No one wants to look constantly wiped out and sleep-deprived with deep dark circles under their eyes. Dark circles tend to be genetic and are more to do with the placement of your orbital bone and the composition of your skin. One of the leading causes of dark circles under your eyes is that there has been considerable volume loss in the tear trough.

The tear trough is a deep crease between your lower eyelid and upper cheek; when it loses volume, it can cast a shadow underneath your eye. Unfortunately, tear troughs can become more prominent with age because your facial tissue loses volume. It is a natural depression that runs from the innermost corner of your eye, all the way along the infraorbital rim to the outermost corner of your eye.

What’s The Best Treatment For Dark Circles?

You’ve likely relied on cover-up and extra layers of makeup to try and conceal your dark circles; realistically, there is no way that you will be able to cover up a hollow. The most effective way of plumping up the tear trough is to reduce its depth through an under-eye filler treatment. The procedure involves injections of dermal filler into the area, causing the skin to look tighter and fuller and reducing the darkness, making you look fresher and younger.

There may be other reasons why you have dark shadows under your eyes, so have a chat with your consultant to see if you can solve the problem. It might be that you are suffering from lack of sleep, dehydration, excess pigmentation, or just that you can see your blood vessels through your fair skin. They might recommend various eye creams containing retinol or vitamin C and K, which will help provide rapid renewal of your cells and reduce dark pigmentation. By determining the cause of your dark circles, you and your dermatologist can find the right solution for you.

What Are Tear Trough Fillers?

Tear trough filler is typically made from hyaluronic acid and injected under your eyes to provide volume, reducing dark circles. Hyaluronic acid, or HA for short, is a natural glycosaminoglycan found in the human body’s connective tissue. Glycosaminoglycans are long unbranched sugars or carbohydrates called polysaccharides.

Hyaluronic acid is the key component that gives human skin structure and gives that hydrated and plump look. It’s a gel-like substance that occurs completely naturally in your body. When it is used as an injectable, the hyaluronic acid decreases indentations and increases plumpness.

In one of the latest clinical studies into tear trough fillers for dark circles, 100% of patients reported an improvement after treatment, with 75% satisfied with the results after a single treatment. The remaining 25% of patients required additional treatment to achieve their desired results.

What Does The Treatment Involve?

The treatment is virtually pain-free and only takes up to 30-minutes, so it’s one of those tremendous instantaneous treatments you can have in your lunch break.

After your initial consultation with your dermatologist or consultant, a topical numbing agent is applied to ease any discomfort that you might feel. The consultant will carefully mark the injection sites and ensure that your skin is medically cleaned to avoid any infections. A fine-grade needle is used to inject the filler into the hollow areas. Each undereye is injected around five times, and then the filler is gently massaged to ensure that it is nice and smooth.

You’ll need to avoid alcohol and blood thinners such as aspirin for a couple of days before and after your treatment. There is little to no downtime; you may experience slight redness and a little bruising, making sure that you have some ice to reduce any swelling. It would be best to avoid strenuous workouts and activities that make you sweat for the next 24-hours.

How Long Does The Filler Last?

The hyaluronic acid fillers can last for anywhere between six months to over a year. However, the gel dissolves over time and depends on how quickly you metabolize it and, of course, the type of filler used. If, for any reason, you want to dissolve the filler quickly, then ask your consultant about injecting hyaluronidase, which is an enzyme that rapidly breaks down hyaluronic acid fillers.

Are There Any Risks With Tear Trough Fillers?

As with any treatment, make sure that you use a trained clinician with ample experience in tear trough fillers. The filler needs to be placed deep into the tear trough so that it is not visible under the delicate under-eye skin or doesn’t appear too puffy. Bruising can occur, so ensure that you have arnica or fish oil in your armory of post-care treatment options. If you do a bruise, it should fade in a week or so. You might also experience minor swelling, but this usually only lasts up to three days post-treatment.

You’ll notice immediate plumpness in your under-eye area, and it will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks. Apply ice packs several times a day for the first 48 hours to minimize the swelling. Avoid sleeping face down for the first week. If you notice any lumpy areas, you can gently massage them to smooth the filler.

The procedure is non-invasive, and the after-effects mentioned above are entirely normal. However, if any of your symptoms last for a more extended period or you experience lasting pain, then return to your consultant without delay. Complications are very rare, but it is still wise to be aware of potential reactions.