The area under the eyes is often the first to show signs of ageing and fatigue, making it a common concern for both men and women. Dark circles, hollow eyes, and eye bags are all various types of concerns that can make you look older than you feel.
One popular solution is under-eye dermal filler, a non-surgical treatment that can sometimes refresh and rejuvenate your appearance. However, dermal filler is not always the answer to under-eye concerns.
In this blog, we’ll explore what under-eye filler is, when this treatment might be helpful, and crucially, when other procedures may be more suitable.
Under-eye ageing
The thin and fragile skin surrounding the eye area is incredibly vulnerable to ageing. It’s normally one of the first places to lose elastin and collagen as we grow older – two proteins which keep the skin tight and smooth. The thin skin in this region is also prone to other environmental factors like UV rays (sun exposure), High Energy Visible light (blue light) pollution, and facial expressions.
Skin around and under the eyes can start to thin and sag, leading to problems such as dark circles, hollowed areas and tear troughs, puffiness, and wrinkles – to name a few.
Often, these conditions can make us look tired or run down. Some skin conditions around the eyes may even impact us psychologically, including how attractive we think we are. But thankfully, advancements in aesthetic medicine mean there are a wide range of non-surgical solutions that can help to rejuvenate the under-eye area.
Under-eye filler: when is this helpful?
One of the most popular and traditional methods of treating under-eye problems is dermal fillers.
Under-eye fillers, or more commonly known as tear trough fillers, work by injecting small amounts of hyaluronic acid fillers into areas of the skin which have lost volume – and therefore the skin has sagged. The filler works to replace and restore lost volume in the deep and superficial fat pockets which lifts and smooths the skin. When placed in certain regions, fillers can help smooth wrinkles under the eyes and improve the appearance of sunken or hollow areas.
However, a crucial and often overlooked point is when it comes to darkness under the eyes.
Darkness under the eyes can sometimes be caused by shadows resulting from hollowed eyes or sagging skin. Under-eye filler can help to boost volume in this area, smoothing out skin and helping to reduce this shadowing.
On the other hand, when darkness under the eyes is the result of pigmentation or reduced skin quality – tear trough fillers are not going to be effective.
What if under-eye filler isn’t suitable for me?
Fear not – a range of advanced non-invasive techniques exist that can help to treat dark circles that are not a result of hollows under the eyes.
Polynucleotides are a form of regenerative medicine that stimulate cell repair and rejuvenation, helping to create healthier skin cells. When injected into the skin, they have properties which stimulate the improvement of overall skin quality. For example, polynucleotides help to:
- boost elastin and collagen production
- reduce inflammation in the skin
- enhance the extracellular matrix of the skin.
These properties help to improve the skin’s elasticity, hydration, firmness, texture, and pigmentation. Polynucleotides under the eyes can be an extremely effective approach to target dark circles that result from pigmentation. What’s more, as polynucleotides stimulate the body’s own mechanisms to work better, skin health and quality continues to improve for months after treatment – unlike dermal fillers.
Certain skincare products may also be able to help with minimising dark circles under the eyes, for example, our medical grade skincare range ZO Skin Health by Dr Zein Obagi. An eye cream such as the Eye Brightening Creme or Intense Eye Creme may help to improve the texture of the skin around the eyes, reducing the appearance of pigmentation and tightening the skin in this area.
During a full medical consultation, one of our experts here at Health & Aesthetics will be able to assess your skin condition and goals to identify the right treatment option for you, whether that’s dermal fillers, polynucleotides, skincare, or a combination of approaches.
Frequently asked questions around dermal fillers
Can I use under-eye fillers and polynucleotides together?
Both polynucleotides and dermal fillers work well alone, but they can also be combined in certain instances. Polynucleotides help to improve the overall quality of your skin. This can help to prepare the skin for dermal fillers and improve the overall results. Results are also more likely to last longer.
Our team at Health & Aesthetics will be able to help explore your options for having both dermal fillers and polynucleotides.
How long do under-eye fillers last?
Under-eye fillers are not permanent. Results can last between six months and two years, and can also be removed if necessary.
How should I prepare for under-eye filler treatment?
Before any kind of filler treatment, avoid aspirin products as aspirin can thin the blood and make you more likely to experience bruising post-treatment.
What happens during under-eye filler treatment?
Before treatment, you will have an initial consultation with our team who will design a bespoke treatment plan to meet your needs. This plan will ensure that results blend seamlessly with your natural facial structure.
During treatment, your doctor will inject the filler into these sites. They may start with a numbing cream to help with pain relief if necessary. Treatment will take around 30 minutes and you should see results straight away.
What aftercare is required?
You can usually return to daily life straight after receiving tear trough filler. You may have some temporary redness, bruising or swelling, but this is minimal and can be easily covered with makeup. Avoid touching the area to prevent bacteria from infecting the injection site.
Ready to rejuvenate your under-eye area?
At Health & Aesthetics, we are proud to specialise in a range of non-invasive aesthetic medicine techniques. Whether you’re looking for dermal fillers, polynucleotides, or something different, we can help you explore a range of different treatment options for your under-eye area.
To kickstart your journey to a fresher image, schedule a free consultation with our expert team today.
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