A common complaint from patients is the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Some dark circles can be the result of shadows from bulging under-eye fat (bags under the eye) or from under-eye hollowness. Under-eye hollowness can be caused by either a weak cheek bone and deficient orbital rim or from deficient under-eye fat.

Topical products can help, to an extent, with the appearance of this area (things like discoloration and crow’s-feet), but when volume loss is the reason for this less-than-desirable hollowed-out effect, fillers under the eyes may be the answer.

Under-eye fillers are an effective way of restoring volume to the eye area – reducing the appearance of hollow eyes, puffy eyes and dark circles. Fillers also hydrate the skin from the inside, leading to improvements in skin quality and collagen production.

Fillers can be permanent non-autologous (e.g. Sculptra, Aquamid) or permanent autologous (e.g. fat) or even temporary (e.g. Restylane, Juverderm).

Filler injections are usually painless. When treating wrinkles the filler is injected under the skin, for volume loss it can be injected on the bone or deep in soft tissue with a very thin needle or cannula. These injections give natural volume and a typical treatment takes about 10-15 minutes, with immediately visible results.

Side effects of under eye fillers vary depending on the type. Potential temporary side effects include:

  • Bruising and or redness of the skin at the site of injection
  • Lumpiness and or granuloma formation
  • Swelling and or Overfilling
  • Migration
  • Blindness
  • Skin Necrosis
  • Allergic Reaction

Fillers under the eyes are not for people who have a known allergy to the product or lidocaine, have an active infection at the injection site, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.

To learn more about fillers under the eyes or to schedule an appointment in Phoenix, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com.