When people come to see me about swelling beneath their eyes, I often hear different names for what they are experiencing. Some say they have festoons. Others use the term malar bags. Some call it malar edema. These are not separate problems. They are different names for the same condition.

For years this area of facial aging has been misunderstood and misdiagnosed. People have been told to try creams, fillers, or even surgery, only to find that nothing really worked. Many have lived with swelling that makes them look older, tired, or unwell, even though they feel vibrant and healthy inside. My goal with this article is to clear up the confusion about malar bags and explain why my RESET® procedure has finally given people a real, lasting solution.

What Are Malar Bags?

Malar bags, festoons, and malar edema all describe swelling and puffiness that appear at the lid cheek junction. This is the area just beneath the lower eyelid, sitting on top of the cheekbone.

It is important to understand that malar bags are not the same as typical under eye bags.

• Eye bags form directly beneath the lower eyelid and are usually related to fat pads pushing forward as we age.
• Malar bags or festoons form lower on the face, involve both skin and muscle, and often appear as puffy mounds that cast shadows and give the face a heavy or tired look.

Because the cause is different, the treatment must be different as well.

Why Conventional Treatments Fail

Most people start with over the counter options. They try eye creams, serums, and rollers that promise to tighten the skin or reduce puffiness. These products may hydrate the skin but they do not change the underlying condition.

Fillers are another common recommendation. The theory is that by adding volume to the under eye area, the transition between eyelid and cheek will look smoother. In reality fillers often make malar bags worse. They add bulk to an area that is already swollen, which exaggerates the puffiness instead of reducing it.

Conventional lower eyelid blepharoplasty is an excellent procedure for true under eye bags, but it does not treat festoons. It removes fat and excess skin but leaves the festoon in place. Many people come to me after blepharoplasty frustrated because the swelling they wanted to fix is still there. Some even feel their appearance looks worse because the untreated festoon now appears more obvious.

This cycle leaves people feeling hopeless. They spend money, endure recovery time, and still do not see the results they want. For decades the standard advice was that nothing could be done about malar bags.

What Really Causes Malar Bags

Malar bags are caused by a combination of factors. Sun damage breaks down collagen and weakens the skin. The delicate lymphatic system in the mid face begins to work less effectively with age, which leads to fluid accumulation. Repeated muscle movement beneath the skin adds to the changes over time.

This is why malar bags do not respond to creams or temporary fixes. They are not just loose skin. They are not the result of volume loss. And they are not the same as eye bags. Treating them as if they were eye bags is one of the biggest reasons people are disappointed after conventional surgery.

Why I Developed RESET®

I have been performing eyelid and facial laser surgery for more than 25 years. I saw the frustration of people living with festoons and malar bags. They felt vibrant and youthful on the inside but looked tired on the outside. They tried creams, fillers, and even surgeries, only to be told to accept the swelling as untreatable.

I was not willing to accept that answer. That is why I developed RESET®.

RESET is the advanced laser surgical procedure I created to treat festoons and malar bags. It solves the problem in two essential ways.

1. The laser precisely removes the festoon tissue.
2. At the same time it resurfaces the skin above it.

This combination is critical. If you remove the festoon but leave behind damaged skin, the result looks incomplete. If you resurface the skin without addressing the festoon, the swelling remains. RESET treats both at once, which is why the results look natural and complete.

What People Say After RESET®

Individuals travel to Tampa from across the United States and even from other countries for RESET. They come because nothing else worked and they want the best possible outcome.

What I hear most often after the procedure is the same: “My only regret is not doing this sooner.”

One patient shared, “Everyone thought I looked tired or sick, even though I felt healthy and full of energy. After RESET I finally look the way I feel.”

Why Treating Malar Bags Matters

This is not only about appearance. Malar bags affect how you are perceived by others. Friends, coworkers, and even strangers may assume you are tired or unwell. Over time those comments take a toll on self esteem. Many people begin to avoid photos, social events, or video calls.

The right treatment is not about chasing youth. It is about alignment. It is about having your outside appearance reflect the energy and vitality you feel inside.

The Bottom Line 

Malar bags, malar edema, and festoons are different names for the same problem. For years people were told that nothing could be done. That is no longer true.

RESET is a proven, permanent solution. It removes the swelling, renews the skin, and restores confidence. People fly from across the country and around the world because RESET works.

If you are living with malar bags and are frustrated by failed treatments, you do not have to accept them as permanent. There is hope. 

Book your complimentary consultation today and discover how RESET can help you look as good as you feel.

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