Dermal Fillers
Tear trough filler for under-eye hollows
The tear trough is the groove that runs from the inner corner of the eye down across the top of the cheek. When the fat behind it thins, light stops reflecting off the area and starts falling into it — which reads as a shadow, and gets described as looking tired.
Filler placed correctly here can be transformative. Placed incorrectly it causes puffiness, a bluish discolouration, and lumps that can last for years. This is not a beginner's treatment and we treat it accordingly.
How we treat it
Where treatment is appropriate, we use a blunt-tipped cannula through a single entry point rather than multiple needle passes. This reduces bruising in an area that bruises readily, and reduces the risk of entering a vessel in a region that sits close to the eye.
Product choice matters here more than anywhere else — a firmer filler designed for structural support will not behave well under thin skin. We use a low-hydration product placed deep, in small volumes.
What to expect
Nine to eighteen months. Under-eye filler can persist longer than product elsewhere, which is an advantage when the result is good and a problem when it is not — another reason to be conservative on day one.
Swelling and bruising are more likely here than anywhere else on the face. Do not book this in the fortnight before something important.
What it costs
Priced at your consultation, once we know whether tear trough filler is right for you. The two-week review is included.
Common questions
Am I suitable for tear trough filler?
Not everyone is, and we decline a meaningful proportion of requests. It works for hollowing that casts a shadow. It does not work for pigmentation, for fluid retention and puffiness, for prolapsed under-eye fat, or for very thin crepey skin — and in some of those cases it makes things visibly worse.
Will it get rid of my dark circles?
Only if they are caused by shadow rather than pigment. Pull the skin gently taut beside your eye and look in a mirror: if the darkness disappears it is shadow and filler may help. If it stays, it is pigment and filler will do nothing for it.
How long does it last?
Nine to eighteen months, sometimes longer. Under-eye filler can persist for a long time, which is excellent when the result is good and a problem when it is not. That is why we start with very small volumes.
Book an under-eye assessment
The assessment is the treatment's most important part. If you are not suitable, that is what we will tell you.