What's Covered on This Page
- How Under Eye Fillers Can and Cannot Help Your Under-Eye Area
- Under Eye Filler: Who are the Candidates, Who Isn't
- How Living On the Coast Can Decrease the Life Expectancy of your Under Eye Filler
- It Is Even More to Pick the Best Doctor in Under Eye Filler
- How does Murrells Inlet's sun and humidity affect under eye filler results?
- How do I know if I need under eye filler or something else?
- Does under eye filler hurt?
- How long does it take to see the final result after under eye filler?
- Who is not a good candidate for under eye filler?
- What should I do to prepare for my under eye filler appointment in Murrells Inlet?
How Under Eye Fillers Can and Cannot Help Your Under-Eye Area
In my office here in Murrells Inlet, patients who walk in for under eye filler will point in the same place. Right there, right under your eye. They have tried every under eye cream on the market. Nothing worked.
It's not because the cream didn't work. It's because the issue is not with the skin.
Under eye filler adds a tiny amount of material underneath your skin to fill out the tear trough. The tear trough is a crease that begins at the inside corner of your eye and moves down to your cheek. As we get older, this area loses some volume and the groove deepens. Because it is deeper now, the area has a shadow which appears like a dark circle.
Under eye filler can fill out this trough, and because the shadow isn't as deep, the dark circle will no longer be there. Your under eyes will look more rested, as if you had a good night of sleep the night before.
Here is where under eye fillers can really be beneficial:
- Deep tear troughs that appear like tired, dark circles
- Volume loss that gives an appearance to the under eye
- Shadowing where the under eye area appears hollow and sunken
- A line of depression that looks distinct between the lower eyelid and cheek
- Dark color to the under eye where tissue is thinner, and a dark blood vessel is seen beneath it
However, there are some limitations to the under eye filler results you may receive from my office. Patients who come in with puffy under eyes will not see results. This is because puffiness is fat pads pushing out, and you don't want to add more under-eye material to a puffier area. We'll also have patients come in with lax skin, and we'll have to inform them that filler won't be able to tighten that tissue for them.
Some patients may also have genetic dark circles or hyperpigmentation, and they require a treatment plan that is distinct to the cause of the pigment change.
So what can under eye filler fix? To see if you might be a good candidate, put your hand underneath your chin. Now tilt your head towards the ceiling. If the shadow disappears, you likely have a deep tear trough and filler can help you.
If the puffiness stays or increases, that indicates a different problem that you may not want under eye filler to try and address.
We get a lot of patients to our Murrells Inlet office thinking they want under eye filler and we find that the treatment they need is something different. That's okay! The important thing is to understand what we are dealing with and why filler might not be right treatment for you. If you are unsure what your anatomy is asking for, please call us.
We would be happy to evaluate you and let you know if under eye fillers is right for you or not.
Under Eye Filler: Who are the Candidates, Who Isn't
We do not treat every patient that walks in the door that day with under eye filler. That is alright.
Our patients from Murrells Inlet are very healthy adults that usually make great candidates for under eye fillers, as most of them are in their 30s through their 50s, they have noticed some discoloration of the under eye area and have tried everything under the sun (sleep, water consumption, moisturizer, caffeine consumption, etc) and it never went away. Concealer might have once worked well, but at some point, the product just starts sitting in the wrinkles. This is the look we see most often; it's the appearance of tired eyes for people who are not truly tired.
Here are our ideal candidates:
- Visible tearing troughs or hollowing around the eyes.
- Good skin elasticity without significant puffiness or fluid retention.
- Expectations of what will/won't work with filler.
- Free of infection and/or cold sores.
We can treat both men and women anywhere from their late 20s to 60s. We don't rely on age as the determinant, we focus on skin. Someone came in this past month and was convinced that she was too "young" to do filler at 32 years of age when, in reality, she had deep-set hollowing which had persisted with her since her college years.
That being said, some patients might not be suitable at all. For those who have major under eye bags due to herniated fat pads that have protruded from their sockets, it might not be a good idea to place more volume under the eyes with dermal filler. We'll let you know if this is the case during your consult. We're usually able to determine this within a few seconds of first seeing someone.
