Key takeaways
Eye bag surgery case: years of heavy screen use led to puffy eye bags and darker circles that neither makeup nor retouching could hide during ad shoots. After an assessment with Dr. Yen-Chun Yu, surgery was done under local anesthesia. She had anti-swelling injections at follow-ups, could wear contact lenses from days four to five, and the wound had healed well when stitches came out on day six. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise were avoided for a month.
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I'm Shi Jing, a freelancer who also does online and TV ad shoots part-time. For years I'd struggled with puffy eye bags, which made my dark circles especially heavy. It was a headache for makeup artists on shoots, because eye bags are hard to hide with makeup. One director even stopped mid-shoot and asked the makeup artist to cover my eye bags again, which left me feeling very insecure...
Before freelancing I was a data engineer, staring at a screen all day, watching tiny numbers where no mistake was allowed, and often using my phone for work after hours. Years of eye strain made my eye bags more obvious and my dark circles heavier, and I looked very run-down.
A while ago I shot an ad where the lighting made my eye bags look worse, and the final cut was nothing like I'd imagined. To hide my eye bags, the editor had applied an extreme soft-focus effect, and I looked hazy and not at all attractive. After that, I thought eye bag surgery would spare the makeup artist, lighting crew, photographer and editor the trouble, and that refining my look is part of being a professional performer. So I finally committed to eye bag surgery.
My first-ever surgery: I'd recommend IV sedation
It was my first time in an operating room. I wasn't afraid the result would disappoint, but I was still somewhat worried. I'd chosen local anesthesia, so I was awake watching the instruments move in front of my eyes, which was nerve-racking. If there's a downside to local anesthesia, it's that the operation feels very long. If I could choose again, I'd definitely pick IV sedation; it makes surgery far more comfortable.
Diligent aftercare made a real difference to healing
I had a shoot one week after surgery, so to speed up recovery, besides anti-swelling injections at follow-ups, I drank an herbal recovery tonic and ate lots of sea bass congee. When the stitches came out on day six, the doctor and nurse said my wound had healed very fast, probably because of thorough aftercare. If you want a shorter recovery, a little diligence really does make a difference!
The doctor also reminds you not to lift heavy things or exercise strenuously for a month, and to avoid moving your eyes too quickly so you don't pull on the stitches. You can start wearing contact lenses four or five days after surgery, and daily life isn't affected much.
Thrilled with the result: goodbye, tired panda eyes
It's been about a month since my eye bag surgery, and I'd give it a perfect 10, because so many people have complimented me. A friend even said, "My whole family thinks you've gotten prettier," and I haven't had a single negative comment! Eye bag surgery not only got rid of the tired look but also made my eyes look bigger, and it fixed the uneven eye shape that always bothered me in photos.
I do portrait projects and often take everyday photos. I used to be helpless against my eye bags and had no idea how to retouch them. Since the surgery there's no retouching to worry about, and simple makeup makes me look great! With the eye bags gone, I no longer look tired, my eyes look bigger, and my whole look is more refined.
Also, on video ad shoots I used to feel bad for the makeup artist, because with puffy eye bags, swelling and dark circles, they had to use different colors to cover them, and hair and makeup took ages. After eye bag surgery things are much better. Hair and makeup time has dropped dramatically, and I'm more confident in the final ads!
Five-star service: I sincerely recommend NAISS CLINIC
"NAISS CLINIC was better than I ever expected!"
Before NAISS I consulted five or six aesthetic clinics. My first impression of NAISS CLINIC was how spacious it is, and the reception staff were very polite, so I felt very welcome. The doctor was also very attentive. Before surgery my eyes had to be cleaned with saline, which was a bit uncomfortable, and the doctor kept checking on me and only started once he was sure my eyes were fine. Since I chose local anesthesia and was awake, the doctor worried I'd be nervous and kept chatting to distract me. Every movement he made was so precise; he was really careful, which put me at ease!
After surgery I had two follow-ups: one to remove the stitches and one for post-op photos. Both times Dr. Yu, who performed the surgery, checked my healing and tracked my progress. The same doctor looked after me from consultation to follow-up, so there's no worry about not finding your doctor or having nowhere to turn after surgery.
Something else special: NAISS CLINIC has a professional air shower room. Before surgery, the doctor, nurses and I all had to pass through it, turning around inside while powerful jets of clean air blow dust, hair and lint off your cleanroom gown. It lowers the risk of infection after surgery and made me even more confident in the quality of the operation.
A few words for anyone considering eye bag surgery...
After my eye bag surgery I shared it on Instagram, and so many people asked where I'd had it done! If you're still hesitating, stop overthinking it. Rather than endlessly reading posts and searching online, come to NAISS CLINIC for an in-person consultation; you'll actually learn more. What stuck with me most was how clearly the doctor explained the difference between eye bags, dark circles and tear troughs. When I shared that on Instagram, I found lots of people were just as unsure as I'd been about how to tell them apart.
I'd been seriously reading about eye bag surgery for nearly two years. Eyes feel like a big deal, so worry and uncertainty make you keep putting it off. Having actually had it done, recovery was very fast and it truly fixed my eye bags. If I could do it over, I'd have had eye bag surgery years earlier. It's absolutely the best investment!
This story reflects one patient's experience. Results and recovery vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person about your own treatment plan.
