Under-Eye Light Filler
What Is It?
With under-eye light filler we support the hollow beneath the eye with a fine hyaluronic acid based product and reduce the shadow. Most of the time, the dark look in this area is a shadow. As the transition between the lower lid and the cheek sinks, light breaks there and the area looks dark.
Under-eye darkness doesn’t have a single cause. Part of it is genetic, simply a matter of who in the family we take after. In some people the skin is thin and the vessels beneath show through; in others pigment has increased, or there is puffiness from allergy. The cause we meet most often is volume loss with age or weight loss: the mid-face moves down and the under-eye area deepens. So filler only helps with a shadow that comes from a hollow. If you treat without making this distinction, the result won’t meet the expectation.
How Is It Done?
At the examination we first separate out the source of the darkness: is it a hollow, pigment, visible vessels or puffiness? I look at skin thickness, any bags on the lower lid and the support from the cheek. If the mid-face has moved down, we don’t put filler under the eye straight away. The sagging structures first need to go back where they were, and we touch the under-eye last, if at all, with fine work. If the cause mostly won’t respond to filler, I say so at the outset.
Because the area is very thin and delicate, we usually use a cannula; it lowers the risk of injuring a vessel and of bruising. We place the product deep and in small amounts along the hollow where the shadow forms. Placing it too close to the surface, or using too much, can give a bluish look in this area (the Tyndall effect), so the amount is critical. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes on average.
Who Is It For?
It suits people who have a hollow under the eye and the shadow that comes with it, no marked bag on the lower lid, and skin that is still in good condition. The result is clearer when the look gets worse with lack of sleep or tiredness but is basically down to the hollow.
If there is a marked under-eye bag, filler can make the look heavier; in that case we don’t do it. With morning puffiness from allergy or from kidney or thyroid conditions, with pigment-related darkness and with very thin, loose skin, we can’t get the expected result. We also don’t treat during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when there is active infection in the area, or with a bleeding disorder or uncontrolled autoimmune disease.
Process & Recovery
Examination and distinction
We separate out the source of the under-eye darkness and look at skin thickness, bags and cheek support. This is where it becomes clear whether the treatment will help. We take photographs.
Treatment day
The topical anaesthetic cream is left on and we mark the entry point. Usually with a cannula, we place a small amount of product in the deep layer. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes.
First 48 hours
There may be swelling and bruising; the eye area is one of the places where bruising is most common. We recommend cold compresses, sleeping with your head raised and avoiding salty food.
Weeks 1-2
The swelling settles and the product finds its place. In the first days the area may look fuller than it will end up; this is temporary, and we wait before judging.
Review
We see you at the end of the second week. We look at the change in the shadow and at symmetry, and plan a very small top-up if needed.
Results & Duration
You notice the shadow lessen right after the treatment, but the final look becomes clear once the swelling has gone, on average within two weeks. How long it lasts depends on the product, the amount used and your metabolism; the range generally reported for this area is 12-18 months.
The under-eye is one of the areas where product breaks down most slowly. In some people the effect lasts longer. For the same reason, the trace of too much product also lasts a long time here, and that is one of the reasons we keep the amounts measured.
What Is Not Promised
Under-eye light filler doesn’t lighten pigment-related darkness, doesn’t correct fine lines on the skin surface and doesn’t remove an under-eye bag. It doesn’t clear morning puffiness of allergic or systemic origin either. It can’t stand in for good sleep and daily habits.
I make no promise about how much brightening there will be or how long it will last. In this area too much product spoils the result. We deliberately keep the amount limited and complete it in a second session if needed. If your expectation doesn’t match the cause, I don’t recommend the treatment.
Key Benefits
- Bright gaze
- Reduced shadowing
- Quick effect
“The patients most afraid of coming in for a treatment are the ones whose under-eyes have sunk. The sausage-like, worm-like results they see online are mostly to do with technique. That is why under the eye I prefer to use a little and add more if needed.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my dark circles go away?
If they come from a hollow, they lessen noticeably. With darkness that comes from pigment (colour), filler doesn’t help; then we look at other routes, such as mesotherapy with polynucleotides. We make the distinction at the examination.
Is it painful?
Most people describe a feeling of pressure. We apply a topical anaesthetic cream beforehand and usually use a cannula, which keeps the number of entry points low.
Will I bruise?
You might. The eye area is one of the places where bruising is most common. A cannula lowers the risk without removing it entirely; if you have an important event, plan the treatment a few days ahead of it.
Why is only a small amount used?
Because the skin here is very thin. Product placed too close to the surface or in too large an amount can cause a bluish look (the Tyndall effect) and puffiness. Using a little and adding more if needed is safer.
When will I see the final result?
In about two weeks. The first change is noticeable right away, and the look settles as the swelling goes down.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 12-18 months. The under-eye is one of the areas where product breaks down slowly, so in some people it lasts longer.
Is it reversible?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid based products can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. If you end up with a result you don’t like in this area, that is an important safeguard.
I have under-eye bags, is it suitable?
If there is a marked bag, we don’t do it. Filler can make the look heavier; in that case we talk about a different approach.