Treating the under-eye area is far more than simply treating the tear troughs, it’s understanding that the whole under-eye area needs to be treated with volumising and sculpting products. Furthermore, the under-eye area needs to be blended to the upper cheeks to ensure the products are blended so that the product cannot be detected, which will provide the most natural results.
The under-eyes which include the as tear troughs, has been said to be one of the most difficult areas of the face to inject. In our experience, patient’s will have their tear troughs filled with product, however, the rest of the under-eye area is left hollow – this can make the outer-eye area look worse! Many cosmetic injectors will use a very thin products when injecting the tear troughs – we prefer to use the firmest semi-permanent products to treat the tear troughs and the whole outer under eye area. This is because firm semi-permanent products are far less likely to move at the time of treatment. By injecting the under-eye area from one side to the other, the whole under area will be restored. It is also important to bridge the upper cheek to the under-eye area well to ensure that the product is blended well.
You might be a good candidate for tear trough (under-eye) treatment if you have any of the following concerns:
It is very common for patients to seek treatment to address the dark circles under their areas. It is important to understand that dark circles are caused by several factors which include by are not limited to, loss of volume which causes a shadow under the eye, skin pigmentation and blood vessels. Under-eye volumising and sculpting products are designed to address volume loss and as a result, will reduce the shadowing under the eyes and therefore, reduce the dark circles under the areas. When it comes to skin pigmentation concerns or the treatment of blood vessels, laser and modalities would be required to address these skin issues.
Treating the under-eye area for those who have thin skin, is a consideration with regards to the treatment techniques but having thin skin will not prevent you from having tear trough (under-eye) treatment.
In most cases where the skin is very thin, a needle technique will be used when. Using a needle rather than cannula, will allow for better control over the placement of the product and the amount of product being injected which will ultimately lead to a better overall aesthetic result. It is important to note that the under-eye needle approach will cause far more immediate skin bruising, when compared to using the cannular however, the bruising will continue to fade throughout the weeks following treatment.
Over the years, we have had many patients who have sought tear trough (under-eye) treatment with me after they have been turned away from other injectors, due to the complexity of the treatment, which can include very thin skin coverage. Good news, we are able to provide non-surgical treatment options to address your under-eye concerns. It doesn’t matter how thin your skin is or what your experience has been elsewhere, we can help!
If you are very concerned with the laxity in your under-eye skin, our view is to seek a non-surgical treatment approach first and this can include the use of volumising and sculpting products, laser or other skin treatments. Of course, in some cases, surgery might be required.
Muscle relaxant treatment can be combined with tear trough (under-eye) treatment. Muscle relaxant treatment will help to open-up the eye, elevate the upper eyelid and smoothen out lines, in the under-eye area. By combining muscle relaxant treatment with your tear trough (under-eye) treatment, you will be able to optimise your results even further.
You may commonly see a variety of different products being used within clinics. These products will range in cost: the cost will reflect the consistency of the product and therefore determine how long the product will last. Cheaper products will often be thinner products designed to last 4-6 months.
Mid-range products are typically thicker and designed to last 6-12 months.
We use only semi-permanent products when treating the under-eye area. Semi-permanent products are firm products that are used by only the most highly trained and skilled injected – this is due to the precision required when placing the product in the under-eye region. Semi-permanent products are designed to last 18-24months.
Both a needle and cannula are used to sculpt the under-eye. This process causes mild to severe trauma to the under-eye in the way of bruising and swelling.
If a cannula technique is being used within your treatment, you can expect mild swelling and bruising in and around the treated area.
If a needle technique is used, you can expect significant bruising and swelling. Bruising will generally take about a week or two to settle, while swelling will generally settle within the week.
Icing the under-eye area as well as some other anti-inflammatory methods, can be used following your treatment to help speed up the recovery process. More information will be provided within your consultation, and a post-treatment information sheet will also be provided to you on the day of treatment.
Makeup can also be applied 24 hours post-treatment, to help conceal and residual bruising under the eyes.
There are many different techniques used when treating the under-eye areas, which attracts different levels of discomfort, ranging from very mild to moderate.
You will be asked to attend the clinic about 30mins-1 hour prior to treatment, so that topical anaesthetic can be applied. The time frame required to numb your skin, will depend on the technique being used to treat your under-eye area. After the numbing cream has taken affect, you should find the treatment to be well-tolerated and comfortable.
The under-eye area is often iced prior to injecting, which will help to provide more comfort throughout your treatment, and to reduce bruising. In summary, you should find your experience quite pleasant.
The cost for Tear Trough (under-eye) Injectable Treatment can vary, depending on the type and amount of product used, and the number of treatment sessions required to achieve your desired result. In order to provide you with more information regarding costing, please schedule an in-clinic consultation with one of our cosmetic registered nurses, who will customise a treatment plan, specific to your needs.
Every non-surgical procedure involves a certain amount of risk which includes under-eye treatment – it is important that you understand these risks and the possible complications associated with each treatment.
While the majority of patients do not experience the following, it is very important that you are ware of the more server potential side effects and discuss these potential side effects with your treating practitioner – this includes your Prescribing Doctor and the treating Registered Nurse. Only once you have had a detailed conversation with your Prescribing Doctor and your treating Registered Nurse, prior to your treatment, can you make an informed decision as to how you proceed with your treatment.
The most common side effects can occur immediately following your treatment or in some cases be delayed and can worsen over the coming hours and/or days following your treatment. Some of the most common side effects include but are not limited to the following:
Other adverse reactions may include:
You will also need to consider the extremely rare but serious adverse events associated with intravascular injection of products that have been reported and include temporary and permanent visual impairment, blindness, cerebral ischemia or cerebral haemorrhage, leading to stroke, skin necrosis, and damage to underlying structures.
The following are very common side effects after treatment and should resolve with time.
To prevent and/or help minimise any bruising after your treatment:
Final Results
Your final results can take 2-4 weeks – you are likely to require further Hyaluronic Acid treatment to achieve your desired results.
Aftercare
Please contact the clinic immediately if you experience any inflammatory reaction and/or side effect. Late onset inflammatory response may occur at least 2 months after injection. If necessary, additional treatments, medications and/or surgery may be necessary.
If out of hours, please attend your local medical centre or emergency department.
As part of your post-treatment care plan, you will be provided with verbal and written post-treatment instructions.