Tear troughs, under-eye hollows and dark circles
What looks like one dark circle is usually one of four things: a hollow that casts a shadow, puffy fat that bulges, brown pigment, or thin skin that shows the blue of blood vessels. Each needs a different approach, and some, like a bulge of fat, get worse with filler. Find out which you have before you choose anything.
“Will under-eye filler get rid of my dark circles?”
“I sleep fine and still look tired. Is it my eye bags?”
Where the lower lid meets the cheek, a groove forms when volume thins. The dark colour is a shadow, not the skin itself.
How a doctor tellsThe doctor shines light from the front. If the darkness fades when light fills the groove, it is mostly shadow.
The fat around the eye can push forward as the tissue holding it weakens. The bulge casts a shadow below it, so it looks like a hollow too.
How a doctor tellsYou will be asked to look up. If the bulge gets bigger, it is fat, and adding filler underneath can make it look puffier.
Some people, especially with darker or Asian skin, have brown colour in the skin under the eye, often made worse by rubbing and sun.
How a doctor tellsGently stretching the skin does not make brown pigment disappear. It looks the same in every light.
Very thin skin lets the blue or purple of vessels and muscle show through, often worse when tired.
How a doctor tellsPressing lightly makes the colour fade briefly. It looks bluish rather than brown.
A map for your consultation, not a prescription. The doctor decides which cause applies to you.
Care and makeup
Injections
Devices and lasers
Surgery
Doing nothing
| Cause | What you see | Usually discussed | Usually not |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow | Groove and shadow | Small amount of filler, or surgery if bags too | Laser |
| Bags (fat) | Bulge that grows when looking up | Fat repositioning surgery | Filler under the bulge |
| Brown pigment | Brown in every light | Toning, sunscreen, not rubbing | Filler |
| Thin skin | Bluish, fades when pressed | Skin boosters, concealer | Large filler volume |
Not sure which cause is yours? Send us your concern and dates; we match you to a doctor who will tell you honestly.
Talk to a coordinatorOnly if the darkness is mainly a shadow from a hollow. It does nothing for pigment, and it can make bags look worse.
On our partner surgical list, fat repositioning is about $1,285 and lower blepharoplasty about $1,715, before 10% VAT. Your surgeon decides which is suitable.
About $130 for 1cc on our partner list. It is usually a course of sessions, and whether VAT is included varies by clinic.
Commonly about a week, to allow stitch removal and a follow-up check before you fly. Your surgeon sets the timing.
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