Tired of looking tired? Some patients who dislike the circles, lines or hollows under their eyes are turning to under eye fillers to smooth their skin.
Getting plenty of sleep, cutting back on salt and taking care of your skin can help prevent bags and dark circles under the eyes. Plus, makeup or a colorful pair of glasses can camouflage (or distract the eye) from these common skin issues.
But if you’re still unhappy with the appearance of your lower eyelids, under eye filler may provide a solution. This guide to under eye filler should answer any questions you have if you’re considering this as a solution, including safety, cost and what to expect after the injections.
What is under eye filler?
Under eye filler is a targeted injection of hyaluronic acid in an area under the eye in order to minimize unwanted dark circles, hollows, lines or wrinkles. Dermatologists and other qualified medical professionals use various types of under eye fillers to treat tear trough deformity and other issues.
Under eye fillers can be used to reduce the look of under eye hollowness, sunken tear troughs and fine lines. (Disclaimer: Images are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict an actual patient; individual results vary and are not guaranteed.)
Under eye fillers can often be used in areas around the eye where there’s an undesired contour, defect or line. For example, you can get:
- Crow’s feet filler – Dermal filler may be used to soften the lines that fan out from the outside corners of your eyes that may deepen when you smile or laugh.
- Tear trough filler – Filler may be used to smooth out the curved line under your eyes that starts at the inside corner of the eye and runs down toward the cheek.
- Under eye wrinkles filler – Filler may be used to erase or soften other fine lines and wrinkles underneath the eyes. The skin underneath the eye is very thin and prone to wrinkles.
It’s important to have realistic expectations. Patients with thicker, smoother skin may experience different results than those with thinner, more wrinkled skin under the eyes. It’s also important to note that fillers may reduce shadowing but can’t change the color of the skin under your eyes. A dermatologist or other qualified provider can help you develop a plan to address your concerns.
The procedure of injecting under eye fillers typically takes only a few minutes. After the procedure, it may take time for bruising to fade, swelling to go down and filler to settle. It can take a few weeks to see the final results.
Tear trough filler
Tear trough filler may help to minimize the appearance of dark circles under the eyes that result from shadows being cast in the under eye area. As mentioned, fillers can’t change the pigmentation of the skin, so they won’t work on all dark circles.
The “tear trough deformity” is a term used to describe a line or hollow running from the inside corner of the eye toward the cheek that can cast a shadow over the under eye area. The tear trough deformity results from the normal anatomy of the area underneath the eyes, but some patients seek treatment because they feel it makes them look tired or gives their eyes a sunken appearance.
Under eye filler: before and after photos
Want to see under eye filler before-and-after photos to get an idea of results? This may help you to make a decision about whether to get under eye filler.
The best source for under eye filler before-and-after photos is through your dermatologist or medical aesthetic provider. Ask if they have a selection of photos of previous patients who have received under eye fillers so you can get a sense of their experience and typical results.
Under eye filler cost
How much is under eye filler? The cost of under eye filler varies based on the brand of filler, the amount of filler needed and the provider’s pricing structure.
Under eye filler is typically priced by the syringe. The average cost of a hyaluronic acid filler typically used under the eyes is about $715 per syringe, with most patients requiring multiple syringes.
Your total cost will often depend on the total number of syringes needed.
How long do under eye fillers last?
Hyaluronic acid under eye fillers typically last between six months and a year. The length of time fillers last depends in part on the brand of filler used.
It is typical for under eye fillers to last about six months after the first time you get them, and then to last longer with additional treatments in the future.
Is under eye filler safe?
While most hyaluronic acid fillers are FDA-approved for other areas of the face, select formulations have received FDA approval specifically for improving under-eye hollows in adults over 21.
It’s important that under eye fillers be injected properly and that it not be injected into the blood vessels. If that happens, the filler material could move into the blood vessels of the eye and cause blindness. For this reason, it’s important to have under eye filler injected only by a medical professional who is qualified to administer under eye fillers.
There are some patients who should not get under eye filler. For example, you may not be a candidate for under eye filler if you:
- Have an allergy to a material in the filler
- Have an infection near the injection site
- Have very large eye bags
- Have herniated fat pads under the eyes
It’s also important to avoid taking aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, vitamin E and ginkgo biloba for at least five days before you get the under eye filler injected. That can help to decrease the risk of bruising around the eyes after the procedure.
If you’re interested in getting under eye fillers, ask your eye doctor for a referral to a dermatologist, oculoplastic surgeon or other medical provider who performs this type of procedure. They can go over the pros, cons and risks of under eye fillers to help you decide if this procedure is right for you.
