Have you noticed a crease running down from the inner corner of your eye towards your cheekbone? This is a tear trough, and it’s common among people of all ages. Tear troughs can be an inherited trait, or develop gradually as your skin loses volume and elasticity.

It’s common to look in the mirror and worry that your tear troughs make you look tired. They can emphasize the eye socket, giving the eyes a hollow look, or cast a shadow over the thin skin of the under-eye area, making you feel like you look bruised or sickly.

The best solution for deep -deep tear troughs is to add volume, so eye creams and serums don’t help at all. If you’d prefer a more effective and long-lasting procedure, tear trough fillers might be for you.

Introducing Tear Trough Fillers 

Chronically dark or hollow under-eyes rarely have anything to do with sickness or lack of sleep. Aging, allergies, stress, and even genetics can cause the skin under your eyes to become loose and thin. When there’s a visible crease, tear troughs give your eyes a tired, weary appearance.

Makeup can hide dark circles, but filling in your under-eyes requires more than just color correction. You need to address the lack of skin firmness and volume under your eyes. Injectables are the best solution! They’re a minimally invasive treatment that awakens the eyes and diminishes discoloration.

 With dermal fillers, you can restore loss of tone beneath your eyes, reduce the appearance of tear trough wrinkles, and add heft that camouflages dark circles from visible veins. 

This is done using hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance your body makes naturally. When introduced under the skin, it draws moisture to the area and provides volume that looks and feels natural.

As more people seek out solutions for minor wrinkles, dermal fillers have become the standard. A trained hand can carefully administer filler under the skin to reduce the depth of any given wrinkle, including tear troughs.

Topicals, Makeup, Fillers, or Blepharoplasty?

Dermal fillers are rarely people’s first choice for visible tear troughs and dark under-eyes, but they’re often the most effective and affordable. Let’s compare them to the most popular alternative tear trough treatments: Makeup, topical serums and creams, and cosmetic surgery.

Makeup

Many people use makeup to correct under-eye circles, combining concealer and highlighter to create the illusion that the tear trough isn’t as deep as it seems or to neutralize under-eye discoloration.

While makeup is an effective method of camouflaging discoloration or sunken-in areas, it’s a two-dimensional solution that fails to address the underlying problem. Makeup can also smudge and crease throughout the day, potentially making your wrinkles more obvious.

Topical Creams and Serums

While there are topical products available for under-eye circles, your experience with them may vary. The issue with tear troughs is normally a lack of volume, which topical products cannot address. Some formulas with AHAs and retinoids may help thicken the very outer layers of the skin, while ingredients like vitamin C and arbutin can help reduce discoloration.

However, none of these ingredients can plump up hollow areas or make up for a significant loss of laxity. As a shopper, it can be very time-consuming and costly to keep trying products that don’t work.

Your skin is designed to keep things out, not invite them in, so topical products with hyaluronic acid will not work the same way as dermal fillers, which are far more effective when delivered directly.

Cosmetic Surgery 

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is more common among older people who experience unwanted fat or lax skin in the wrong places. Surgery can help firm up specific areas like the under-eyes to eliminate tear trough wrinkles or fat deposits. On the other hand, if your tear troughs haven’t begun to droop or sag and you don’t have noticeable excess tissue, surgery probably won’t create the results you want.

The cost, risk, and downtime involved with blepharoplasty also make it difficult to recommend. Complications with tear trough fillers are much rarer, and there is less commitment involved. If your tear troughs are caused by volume loss, dermal fillers might suit you better.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid can address a wide range of wrinkles, including tear troughs. At SEV, we use Juvéderm Volbella for the under-eye areas.

Volbella is the only dermal filler FDA-approved for tear troughs; its lightweight, silky texture allows it to spread out under the skin, smoothing out wrinkles without looking puffy. If you’re seeking tear trough fillers, make sure your provider is using Volbella or a similarly pliant product.

Depending on how you feel about your results, the temporary nature of dermal fillers can be good or bad. Unhappy clients can have their tear trough fillers dissolved, or wait for their bodies to break down the extra HA.

Within six months to a year, you’ll be ready for another round. The right provider will use your feedback from previous injections to improve your results, allowing you to create a tailored tear trough treatment plan.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Tear Trough Filler? 

Have you ever prodded at your eyes and wished for fuller, more youthful skin? Plenty of people desire dermal fillers for various reasons. A responsible provider will make sure you’re well-informed before moving forward with tear trough fillers.

Ideally, people seeking fillers for their under-eyes don’t have enough sagging to warrant surgical intervention. Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and tissue from around the eyes, while dermal fillers fill in wrinkles and reduce shadows caused by the eye socket.

Volbella is approved for people over the age of 22. It’s recommended for anyone who wants to alleviate the appearance of hollow under-eyes or tear troughs. As long as you’re in good health and have realistic expectations, you’ll be a great candidate.

Explore the Benefits of Injectables 

More and more people are choosing to improve their appearance through regular injections rather than daily makeup routines or cosmetic surgeries. Let’s explore a few ways injectables are superior.

Immediate Results 

By the time you walk out of the clinic, dermal fillers are already working to enhance your eyes. Any redness or puffiness will resolve itself within a few days, making tear trough fillers the perfect weekend treatment. By the time you return to work, you’ll look noticeably more alert and approachable.

No downtime 

Injection sites heal quickly compared to incisions and stitches. They require no downtime, which means you can schedule your injections during your lunch break and continue with your day. Just avoid intense activity for a few days after treatment.

Fewer risks 

Surgery requires anesthesia and carries the risk of complications and infection. Dermal fillers like Juvéderm use hyaluronic acid, which is produced by the body. This makes them safer and more familiar to your immune system, increasing efficacy and reducing the risk of adverse reactions.

Easy Access

Makeup and topical solutions can become expensive very quickly, and you have to set aside time to apply them every day. Surgery also requires considerable investment of both time and money. Injectables only need to be administered once or twice a year, requiring no additional maintenance.

Prepare for the Injectable Process 

In the days leading up to your tear trough filler appointment, avoid exposing your skin to the sun or potential skin irritants. Stay hydrated and limit drinking of alcohol. During your initial consultation, your provider will evaluate your skin and eyelids. This helps them determine how thick your skin is, where to place the filler, and how much to use.

Once you’re fully prepped, the skin at the site is disinfected and the injections begin. You’ll feel a slight pinch, but most injectables like dermal fillers contain a numbing agent for patient comfort. If you experience pain during treatment, make sure to mention it to your provider.

Once the needle is withdrawn, your nurse will massage the filler into place to prevent any lumps under the skin. Slight redness or bruising is common and can be alleviated with cold packs.

Awake Your Undereyes with SEV

The results of your injections will reflect the expertise of your provider. A professional injector will always offer trusted brands, and explain every aspect of the treatment process. At SEV, our nurse injectors understand the complexities of facial anatomy and know how to create precise and flattering results.

We pride ourselves on helping our clients achieve their aesthetic goals. Injectables require a trained and steady hand to prevent side effects and ensure seamless results, which is why our staff are thoroughly qualified and receive additional education to stay updated on best practices.

At SEV, we celebrate every opportunity to help you overcome insecurities and feel as confident as possible in your skin. To learn more about tear trough fillers and receive your personalized consultation, book now with SEV!