We also don't do this procedure for women who are pregnant, lactating or those that are on blood thinner medication. Other medical conditions can require further review as well. Prior to the procedure we'll do a complete health history with every patient.
We also find that sometimes the answer isn't no, it's not yet! There are other therapies that we can implement first to help prepare the skin for dermal fillers, like microneedling or PRP facials. The thicker, more dense skin will allow for better support for the filler to work off. Our board certified providers know their area and what is best for the face they are currently treating for the best long-term results for our patients!
What To Expect At Your Appointment
One of the first things most people don't expect when they come in for their consultation is that they are not being examined immediately. We sit down with every new patient for a consultation to evaluate the area of treatment. Maybe it's because there are hollows and shadows under the eyes that make you feel exhausted even after you sleep in your own bed, or maybe it's because a friend or a co-worker asked if you were feeling okay when you weren't and you felt frustrated. We hear that a lot in Murrells Inlet and it can really hurt your self-esteem.
Whatever it is, we want to know so that when we pick up the syringe, we're doing our best to help you look like yourself again.
Here is what our treatment session will typically look like: We'll first cleanse the area of treatment and apply numbing cream, this will sit for around 15 minutes. Next, we'll mark out areas to inject. There is no standard approach; we're looking at how the face of each patient is different. Filler will then be administered either using a small cannula or a needle.
The pain people feel is actually more in the way of stress, not in pain.
- We check your symmetry, make small corrections if we have to and we address any concerns.
- You receive aftercare advice and we will schedule you for a 2 week post-treatment follow up.
The entire process takes 30 to 45 minutes. Most of this is waiting for the numbing cream to take effect. Then once the needle goes in it is a very quick procedure.
You'll notice the results pretty fast. But the final effect will take up to 2 weeks to set in. It is fairly common to have some mild swelling for a few days. A little bruising can occur too and it will fade quickly.
It can easily be covered up with make up or concealer so not an issue.
Here is what often surprises patients. They thought this was going to hurt a lot more than it did. Yes the skin under the eyes is thinner and very sensitive. But our technique keeps that discomfort very low and our numbing cream really helps.
It's because we have a lot of experience placing this under eye filler in just the right place, just the right amount of filler. In addition our nurse injector is also fully licensed and is highly experienced in treating the face.
So you can drive yourself home. And you can go back right to what you do for the day.
How Living On the Coast Can Decrease the Life Expectancy of your Under Eye Filler
If you are living near the MarshWalk you are probably spending way more time outside than you realize, and here the sun is harsher.
One of the biggest things that can shorten the amount of time under eye filler lasts you is sun exposure. The skin under your eye is very thin and is the thinnest on the whole face. Sun damage can cause this thin, delicate skin to break down even faster over time, in part because it can degrade your hyaluronic acid. any under eye filler that has been placed will likely break down sooner than otherwise expected.
And this is why we say to everyone in our chair. It must be SPF 30 or higher, and every day, without fail. We don't mean just the beach. A nice Tuesday morning walk with the dog for example is when you should apply sunscreen.
Here's what we typically see happen when a client doesn't use proper sun care:
- Under eye filler will break down sooner than you might expect by several weeks.
- The skin under the eyes will likely show more texture including fine lines.
- You will get an uneven skin tone which may make any dark circles look worse even with the filler in the right place.
- Post filler swelling can flare up if you've been out in the sun for a while.
In fact, most of our clients we hear from saying that their under eye filler results did not last as long as we originally indicated, is the ones who admit to skipping sun screen for just one week at the beach. And no, we do ask. They are always the ones who tell us the truth.
So our advice is to avoid the sun. If you must be in the sun it must be a physical sunscreen with zinc oxide because it sits on top of the skin as opposed to penetrating the skin. Many chemical sunscreens will be irritating to freshly placed filler in the under eye. And yes sunglasses will also help.
Yes we are all aware this is a fashion statement but it is the physical blocking of the sun from entering into the delicate skin and tissue of the under eye area where you had filler placed. However, what you may not know is that how much sun you take before coming in is just as important as after. If you come in with a sunburn, or a tanned look around your eyes, we might have to reschedule you. Filler doesn't heal well on irritated skin; the product may not heal properly, and you will be more likely to bruise.
