Tear Trough Treatment

As we age, there are gradual changes taking place in our faces and especially around our eyes. The changes happen in all the layers of the face, including skin, fat, muscle, and bone. In youth, due to the surrounding plump fat, thicker overlying skin and soft tissue surrounding this structure, this ligament is usually invisible. Firstly the delicate skin around the eyes is vulnerable to sun damage and can develop fine lines and wrinkles and become “crepey” in texture. There is a natural slow decrease in fatty tissue under the lower eyelid and upper cheek area. The muscles of the lower lid slowly lose elasticity and no longer remain tightly tethered in place. Also the cheekbone and eye socket shapes are slowly receding over time to result in a lack of bony support for the skin. The rates that these changes happen vary a lot in different people, and are also linked to smoking, stress, skincare, sun exposure, body weight, and genetics. These changes can eventually cause the tear trough depression to become puffy or bulge away from the face (pseudo herniation of the infraorbital fat pads). When the tissue under the eye pushes outward, ‘bags’ begin to develop. The unevenness of the area can become shadowy, which in turn will look like ‘dark circles’ under the eyes. No matter how much makeup is worn, the face can still looked exhausted and drawn.

Using tiny injections of hyaluronic acid injectable gel specially designed to treat the delicate and sensitive eye circle area, a significant improvement for tear troughs can be achieved. Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally present in the dermis giving hydration, elasticity and firmness to the skin. The gel will gently fill the tear trough depression, making it look smoother and healthier. With the area no longer sunken, the dark ‘circles’ are reduced, as the thin skin in this area is highly reflective and shadowing is reduced when the hollowness is corrected with fillers. Best of all, the results from this treatment will be immediate.
This treatment is not suitable for pigmented dark circles neither for large malar and palpebral bags, those last ones being better suited to surgery.

Men and women with eye circles, especially in patients in their late 30’s to 40’s, to essentially fill out the trough. Commonly in this age group, the loss of volume at the junction between the upper cheek and lower eyelid, i.e. a worsening tear trough deformity, is the only obvious sign of ageing and can cause emotional distress. Therefore simple replacement of this lost volume without the need for surgery can lead to dramatic improvement. While tear troughs normally appear in the 30s or 40s, people as young as 20 may begin to notice this early sign of aging.
The ideal candidate for tear trough correction is anyone who understands the procedure, is in generally good health, and holds realistic expectations for their results.