Tear Trough Filler in Kent

What is tear trough filler?

The tear trough is the groove that runs from the inner corner of the eye down and outwards towards the cheek. Tear trough filler places a small amount of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler, usually deep, close to the bone, to soften this groove.

The skin of the lower eyelid is among the thinnest on the body. That is why this area needs a soft, carefully chosen product and a conservative amount. Too much filler, or filler placed too close to the surface, can look puffy or leave a bluish tinge.

Tear trough filler can soften a hollow and reduce the shadow it casts. It cannot remove eye bags, tighten loose eyelid skin, or lighten pigmentation.

Which dermal fillers are used for tear trough filler?

Juvenology Clinic uses Vivacy's Stylage range alongside other dermal filler products where appropriate. Stylage is a range of hyaluronic acid fillers made by Vivacy, with different formulations for different depths and areas.

Vivacy's published product information does not list the tear trough as a specific indication. Stylage S, M and L are described for filling facial skin depressions. For this area, Marina selects a product suited to thin skin and to the depth at which it will be placed.

What concerns can tear trough filler address?

The area under the eye changes with age. The cheek fat beneath the eye loses volume, the bone around the eye socket slowly changes, and the junction between the lower eyelid and cheek becomes more visible. The result can be a hollow that catches the light and casts a shadow.

Dark circles have several possible causes, and more than one can be present:

• Hollowing (shadowing): a groove that casts a shadow. This is what filler may help

• Pigmentation: brown or grey darkening of the skin itself

• Visible blood vessels: a bluish or purple tone seen through thin skin

• Puffiness or fluid: swelling that is often worse in the morning

• Eye bags: fat pushing forward beneath the eyelid

• Thin or lax skin

Filler only addresses the first of these. If your darkness is mainly pigment or blood vessels, filler is unlikely to help and may make the area look worse. Suitability and results vary.

Benefits of tear trough filler

• May soften a hollow beneath the eye

• May reduce the shadow that makes eyes look tired

• Can improve the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek

• Results are visible soon after treatment

• Hyaluronic acid filler is not permanent and can usually be dissolved

Who may be suitable for tear trough filler?

The people most likely to benefit are those with a clear hollow or groove under the eye, reasonably firm and healthy lower eyelid skin, and little puffiness. You need to be 18 or over and in good general health.

If your main issue is puffiness, eye bags or loose skin, filler is often not the answer. A treatment to improve skin quality, such as polynucleotides, or a surgical opinion on eyelid surgery may be more appropriate. If pigment is the cause, our hyperpigmentation service may be more relevant. Sometimes no treatment is the right advice.

Who may not be suitable?

Tear trough filler may not be appropriate if you:

• Are under 18

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Have puffiness under the eyes, swelling that comes and goes, or prominent eye bags

• Have very thin, crepey or loose lower eyelid skin

• Have eczema, infection or inflammation around the eyes

• Have had a reaction to filler before, or previous under-eye filler problems

• Have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines

• Are hoping filler will remove all darkness under the eyes

Please share your full medical history and medicines at your consultation. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice from your prescriber.

What happens during your consultation

The main job of a tear trough consultation is working out why the area looks the way it does. Marina will look at your under-eye area in natural and overhead light, ask whether it changes through the day, and check for puffiness, pigment and visible vessels.

She will go through your medical history, allergies, medicines and any previous treatments around the eyes. You will discuss whether filler is likely to help, the risks, and alternatives. If filler is not suitable, Marina will explain why and what else might help.

What results can you expect?

In suitable patients, tear trough filler may help soften the under-eye hollow and reduce the shadow it casts. The aim is a smoother transition from eyelid to cheek, not a filled or puffy look.

Results depend on the cause of your concern, your skin and your anatomy. Pigment and visible blood vessels will not change with filler. Swelling can affect the appearance for a week or more. Marina will discuss realistic expectations before treatment.

How long does tear trough filler last?

There is no fixed duration, and results vary. The JCCP describes typical filler effects as lasting around 6 to 18 months, depending on product and area. The under-eye area moves less than the lips, which may allow filler to last longer, but this depends on the product, the amount used and your metabolism. Filler can also be present in the tissue after the visible effect has faded, which is one reason we plan top-ups carefully.

Recovery and aftercare

Most people return to normal activities after treatment. You may notice:

• Swelling, which can last longer under the eyes than in other areas

• Bruising, which is relatively common here because the skin is thin

• Tenderness

• Slight unevenness while swelling settles

Recovery varies. You will receive aftercare advice after treatment. See our aftercare guide for injectable treatments.

Urgent warning signs: contact the clinic immediately on 07413 138 825 if you have severe or worsening pain, or skin that turns pale, white, dusky or blotchy. Any change in vision, eye pain or difficulty moving the eye needs emergency care: call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

Risks and considerations

The under-eye area is delicate and close to the eye, so some risks are specific to it:

• Common: bruising, swelling and tenderness

• Bluish discolouration (Tyndall effect): filler placed too close to the surface can show through thin skin as a blue tinge

• Prolonged swelling (malar oedema): swelling under the eye and on the upper cheek. It has been reported in up to around 1 in 10 tear trough cases, and can appear months or even years after treatment

• Lumps, irregularities or migration of filler

• Infection, allergic or inflammatory reactions

• Vascular occlusion: rarely, filler blocks a blood vessel, which can damage the skin

• Visual complications: very rare but serious, including loss of sight

These risks are why we plan tear trough treatment conservatively. Most hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved if needed, after a prescriber's face-to-face assessment.

Why choose Juvenology Clinic?

• Marina plans and carries out every filler treatment herself. She is an NMC-registered nurse with more than 25 years of nursing experience and is verified by the JCCP.

• We look for the cause of your dark circles before suggesting filler.

• We offer alternatives in the clinic, including skin and pigmentation treatments, so we have no reason to push filler.

• Tear Trough Filler has one fixed price in our booking system.

• Our clinic is at 82 King Street, Maidstone, Kent.

Explore all of our dermal filler treatments in Kent, or meet Marina.