Instead of scheduling you on short notice and possibly not having you happy, we would rather wait a week and get it right.
You should plan your under eye filler appointment based on your outdoor lifestyle. If you have a boat day or a trip to Huntington Beach State Park this weekend, get your under eyes filled after it, not before.
Need help with under eye filler?
Book An Appointment. Jolie Visage Rejuvenation Centre is ready to help.
It Is Even More to Pick the Best Doctor in Under Eye Filler
The under eye is the thinnest skin on the face, sometimes less than half of a millimeter in thickness. The doctor who holds the needle needs to know exactly what they are doing with it.
There is almost no tolerance for mistakes. If you get too much under the eye, it's puffy and fake looking. Get the depth wrong and the filler can migrate to create bluish lumps, known as the Tyndall effect. If you go too close to the wrong vessel, you are looking at an actual emergency.
The tear trough area is among the most procedure-sensitive areas on the face, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
We often see clients who came to our Murrells Inlet office after going somewhere else for under eye filler. how much easier it is to do it correctly the first time, rather than fixing someone else's poor work. In most cases, it comes down to the injector using the wrong filler product, placing the injection at the wrong depth, or using too much under eye filler. The under eyes aren't as forgiving of bad fillers as lips or cheeks.
When shopping for an injector under the eye, keep these things in mind above whether or not they have a nice website:
- They are a licensed medical professional and inject face fillers often.
- They have real before and after examples of under eye fillers.
- They are not shy about saying no if you're not a good under eye filler candidate.
- They are familiar with the facial structure more broadly.
The last point is particularly important. One provider once told a client "they just needed a touch of Botox" under their eye for their bags. This is false. Botox does very different things than filler.
This isn't meant to scare you, we simply want to point out that your face deserves the care of a professional who can respect it. We've spent years practicing facial fillers and exactly what belongs under the eye and what doesn't. A good injector will not only make you look good, they'll keep you safe from bad side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about under eye filler services in Murrells Inlet
How does Murrells Inlet's sun and humidity affect under eye filler results?
Living near the MarshWalk means more sun exposure, and that can break down filler faster than in less sunny climates. UV rays speed up the breakdown of hyaluronic acid, which is what most under eye fillers are made of. Wearing SPF daily and using sunglasses outdoors helps your results last longer. We remind every Murrells Inlet patient about this at their follow-up appointment because it makes a real difference in how long your results hold.
How do I know if I need under eye filler or something else?
The easiest test is to tilt your chin up toward the ceiling and look in a mirror. If the shadow under your eye disappears, filler can likely fix it. If puffiness stays or gets worse in that position, filler is not the right answer. Puffy bags come from fat pads pushing forward, and filler can make that look worse. We go through this assessment with every person before we recommend anything.
Does under eye filler hurt?
Most patients are surprised by how little they feel during the treatment. We apply a numbing cream for about 15 minutes before we start, and that does most of the work. You may feel some pressure during the injection, but sharp pain is not typical. The under eye skin is thin, so we use a careful technique to keep discomfort low. Most people tell us afterward it was much easier than they expected.
How long does it take to see the final result after under eye filler?
You will notice some improvement right away, but the final result takes about two weeks to settle in. Mild swelling is normal for the first few days and can make the area look slightly puffy at first. That goes down on its own. We schedule a follow-up two weeks after your appointment to check your results and make any small adjustments if needed. Do not judge the outcome in the first few days.
Who is not a good candidate for under eye filler?
People with significant under eye bags caused by fat pads pushing forward are not good candidates. Adding filler on top of that can make the puffiness look worse. You should also wait if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking blood thinners you cannot pause. Certain autoimmune conditions need a closer review too. We go through your full health history before every treatment. Sometimes the answer is not no, it is just not yet.
What should I do to prepare for my under eye filler appointment in Murrells Inlet?
Avoid blood-thinning medications like aspirin or ibuprofen for a few days before your visit if your doctor allows it. Skip alcohol 24 hours before your appointment. Come in with a clean face and no heavy makeup under your eyes. You can drive yourself to and from the appointment since there is no sedation involved. We will walk you through everything else when you arrive so you feel ready before we start.