Under Eye Dark Circles Treatment in Austin, TX

Dark circles under the eyes can occur for several different reasons. They may happen as a result of a hollowness forming underneath the lower eyelid. This hollow groove (called the naso-jugal groove) forms as a natural result of tissue loss during the process of aging.

We know that as people age, they lose fat, muscle, and bone all over the face. Under the eyes is one of the first areas to show these changes. Shadows fall into the groove, causing the appearance of under-eye dark circles.

Bags under the eyes are caused by fatty tissue visibly protruding within the lower eyelid. Once again, a shadow falls into the groove underneath the bags and the person looks tired and older.

Another cause of dark circles under the eyes is from genetically inherited dark pigmentation of the under-eye skin and blood vessels that can be seen through the skin.

The skin around the eyelids (otherwise known as periorbital skin) is the thinnest skin on the body (only around 0.5 mm thick compared with 2mm in other areas). Blood passes through the veins close to the surface of the skin and results in a bluish tint.

The thinner the skin, the darker the circles appear. Like many other skin conditions, dark circles are usually an inherited trait.

In the past, the only remedy for bags under the eyes was an eyelid surgical procedure called blepharoplasty. This procedure involves removing or repositioning excess tissue through an eyelid incision. It carries all of the usual risks of surgery including bruising, swelling, scarring, eye damage, and anesthesia complications.

When performed by an experienced and capable plastic, facial plastic, or oculoplastic surgeon, the results of surgical blepharoplasty are usually excellent. However, if the results are not satisfactory, the procedure cannot be reversed. The other problem is, as we age, we lose the fat underneath our skin. Too often, ten years or so down the line, traditional blepharoplasty results in a sunken or hollow look, or eyelid skin that is too tight.

Topical creams and similar products are another alternative treatment. They can be of assistance temporarily for the mildest cases but are unable to solve the problem otherwise. Most women tend to utilize heavy concealers and/or foundations to camouflage the issue.

Our team practices a non-invasive, safe, and cost-effective method to remedy dark circles and bags under the eyes without surgery. We use an injectable filler to even out the plane beneath the eye, filling in the depression between the cheek and the eyelid. This eliminates the shadow, which creates darkness and improves the appearance of protruding lower lids. The best thing about this procedure? It lasts for years! The tear trough area holds on to filler significantly longer than any other place in the face – up to 6 years!

Our estheticians use Restylane, Versa, or Voluma for this Non-Surgical procedure. In addition, they may add Voluma to the cheeks in order to complete the look, creating a youthful and rejuvenated appearance.

Results, using Restylane, Versa, or Voluma can last up to six years when injected under the eye area. This reversible, temporary method allows you to make adjustments as your face naturally changes over time so that you will always have a natural and youthful look.

Furthermore, Restylane, Versa, and Voluma stimulate your body’s natural collagen production in the areas where it is injected. This is one of the reasons why these procedures have such a long-lasting filling effect on under-eye depression.

In our experience, patients come back after several years with under-eye depressions that are much more shallow than when they started.

There is very little pain associated with this procedure, as all of the fillers we use contain lidocaine in the syringe. We can also apply a topical numbing cream for patients with lower pain tolerance.

Side effects of Non-Surgical Blepharoplasty may include minor bruising, swelling, redness, and tenderness, all of which should resolve within a few days to two weeks.

Restylane, Versa, and Voluma are all hyaluronic acid fillers and can be easily reversed or reduced with a simple injection of the enzyme Hyaluronidase. So any unexpected swelling can be easily remedied within the 24 hours that it takes the enzyme to act.