The loss of fat and under eye support as we age can lead to the area beneath the eye to become hollow and sunken, leading to dark circles and shadows which can give a tired impression.
This loss of Volume under the eye area is called a Tear Trough deformity.
Injecting this delicate area carefully with Dermal Fillers such as Juvederm Volbella can fill these hollows, rejuvenating the eye area giving it a new lease of life.
This technique is very advanced and should only be done by an Experienced Doctor. It requires exceptional clinical skill and precision injection of the Juvederm Dermal Filler.
Understanding of the Anatomy of the Tear Trough and the cause of the underlying shadows is paramount to avoid any complications.
Frequently asked questions about Tear Trough Treatment
Does it hurt?
Injections under the eye area are surprisingly not painful when performed in the right medical hands. Anaesthetic creams can be applied if wished but are usually not necessary as the Juvedérm® filler has built in lidocaine anaesthetic.
What are the Side Effects?
Like all dermal filler injections, some redness and swelling may occur. There is also a risk of bruising. But this can be minimised further by using a micro-cannula technique.
How long do results last?
Juvederm is designed to last up to 12 months in most patients. The undereye area is relatively static and doesn’t move very much, allowing the product to potentially last even longer.
What is a Micro-Cannula?
Micro-Cannulas are a revolutionary technique to inject dermal fillers.
They are essentially round tipped blunt needles that do not cut but simply push tissue, blood vessels and nerves away, so reducing risks of swelling and bruising. Surprisingly this technique has very minimal discomfort and is the technique of choice for Advanced Doctors who want to minimise discomfort and side effects for their patients.
Needles may still be used dependent on the area that is needed to be corrected.
Dr Dan Dhunna is fully trained in the use of microcannulas having learnt at the hands of the esteemed French Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr Hervé Raspaldo at his clinic in Cannes, South of France.
Other Causes of Dark Circles
Not all shadows under the eye are as a result of loss of volume.
The Most Common Causes of Dark Circles Are:
Diet: Anaemia is a recognised cause of dark circles and should be investigated and treated by your GP
Lifestyle: Smoking, poor sleep, poor hydration and anaemia are all important causes that can cause dark circles
Excess Skin Pigment : This is a particular concern in Asian, Black and coloured skin types and need to be treated with specialist prescription creams that can lighten the skin in this area
Visible Blood Vessels :This is most common in light skinned individuals. The skin under the eye is very thin allowing blue-green veins to shin through giving a darker impression. These vessels give off numerous smaller, fine blood vessels which constantly leak leading to a chronic low grade bruising.
This can be improved by avoiding smoking and the use of creams that seal off these leaky blood capillaries.
PRP (platelet rich plasma) has been found to be helpful in this circumstance.