How to Remove Under-Eye Bags from Photos

Why Under-Eye Bags Show Up So Prominently in Photos

Under-eye bags are pouches of fluid or fat beneath the lower eyelid. In person, they're subtle. In photos, directional lighting casts shadows beneath the puffiness, making bags look twice as pronounced. Flash photography is the worst offender — the direct frontal light creates a sharp shadow line right under the bag. Even ring lights, popular for selfies, can accentuate the contour by lighting the puffy area brightly while leaving the hollow beneath it in shadow.

Types of Under-Eye Bags the AI Handles

• Puffy bags from fluid retention (morning puffiness, allergies, crying)
• Permanent bags from aging and loss of skin elasticity
• Hereditary under-eye bags (genetic predisposition regardless of age)
• Shadows cast beneath bags by harsh lighting
• Asymmetric bags where one eye is puffier than the other
• Combined bags and dark circles (puffiness with discoloration)

How AI Under-Eye Bag Removal Works

The AI detects the raised contour of the under-eye area and smooths the transition between the bag and the cheek. It reduces the volume of the puffy region and eliminates the shadow beneath it. For severe bags, it flattens the contour gradually rather than abruptly — an abrupt change would look like digital surgery. The correction is applied to each eye independently, handling asymmetry naturally.

Eye Bags vs. Dark Circles: What's the Difference

Dark circles are discoloration — the skin under the eye looks blue, purple, or brown. Eye bags are structural — a puffy, raised area that creates a shadow. Many people have both, but they require different corrections. Dark circles need color evening; bags need contour smoothing. You can fix both in one edit: 'remove the bags and dark circles under my eyes.' The AI applies the right technique to each problem.

When Under-Eye Bag Removal Matters

Professional headshots and corporate photos — nobody wants to look exhausted in their LinkedIn photo. Wedding and event photos taken after long, emotional days. Morning photos where overnight fluid retention made bags more prominent. Travel photos taken during jet lag. Video call screenshots for work profiles. Dating app photos where you want to look alert and rested. Any portrait where harsh lighting exaggerated what's normally a minor feature.

Prompts for the Best Results

For full removal: 'remove the bags under my eyes.' For subtle reduction: 'reduce the puffiness under the eyes, keep it natural.' For one eye: 'smooth the bag under the left eye — the right looks fine.' Combined fix: 'remove the bags and brighten the dark circles under the eyes.' If you want minimal correction: 'just soften the shadow beneath the eye bags, don't remove them entirely.' Start with reduction and escalate to removal only if needed.