Under Eye Treatment
Maybe you enjoyed one too many all-nighters in your youth. And now, those heavy bags under your eyes are packed and you seem to be carrying around the evidence of those late nights years later.
But if those dark circles and bags aren’t going away on their own, even when you’re well-rested, chances are — you’ve lost a little volume in your face.
As we age, the bones in our face thin and widen, so we lose some of the fat, or padding, around our eyes. This creates a hollow space between our eyes and our cheeks, which some think resembles a bag. This space is called our tear trough. Other factors like genetics, diet, increased sun exposure and smoking can also thin out facial bones over time.
But if you’re unhappy about that extra luggage under your eyes, you might want to consider treatment. In order to replace some of that lost volume, you can get what’s called a filler, a gel-like substance made of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule found in our skin.
What causes dark circles and bags under the eyes
Darkness in the tear trough area is often genetic, and some people naturally have sunken eyes to varying degrees, which cast shadows underneath the lid.
But there are a number of other issues that can also cause dark circles and bags under the eyes. These include:
- aging
- poor sleep patterns
- smoking
- dehydration
- UV exposure
Aging can cause sunken eyes and a dark, hollow look. Tear troughs – those dark circles under the eyes – are a result of a weakened orbital septum and a loss of plump soft tissue in the cheek area. This happens because, as we age, the pockets of fat under the eye may dissipate or drop, causing a deep separation between the under-eye area and the cheeks.
If you think your eyes look tired and worn out, even when you are well rested, eye fillers (also called tear trough fillers) may be an option for you.
However, keep in mind that eye fillers are most effective for people who have dark under-eye hollows caused by genetics or aging, as opposed to lifestyle factors. In fact, if you smoke or vape, you might not be a good candidate for under eye fillers.
What are under-eye fillers
Under-eye fillers are injectable hyaluronic acid treatments that can be used to treat volume loss and dark areas underneath the eyes.
Non-surgical and minimal invasive, tear trough fillers are an effective way to treat wrinkles, the hollowed-out look under the eyes and dark circles, for a soft and natural effect.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are made of a transparent gel that mimics the natural substance that our bodies produce. They are easy to smooth, less likely to clump, and have been shown to support collagen production in the skin, which further plumps and smooths the skin over time.
How under-eye fillers work
Non-surgical and minimal invasive, tear trough fillers are an effective way to treat wrinkles, the hollowed-out look under the eyes and dark circles, for a soft and natural effect.
It is important to distinguish dark circles caused by loss of volume and/or genetics from dark circles caused by hyperpigmentation in the area. So, if you are interested in improving the appearance of the area under your eyes your doctor will be able to assess what is causing the issue and recommend a combination of treatments, which could include under eye fillers.
What happens when tear trough fillers are injected?
The process of having a dermal filler injected is simple and straightforward. First, your doctor will clean the surface of your tear trough with alcohol and ice the area. Then a numbing cream is applied to the area before the injections, making the procedure completely painless. After waiting a few minutes for the numbing cream to take effect, using a tiny needle or a blunt-tipped cannula (a thin tube), your doctor will place several small injections of the filler along your tear troughs.
The entire procedure usually takes under an hour, there is no downtime or recovery period, and patients can go back to their normal activities immediately after.
Your eyes will look full right away, and you may experience minor redness or swelling in the first 48 hours, but that typically goes away on its own. During the first 48 hours, try not to sleep face down and avoid touching your eyes. If you’d like, you can use ice or a cold compress to help with any swelling.
How long do fillers last?
The full effect of fillers is noticeable after about two weeks. Fillers can last for a couple of years but vary for every person based on their anatomy and the kind of filler used. On average, you may need to get injections every one to two years to maintain the full effect of the filler.
Results
After the procedure, you will start to notice results right away and then they only get better over the next two weeks. Under eye fillers give subtle, natural results that won’t make you look radically different. But once the results have taken full effect, your eyes and your overall face will look more relaxed, refreshed, and younger.
Under eye fillers tend to last longer when injected under the eyes than in other parts of the face. Unlike the lips, forehead, and other parts of the face that are constantly in motion, the skin beneath the eyes largely stays in place, so results can last for up to 12 months. The effects of repeat treatments tend to last even longer.
Will it look natural?
We’ve all seen celebrities that have ‘filler faces’ with puffy cheeks who don’t look like themselves anymore. This is what happens when a practitioner has placed too much filler in the wrong places, without understanding facial anatomy.
Fillers are simply products used to replace the volume we lose in our faces as we age. If done subtly and in proportion to the patient’s natural beauty, you will have natural-looking, age-appropriate results.
What if I don’t like the result?
Tear trough fillers can take a few weeks to settle. If after this period you don’t like them, they be dissolved by injecting hyaluronidase, which takes less than 24 hours to work. That means if you’re ever unhappy with the result, it’s quick and easy to go back to your normal self.