If you Google “dark circles solutions for under your eyes”, the treatments you’ll find will range from at-home options like brightening serums to getting under-eye filler, like Juvederm or Restylane. First of all, you’re definitely not alone in noticing dark or hollowness under eyes. This common issue can be a result of genetics, the natural aging process, or lifestyle factors regardless of your age—like not getting enough water or sleep. Let’s be honest, the last couple of years have been exhausting for many of us, and your skin is probably feeling it too).
Getting under-eye filler may seem like an extreme choice, but the truth is filler may be one of the few nonsurgical solutions that can actually change the appearance of your under-eye area, depending on what’s causing your dark circles. Here is our expert advice to help you decide whether or not an under-eye filler (or just a better eye cream) is the right move for you.
What can under-eye fillers—a.k.a. tear through fillers—actually treat?
The main reason to get under-eye fillers is to fill hollowness under the eye area - the ridge of bone under the eyes. If you have this type of volume loss in that area, you might also have dark circles or shadowing under your eyes. This is quite common for both men and women of all age groups and ethnicities.
It’s important to distinguish the difference between dark circles or puffy eyes caused by loss of volume or because of your basic anatomy. If you have true pigmentation or dark discoloration under your eyes, then the dermal filler procedure may not be for you. However, if the darkness is a result of skin laxity from aging or genetics, then a filler treatment may be of benefit by adding volume and evenness to fill in the hollowness of the dark circles. Also, under-eye fillers won’t do much for people with larger bags under the eyes, especially if fat has collected in the area, which can happen as you age. In these cases, blepharoplasty is recommended which is a surgical procedure that involves tightening the under-eye area by removing sagging skin, muscle, and/or fat. A plastic surgeon can help you with this issue.
The benefits of fillers for under-eye wrinkles or dark circles include the brightening of the skin and restored volume under the eyes. Under-eye fillers can also address wrinkles and fine lines and because they fill the hollowness under the eyes, they can even out the sunken appearance of the under-eye area.
What’s the difference between under-eye fillers and Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin that works to inhibit your muscles from contracting, thus helping to relax the overlying skin and giving a smoother, more youthful appearance. It’s for targeting fine lines and wrinkles to achieve a more “relaxed” look. . Unlike filler, Botox is not for under-eye hollowness. It’s for crow’s feet around the eyes. You can see results with Botox as soon as 72 hours after the procedure and the injection will typically last 3-4 months. Getting Juvederm or Restylane under the eyes is a different scenario. It’s hyaluronic acid filler (HA ) that’s injected directly under the skin to fill in space, rather than affecting the muscles.
You can expect a more immediate result of less hollowness from filler and for most patients, it’ll last longer than Botox—about 12 to 18 months. Kristin, an expert injector at Defy Nature has many years of experience with this procedure.
Still not sure if filler is right for you?
Defy Nature offers a medical-grade eye crème like the one from Neocutis called Lumiere Firm which illuminates and tightens under the eyes. In fact, using an eye crème is recommended in conjunction with an under-eye filler treatment.
