Does your face always look dull and tired due to the dark circles under your eyes? If yes, then I am sure that you must have emptied jar after jar of different eye creams but to no avail. If the brightening eye creams have not worked for you then now might be the time to consider an under eye filler. This is one cosmetic procedure that can truly fix dark circles, that too instantly! Here is everything you need to know about under eye fillers in case you have been on the fence about them!
Not All Dark Circles Are The Same!
Before concluding whether under eye fillers are the right option for you or not, you must identify what is causing your dark circles. Dark circles can be largely classified into those caused by hyperpigmentation and those caused by hollows under the eyes. Dark circles caused by hyperpigmentation can be identified by visibly darker skin under the eyes as compared to the face. Hyperpigmentation could be caused by a number of factors, including lack of sleep. On the other hand, dark circles caused by hollows or tear troughs are marked by concavity under the eyes. In this case, the dark circles are not caused by dark skin, but by the shadows that are created due to the shape of the under eye area. This hollowness under the eye could be from birth or could happen due to loss of volume over time, both of which can be hereditary.
If you are unsure about the nature of your dark circles, a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can help you out. Under eye fillers can only treat the dark circles caused by tear troughs or hollowness under the eyes. As the name suggests, these fillers add volume to the area under the eyes. This prevents shadows from forming under the eyes as the fillers help to bounce off the light differently.
Hence, if you have dark circles caused by tear troughs then the cosmetic surgeon will recommend under eye fillers. If the dark circles are caused by a combination of hyperpigmentation and hollowness, you may be suggested some treatments along with fillers. Sometimes the cosmetic surgeon may recommend injecting filler in the cheeks instead of an under eye filler. This could work in certain cases where the cheek fillers can be aligned to reflect light and prevent shadows under the eyes.
What Is Under Eye Filler Made Of?
Knowing how under eye fillers can fix dark circles, the next obvious question is what these fillers are made of. An under eye filler treatment is essentially a hyaluronic acid injection administered in the under eye region. Some of the commercial names of these hyaluronic acid injections are Juvederm, Belotero, and Restylane. The hyaluronic acid fills up the hollows under your eyes, making the skin bulge outwards to prevent dark shadows. Hyaluronic Acid is naturally present in our bodies, so the risk of an adverse reaction is negligible.
What To Expect From The Procedure
The process of injecting under eye fillers barely takes fifteen minutes. The under eye filler injections are usually administered without numbing the skin. If you request for a numbing agent, then you will have to wait for an additional 30-40 minutes for the numbness to kick in. The filler is injected using either multiple needle pricks or with a single prick, through a cannula.
The procedure is quite painless in both the cases apart from the pricking sensation of the needle. The filler eliminates the hollows under the eyes and you will see your dark circles disappear instantly. You can walk out of the clinic in less than 30 minutes with a visibly brighter under eye area. It is that simple! Experts say that the results get even better after a couple of weeks, once the fillers settle under the skin.
Bear in mind, however, that the hyaluronic acid degrades with time, which means that under eye fillers are not permanent. Most people need to get a fresh round of injections every 6 to 12 months. In some cases, the fillers may last up to 18 months. These fillers tend to last longer than their lip and cheek counterparts due to minimal movement of the skin under the eyes as compared to the rest of the face. However, each appointment will set you back by $500-$2000 depending on which clinic you choose. You should be prepared to spend this amount of money every year for fresh injections too.
Are Under Eye Fillers Completely Safe?
The thought of injecting a substance into your body comes with the obvious fear of side effects. While under eye fillers are safe for the most part, some side effects have been observed in certain cases. The most common side effects are bruising and swelling, both of which subside on their own within a week. Side effects that require intervention include blueness under the eyes and the development of nodules. The former is scientifically termed as Tyndall Effect, wherein the fillers scatter the light in such a manner as to make the under eye area appear blue. The blueness and nodules can be treated by injecting a small dose of an enzyme called Hyaluronidase, which breaks down the Hyaluronic Acid.
An extremely rare complication of the under eye filler procedure is the blocking of a blood vessel in the region by the filler. This in turn can also lead to blindness but it happens very rarely. If you pick a skilled cosmetic surgeon for the procedure then chances of any serious side effects are minimal.
Should I Get An Under Eye Filler Or Not?
The good thing about under eye fillers is that the procedure is completely reversible. If you do not like the result then your doctor can dissolve the filler completely with the help of a Hyaluronidase injection. Also, the procedure is very safe provided you choose an experienced dermatologist. Consult a reputed dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon to understand if fillers will work for your dark circles or not. If they recommend under eye fillers then I would say – go for it! After all who wouldn’t want to say goodbye to those pesky dark circles forever? If 15 minutes is all it takes to get rid of dark circles then you might as well give fillers a shot!
