Festoons

Puffiness and bags along the cheek line can significantly impact your appearance, making you look older and more weary than you feel. Non-invasive treatments can refresh this area, rejuvenating your appearance without incisions, general anesthesia, or significant downtime afterward.

The board-certified dermatologists at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York individualize each patient’s treatment with advanced techniques for nearly any skin condition through every season of life. With more than 100 lasers and energy devices to choose from and decades of combined experience, they will customize your treatment to your precise needs and goals to ensure the highest level of care and superior results.

Our full-time, onsite research division is discovering new treatments for a wide range of skin concerns. Check to see if you qualify for a current or upcoming clinical trial.

Laser & Skin Surgery Center’s director, Dr. Roy Geronemus, co-authored a paper, published in June 2018 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, describing the use of RF microneedling to treat festoons. He has also been featured in publications where he discusses this treatment option, including The Aesthetic Guide.

Festoons and eye bags are often confused because they appear in close proximity on the face. Eye bags form directly under the eye and are usually caused by a combination of skin laxity and small fat pockets. Festoons, also known as malar bags, develop beneath the eye bags and affect the area above the cheekbone.

Festoons, also known as malar bags, are fluid-filled pouches that occur in the midface. Causes of festoons vary, but they can often be attributed to genetics, sun damage, lifestyle factors, or the natural aging process. Bags and festoons often occur together, but some patients may have one or the other. Festoons have been much more challenging to treat, as surgery and ablative lasers were more invasive and not always effective.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, we have found the best treatment of festoons to be radiofrequency microneedling, using the Genius. This device combines the effective stimulation of microneedling with gentle RF heat to boost collagen levels for smoother, healthier skin from the inside out. As the skin heals itself after treatment, patients will see noticeable improvement in the appearance of the festoons.

During the procedure, a narrow stream of radiofrequency energy is delivered to the lower dermal layers via tiny needles. The body’s healing process is triggered through these microchannels, while collagen production is boosted. Your skin becomes smoother, firmer, and more youthful as it undergoes cell turnover and collagen production increases

With Genius treatment:

• Topical anesthesia is administered before the procedure to reduce discomfort
• Downtime is minimal and results are long-lasting
• Side effects are relatively mild and may include redness and swelling for 1-2 days
• Improvement is visible a few days after the procedure and continues to develop for up to 6 months following treatment
• Some patients may require a series of treatments for the best outcome, or touch-up treatments if the festoons recur

You may see some results immediately. Collagen and elastin levels will continue to rise over the next 3-6 months, leading to increased improvements. Once full results are achieved, they are long-lasting for most patients. However, some patients may see their festoons return over time. If this occurs, additional treatment may be necessary to maintain positive results

“Successful non-invasive treatment of festoons.” Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Mar 22.