Under-Eye Filler Treatment
Dark circles can make you look older than you are. They may be caused by stress, fatigue, natural skin ageing or simply a genetic predisposition.
For many people, dark circles become noticeable at a young age and can affect how they feel about their appearance. This article provides an overview of the available treatment options.
If you have further questions or are considering treatment, please contact my practice. During a consultation at my specialist practice for plastic and aesthetic surgery in Berlin, I will discuss your concerns and explain whether under-eye filler treatment may be suitable for you.
- Treatment time
- Between 20 minutes and one hour, depending on the extent of treatment
- Anaesthesia
- Topical local anaesthetic cream
- Hospital stay
- Outpatient treatment
- Return to work
- Immediately after the procedure
- Exercise
- After two days
- Wound care
- Not required
- Cost
- From €350, depending on the extent of treatment and the product used
- Aftercare
- Cooling immediately after treatment; avoid hot baths, exercise and strenuous physical activity for two days, and saunas, sunbeds and cosmetic treatments for 14 days
Before treatment, an anaesthetic cream is applied to the facial areas being treated to minimise discomfort. The cannulas used to introduce the filler are extremely fine, so the injections are usually barely noticeable. You may feel a slight pulling sensation at the injection sites. The treatment itself takes between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on its extent. The precise procedure is determined by your anatomy and the injection techniques required. Depending on the treatment objective, the filler is placed in the superficial, middle or deeper tissue layers. It may be injected across a broader area or deposited in small droplets, linear threads or a fan-shaped pattern.
Under-eye filler treatment is generally considered a low-risk procedure when performed by a suitably qualified and experienced doctor. Modern hyaluronic acid fillers are biosynthetically produced without animal-derived ingredients and closely resemble a substance that occurs naturally in the body, so intolerance is uncommon. Immediately after treatment, redness, swelling or minor bruising may occur at the injection sites. These effects can usually be concealed with make-up and tend to subside within a few days. Mild tenderness or itching may also occur, particularly during the first day. If injections are not performed professionally and in accordance with established medical standards, more serious complications can include infection, vascular occlusion and skin necrosis. It is therefore essential that treatment is carried out by an experienced specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery. At my specialist practice in Berlin, my team and I follow rigorous medical and hygiene standards to minimise these risks.
Immediately after treatment, a cooling mask is applied to your face to help limit swelling and bruising. Under-eye filler treatment generally requires no downtime, and most patients can return to work and social activities straight away. Redness or minor bruising can usually be covered with make-up after approximately two hours. If necessary, you may cool the treated areas during the first day. Cooling pads should not be applied directly from the freezer; after every ten minutes of cooling, take a longer break. No special aftercare is usually required. For the first two days, avoid hot baths, exercise and strenuous physical activity. You may usually return to saunas and sunbeds after one week and have cosmetic facial treatments after approximately 14 days.
What Causes Dark Circles Under the Eyes?
Compared with other areas of the face, the skin beneath the eyes is particularly thin and delicate, with relatively little connective tissue or fat. This makes the underlying blood vessels more visible and can cause the under-eye area to look hollow, reddish, bluish or brown.
In plastic and aesthetic medicine, this hollow is known as the tear trough. In more pronounced cases, dark circles may extend towards the outer corner of the eye and down to the cheekbone. The tear trough can then appear as a deep, blue-black groove that has a marked effect on the overall appearance.
Tear Troughs or Under-Eye Bags?
Tear troughs and under-eye bags are different concerns, although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Everyone has a natural tear trough. It becomes visible as an under-eye shadow when there is insufficient skin volume, fat and connective tissue to conceal the blood vessels beneath it.
Under-eye bags, by contrast, develop when fat begins to protrude beneath the eyes as part of the natural ageing process. They are treated surgically with a lower eyelid lift.
Treating Dark Circles: Established Options
Several methods are available for treating dark circles and tear-trough hollows:
- Hyaluronic acid filler: One of the most effective options is the injection of hyaluronic acid to restore volume to the tear trough and support hydration in the delicate skin around the eyes.
- Fat transfer (lipofilling): To treat dark circles with your own fat, a small amount of fat is removed from another area of the body, processed and then injected into the tear trough. How long the result lasts depends in part on how much of the transferred fat establishes a lasting blood supply and integrates with the surrounding tissue.
- Vampire lift: Also known as PRP, or platelet-rich plasma treatment, this approach does not use a conventional filler. Instead, plasma obtained from your own blood is injected into the tear-trough area to support the longer-term regeneration of skin cells and connective tissue.
Treatment with nanofat or PRP uses an injection technique similar to that employed for hyaluronic acid filler. Complications and adverse reactions are uncommon because both substances are derived from the patient’s own body.
