Under Eye Fillers and Tear Trough Injections

September 22, 2017

As we continue to age, our facial appearance changes. Some problematic areas under the eyes become more noticeable and can create a look of tiredness that isn’t always desirable. Injections such as under eye fillers help treat this issue. Here is what you need to know about undergoing this treatment.

What is a tear trough?

A tear trough refers to the fold extending from the inner eye corner that divides the lower eyelid and the cheek. When it becomes more pronounced, it can create a hollowed appearance or dark shadows under the eyes, sometimes referred to as bags. Even if well rested you can still look tired. It used to be the case that this area could only be treated surgically. However, thanks to advances in non-surgical treatments, injection treatments like dermal fillers can help minimize the look of this problematic area.

What Causes the Appearance of Deep Tear Troughs

The appearance of deep tear troughs is usually the result of changes in all the layers of the face, including skin, fat, and muscle. When the delicate skin around the eyes is vulnerable or affected by sun damage, it develops fine lines and wrinkles. Over time, there is a natural slow decrease in fatty tissue under the lower eyelid and upper cheek area. The muscles of the lower lid slowly lose elasticity and can no longer remain tight or in place. This can create a more pronounced, hollow-looking area underneath the eyes. Sometimes this lack of volume creates the appearance of dark circles. The rates at which these changes happen varies from person to person. In other cases, dark circles and eye bags are the result of genetics and have likely been present throughout the majority of the patient’s life.

How are tear troughs corrected?

Tear troughs can be efficiently corrected with or without surgery for both men and women.  The non-surgical treatment uses tiny injections of hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance already found in the body that draws water to itself to create more volume. When the area under the eyes is given more volume, the appearance of dark circles is reduced. Patients who qualify for this treatment are looking for a fresh and refined look to get rid of bags, puffiness, dark shadows and circles under eyes. In more severe cases where fillers alone cannot correct bags under the eyes, patients may be better candidates for a surgical treatment option like a lower lid blepharoplasty procedure.

Results

A regular under eye filler session usually only takes 15-30 minutes to perform. Depending on the clinic and injector, the techniques used within the treatments varies. Some injectors use round-tipped cannulas, which reduces the chance of bruising or others prefer regular needles to help them be as precise as possible. Patients usually experience minimal pain—the under eye fillers used at The Plastic Surgery Clinic contain lidocaine to help minimize discomfort.

Typically, the results from this treatment will be immediate and can last from 6-18 months after the first injection, but results can last longer with subsequent touch-ups.