We've all been there. You're talking to a coworker or friend when they suddenly comment that you look tired. And this is after you've got in a solid seven to nine hours of sleep and feel perfectly rested! This can be very frustrating, especially when you have to admit that their comment was justified.
The truth is that many people have dark circles or hollowness under their eyes, which give them that stubborn 'tired eye look'. Though there's nothing wrong with that, many of us are looking for ways to minimize it.
What if the brightening cream or your concealer is no longer cutting it? That's where tear trough filler comes to the rescue. The filler will smooth out eye hollows and dark circles like they were never even there.
But before you pursue tear trough filler treatment, here are three things you need to know before you go in for your first appointment.
What is Tear Trough Filler Exactly?
A tear trough is a deep crease between the lower eyelid and upper cheek. Tear troughs often cast a shadow below your eyes, resulting in a tired appearance. Some people also feel that their tear troughs make them look older.
A Tear trough filler is a hyaluronic acid gel that's injected under the eyes to improve the appearance of tired eyes. The hyaluronic acid plumps up, firms, and fills the hollows under your eyes to give you a fresher, brighter appearance. It's like having the best concealer in the world, and you never have to wash it off before going to bed!
Most fillers are not permanent and dissolve over time. How fast this happens is influenced by several factors, one of which is the location. If it's an area of the face that gets a lot of movement, e.g. the lips, the filler will degrade faster. That's why most lip fillers last about 6 and 12 months. On the other hand, tear trough filler can last between 12 to 18 months, thanks to the fact that the under eye area doesn't move around a lot.
What's Causing Your Dark Circles?
Before you have the procedure done, you should consult with a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor. That will give you a chance to really figure out what's causing your dark circles and whether or not you're a good candidate for fillers.
Some common culprits behind dark circles include:
- Allergies release a chemical called histamine, which can cause swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation under the eyes, leading to dark circles.
- Lifestyle habits like getting inadequate sleep and staring at the computer screen all day are common contributors to the appearance of dark circles.
- A hereditary trait that causes some people to have more pigment under their eyes. Others have eye sockets that are further sunken in, and the shadow of their bone structure makes dark circles more pronounced.
- Natural ageing is a leading contributor to dark circles. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and volume. Given the skin under the eyes is naturally thin and delicate, it's more susceptible to the effects of ageing. The skin thinning causes blood vessels to become more visible under the skin, leading to dark circles. Additionally, weakening connective tissue can cause skin sagging, giving a heavy, sleepy look.
As you can see, the tired appearance of the eyes may be due to a combination of factors. An accurate diagnosis of the cause of your dark circles will ensure you get the right treatment. This may end up including tear trough fillers or not. For example, dark circles brought about by hollowing due to ageing are a good candidate for filler.
On the other hand, if your dark circles are due to hyperpigmentation, a dermal filler treatment won't help. In that case, more appropriate treatment would be medical-grade skincare. We recommend AluminEye, a prescription eye cream that significantly improves the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.
While we will always advocate for getting an official diagnosis, here's a quick way to tell if your dark circles are due to under-eye volume loss or hyperpigmentation.
Hold a mirror in front of your face and look up, so the light hits your under-eye area directly. If the shadow under your eyes disappears in the light, the dark circle are likely caused by volume loss in the skin. If the dark circles remain, then it's very probably a pigmentation issue.
How's The Actual Treatment Done?
A tear trough filler treatment is generally quite comfortable. That being said, it's okay to ask for a numbing agent to be applied to the area. Often you'll need to wait around 20- 30 minutes as the numbing sets in.
Now the thought of getting needles around your eyes might be unsettling. But the actual treatment is painless and pretty quick-- around 15 minutes or so. So the main challenge will be staying calm and reminding your brain that nothing is actually going into your eyeball!
With all that in mind, it's very vital you ascertain that the practitioner is using a cannula to inject the filler. In the past, most doctors used thins, sharp needles, but it was discovered that these posed a significant risk of adverse side effects like vascular occlusion and even blindness!
Unlike sharp needles, which can pierce blood vessels, cannulas have blunt tips. This is a critical distinction because when the cannula tip comes across a blood vessel, it will go above or underneath it.
On top of that, the cannula method allows the injector to place the filler in multiple directions from one injection site. This allows for more precise placement with less swelling and bruising.
The proper placement also prevents the Tyndal effect—this is a condition whereby there's a bluish discolouration under the eyelids and irregular contour around the tear trough. This can occur when the hyaluronic acid filler is injected too close to the skin's surface.
However, you shouldn't get scare as most complications that may arise with hyaluronic acid fillers can be resolved with hyaluronidase.
Speaking of which, you should only get hyaluronic acid dermal filler for your under eyes. There are other types of dermal fillers, but those are more appropriate for different applications and areas.
The key takeaway is you need to ensure you get undereye fillers from an experienced medical professional who fully understands the intricate anatomy around the eyes. Don't be afraid to ask questions, double-check the doctor's board-certification status and look at before-and-after photos.
Remember, this is YOUR face and you have every right to ask the questions. As a matter of fact, a qualified injector will welcome this as it lets them know you're making an informed decision.
If you are wondering how to choose a good injector for your filler, here is an in-depth article that covers just that.
Related: How to Choose the Right Doctor for Your Filler
All that said, how soon should you expect results after your procedure? You're going to see results instantly! The best part is that they only get better over the next two weeks as the filler settles and any swelling subsidies.
And yes, you may experience some swelling, redness or tenderness around the injection site. This shouldn't be a cause of concern as they are all fairly common side effects that should go away within a couple of days.
Ready to learn more about enhancing your under-eye area?
Do you want to learn:
- The main benefits of tear trough fillers
- The best place to get tear trough fillers
- And how tear trough fillers work?
If that’s so then check out our Tear Trough Filler treatment in Birmingham!
