Plastic Surgery |
“It got to the point where colleagues would ask if I was crying,” she said.
She sought filler, but Dr. Mettu recommended surgery. Now, three months out, the results have transformed her self-image.
“I feel healthier. Younger,” Robinson said. “Like my old self, but better.”
The reality? Eye bags rarely disappear with age or skincare. And for congenital cases, they only worsen with time.
“I didn’t want to wait until I was 50,” Machado said. “If women back then had the access and info we have now, I’m sure they’d have done it younger too.”
A Word of Caution and Realism
Not every surgeon is quick to operate on young patients. Dr. Spiegel often turns people away.
“I spend a lot of time reminding them that they’re already beautiful,” he said. “Surgery shouldn’t be a reaction to internet pressure.”
Lower blepharoplasty carries risks, including dry eyes and vision issues, which is why thorough consultations are critical. Sometimes, prominent eye bags are a symptom of other conditions like sleep apnea or allergies that should be ruled out.
“There’s more to self-confidence than a surgical fix,” said Dr. Paul Phelps, a Chicago-based surgeon. “It’s one piece of a much bigger puzzle.”
Even with long-lasting results, lifestyle matters. Surgeons recommend avoiding heavy activity, alcohol, and makeup for at least two weeks post-op.
“If you take care of yourself, results can last a lifetime,” said Phelps.
For Gordon, now 29 and planning her 2026 wedding, the decision has been empowering.
“I won’t be stressing about how I look in wedding photos,” she said. “Now I’m just thinking about a boob job but that’s another story.”
