Everything You Need To Know About Under Eye Fillers
Ask any aesthetic practitioner which beauty bugbear they are asked about most frequently, and the chances are that eyes will feature at the top of the list – be that in the form of dark circles, puffiness, hollowness or crow’s feet. The eyes are a delicate area, and they may be described as the windows of the soul, but for middle-aged women, they’re also a giveaway of her age. Not only is the skin around the eyes delicate and dry, but it’s continually stretched and scrunched, so it wrinkles easily. Add to this the way our fat pads begin to shrink and drop as we get older, and the eye area may start to look hollow or pouchy.
Over the last few years, more and more women have been seeking hyaluronic acid filler injections under the eyes to rebuild the volume and restore what time has taken away. But the treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Here we discuss the various causes of ageing around the eyes, how filler can help and what to look for if it can’t.
What are tear troughs?
Our tear troughs are the grooved curves between the lower eyelid and upper cheek. While some people may be born with a sunken look, others may notice their tear troughs becoming increasingly apparent as they age due to loss of collagen and depletion of the facial fat underneath, leaving a sunken look behind.
What causes dark circles and hollowness under the eyes?
One of the leading causes of dark circles under the eyes is hyperpigmentation, which can be triggered by both environmental factors (such as sun exposure, smoking and poor sleep), and genetics. Individuals of Asian and African skin types are predisposed to having hyperpigmentation under the eyes because there is a common genetic trait of fragile lower eyelid skin. This allows veins to show through, resulting in a darker appearance.
In addition to this, loss of volume under the eyes begins to occur in our forties, when the fat compartments in the face drop, separating the under-eye area from the cheek. This is a significant contributor to dark circles, leading to sunken eyes and thinner skin, magnifying the appearance of dark circles.
Can filler really help?
Tear trough work is all about creating a smooth junction between the lower eyelid and the cheek. The idea is that hyaluronic acid filler is placed, very strategically, in tiny doses around the edge of the eye socket to minimise hollowness by plumping, hydrating and thickening the delicate skin. Some practitioners may also inject the surrounding cheek area to rebuild the structure of the face and create better symmetry.
Is it suitable for me?
Tear trough filler is a well-established and popular non-surgical procedure that works well to rebuild volume and improve the appearance of lower eyelid circles.
However, it’s crucial to distinguish dark circles due to loss of volume or your basic anatomy from dark circles caused by hyperpigmentation in the area. If your dark circles are caused by pigment or by vascular issues, the filler isn’t going to magically erase them.
As well, undereye fillers won’t do much for large bags under the eyes. For this, patients will usually require a blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure, instead.
How long do results last?
Hyaluronic acid fillers last anywhere between six months to just over a year, depending on how quickly you metabolise it and the type of filler used. The fillers break down gradually over time, so it’s usually recommended that you attend a maintenance appointment before the filler has completely diminished to preserve your result.
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