Treating Dark Circles with Hyaluronic Acid: Straightforward and Effective
Treating dark circles with hyaluronic acid is a straightforward, minimally invasive procedure in which filler is used to restore volume beneath the eyes.
By reducing the hollow beneath the eyes, treatment makes the underlying blood vessels less visible through the thin, delicate skin and softens dark shadows. It can also improve the appearance of fine lines.
What Are the Benefits of Under-Eye Filler Treatment?
Under-eye filler treatment can provide the following benefits:
- The tear trough and associated under-eye shadows can become considerably less noticeable.
- The eye area can look smoother and more youthful.
- The face and eyes may appear fresher and less tired.
- Treatment is minimally invasive, requires no surgery and usually takes only a short time.
Under-Eye Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Product, Procedure and Results
Hyaluronic acid is the filler most commonly used to treat the tear trough. It is a naturally occurring substance that is also found in the human body. It plays an important role in regulating tissue hydration and supporting skin renewal, although the body’s own production of hyaluronic acid declines with age.
The Treatment Process
To achieve a lasting reduction in dark circles, hyaluronic acid is injected along the tear trough beneath the lower eyelid. The number of injections and the amount of product used depend on the extent of treatment required.
The treatment area is first disinfected and a topical anaesthetic cream is applied. A local anaesthetic injection may be used instead. The minimally invasive procedure generally causes little discomfort; most patients describe only a slight pulling or pressure sensation during injection.
No special aftercare is normally required following under-eye filler treatment. Immediately after the procedure, the product is gently distributed within the under-eye area. Careful cooling, particularly during the first day, can help limit swelling, redness and bruising.
The hyaluronic acid is placed along the tear trough beneath the lower eyelid to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Under-eye filler is performed as an outpatient treatment and usually takes around 30 minutes. Many patients can return to work and social activities on the same day, although minor swelling or bruising may take one or two days to settle. Heat and direct sun exposure should be avoided for approximately 14 days.
How Long Do the Results Last?
Hyaluronic acid treatment can significantly soften dark circles. Particularly during the initial period after treatment, they may become barely visible.
The treatment may also improve skin quality in the under-eye area. Results generally last for nine to twelve months, after which a maintenance treatment may be appropriate.
Under-Eye Filler Treatment: Cost
The cost of under-eye filler treatment depends on the extent of treatment and the method used. At my specialist practice in Berlin, hyaluronic acid treatment for dark circles starts from €350.
Can Men Have Treatment for Dark Circles?
Under-eye filler treatment is suitable for both women and men. Many men want to look fresher and less tired, and reducing a visible tear trough can help create a smoother, more youthful-looking eye area.
What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Under-Eye Filler?
When performed correctly, treatment of dark circles with hyaluronic acid has a generally low complication rate. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, and intolerance reactions are uncommon.
At my practice in Berlin, I use only high-quality, medically certified hyaluronic acid products for under-eye filler treatment. Temporary redness, swelling or minor bruising may occur after the procedure and usually subsides within a few hours or days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does under-eye filler treatment cost?
Hyaluronic acid treatment for dark circles starts from €350.
What risks and side effects can occur with under-eye filler treatment?
Hyaluronic acid filler is generally a low-risk treatment. Redness, swelling or minor bruising may occur during the first hours after the procedure and can usually be managed with careful cooling.
At what age is wrinkle treatment with fillers appropriate?
Suitability for filler treatment is determined by the treatment objective rather than age alone. Lip or jawline contouring may be considered from the early twenties to refine facial proportions and definition. From the thirties onwards, restoring lost volume often becomes more relevant. From the forties, treatment may combine volume restoration with the softening of visible lines and folds.
Under-eye filler: what should I consider before treatment?
To reduce the risk of pronounced swelling or bruising, certain painkillers, sleeping tablets and blood-thinning medicines may need to be avoided for one week before treatment. Never stop prescribed medication without first consulting the doctor who prescribed it. It is also advisable to minimise or avoid nicotine and alcohol during this period.
How risky is under-eye filler treatment?
When performed by an experienced specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery, under-eye filler is generally a low-risk procedure, although no injection treatment is entirely without risk. Anaesthetic cream or local anaesthesia can be used to minimise discomfort.
Is hyaluronic acid treatment of the tear trough worthwhile?
Hyaluronic acid filler may be appropriate if you would like to reduce a hollow tear trough. Even pronounced dark circles can often be made considerably less visible. The lower eye area may look smoother and better hydrated. Hyaluronic acid can also support skin renewal and soften fine lines, helping the face appear fresher and less tired.
How long does hyaluronic acid last after treatment?
The results of hyaluronic acid treatment for dark circles generally last for approximately nine to twelve months. The effect gradually diminishes as the product is broken down, after which repeat treatment may be considered. In selected cases, dividing treatment between two sessions 14 days apart may help achieve a longer-lasting result.