Filler under the eyes is an off-the-shelf treatment that has been approved by the FDA for use on the cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and hands. However, it is important to note that the area under the eyes is incredibly delicate and full of blood vessels, making it prone to bruising and swelling. If dark circles are caused by a darker pigment in the skin, the filler can accentuate them. Some eye bags are caused by a true hollow under the eye, which can be treated by filling the cleft with dermal fillers.
However, other types of eye bags are caused by fat pads that are too large and fillers are not the right treatment for them. It is important to note that fillers are not able to solve all problems under the eyes. If your biggest concern is dark circles, then tear filler may not be the right treatment for you. Maiman suggests holding a mirror in front of your face and looking up so that the light reaches directly to the area under your eyes to determine if you have experienced volume loss.
If the color remains, pigment and filler are unlikely to be beneficial. So far, under-eye filler is an off-label treatment, meaning it hasn't received FDA approval. That doesn't mean it's illegal to put a filler under your eyes or anything, but it's still smart to go into the process knowing that there are some risks (even if they're rare). That said, rarer and more serious side effects can also occur, such as the Tyndall effect (when the skin turns blue) or death of tissue around the eye.
It is also important to note that there is usually a slight bursting noise during injection. Under-eye fillers are injectable treatments with hyaluronic acid (commonly known as Restylane and Juvederm) that can be used to treat loss of volume under the eyes. Specialists in traditional cosmetics, such as oculoplastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, oral and maxillofacial plastic surgeons, general plastic surgeons, and aesthetic dermatologists, use these fillers. Another possible, more serious side effect of under-eye fillers that fail is the development of nodules (growths of skin tissue) after the injection.
People with excessive bags under the eyes or sagging skin may be better suited for eye bag removal surgery, known as blepharoplasty. An enzyme called hyaluronidase may be used to dissolve certain fillers and correct irregular results. Under-eye filler has little or no downtime and many patients continue their regular days after. Bruises may last longer but should go away within a week. Other than that, no real aftercare is required.
For some patients who have a very light skin color, the Tyndall effect can sometimes be observed after injections of facial filler with hyaluronic acid. In conclusion, under-eye filler can be a great solution for those who need to fill lost volume due to noticeable tears and physical gaps under their eyes. However, it is important to note that it is not necessarily an instant solution to all dark circles and should only be done by certified professionals.
