Many individuals think that their eyes cause them to look older than they are. If you have been considering a cosmetic procedure to pep up your eyes, a filler for eye troughs might just be the answer. Continue reading to learn more about such fillers used in tear troughs treatments.
What Is a Tear Trough?
Tear troughs are a depression located between the lower eyelids and the upper cheekbones. Facial tissues lose volume as we age, making these tear troughs more pronounced. For some individuals, very visible tear troughs are an inherited trait. Regardless of the reason, tear troughs that stand out can make you look tired and older than you are. This is why many folks seek a cosmetic procedure to plump up their tear troughs.
What Is a Tear Trough Filler?
Fillers for tear troughs are also called eye trough fillers and are an injectable treatment designed to enhance the area under the lower eyelids. The filler itself is primarily made up of hyaluronic acid, although other dermal fillers may be used. Your medical provider will make that determination at the time of your treatment.
Are These Fillers Safe?
Because the procedure for injecting these fillers is noninvasive, they are relatively safe. This is especially true when compared with surgeries for tear troughs such as fat repositioning and fat grafting.
How Long Does a Tear Trough Treatment Last?
Dermal injectables such as fillers for tear troughs are effective but are not permanent. Most people choose to have the procedures done every one to two years to maintain their appearance. This would then become an ongoing outpatient medical treatment should you choose to continue with it, and you would need to budget for it along with other routine medical costs.
What to Expect During Treatment for Tear Troughs
Before getting treatment, you will be evaluated by a medical professional to make sure that you are a good candidate. They will assess the thickness and texture of your lower eyelids and determine which dermal filler should be used.
The procedure will be performed in a medical office, and you will be able to go home when the procedure is complete. First, your skin will be disinfected to prevent infections. Then, a topical anesthetic could be applied to numb the area. Alternatively, cold compresses or ice may be used on your lower eyelids. Both of these options are designed to reduce the possibility of bruising.
Your medical professional will then prepare the syringe containing the filler. This syringe may be connected to either a sharp or blunt needle, depending on the professional’s preference for your specific needs. At this point, the filler is injected into the skin beneath your lower eyelid. As the filler is being injected, the needle is slowly removed. The area is gently massaged to spread the filler. Once the first eye is done, the doctor will move to the next eye and complete the process.
What to Expect After Treatment for Tear Troughs
There will be some bruising, swelling, and redness during the first three days, reducing as time progresses. Your tear troughs will look fuller immediately after the treatment, but it will take one to two weeks before you see the extent of your tear trough treatment.
You will be sent home with aftercare instructions. Be sure to follow them to achieve the best results. These instructions generally include the following:
- Massage the area to maximize the smoothness of the filler beneath the skin.
- Sleep on your back to avoid putting pressure on your face.
- Apply cold compresses or ice during the first 48 hours.
- Do not participate in any intense activity for the first one to two days.
Possible Complications of Eye Trough Fillers
There are several side effects and possible complications from eye trough fillers. These include skin discoloration, headaches, persistent pain, an allergic reaction, filler lumps, swelling around the eye (edema), infection, granuloma, vascular complications, a lack of desired results, and very rarely, permanent blindness caused by retinal artery occlusion.
You may see other complications appear two weeks or more after treatment. If any of these occur, please see your doctor.
- Your bruising becomes worse, not better.
- There is numbness in the area.
- Your swelling or redness continues to worsen, possibly including the formation of lumps.
- You experience intense pain.
- You experience changes to your vision.
- You develop an infection.
- You experience an allergic reaction that appears later on.
Am I a Good Candidate for Fillers?
To avoid as many of the possible complications, a good candidate for eye trough filler should have most of the following characteristics:
- You do not have pronounced sagging under your eyes.
- You have realistic expectations for the results that can be achieved.
- Your skin is thick and healthy.
- You are in good physical health.
- You realize the temporary nature of the treatment.
It’s important to note that not everyone is a good candidate for this type of filler. Speaking with a medical professional will help you gauge if this procedure is right for you. A poor candidate for this procedure may have these characteristics:
- Your skin is excessively thin.
- You have very deep tear troughs or excessive skin under your eyes.
- You currently have an eye or a skin infection.
- You have a buildup of fat under your eyes.
- You have any medical conditions that could cause complications.
Tear Trough Filler Cost
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average cost of a syringe of hyaluronic acid is around $700. Most procedures use one to two syringes, depending upon the depth of the tear troughs. Your provider will discuss how many syringes you will need before treatment.
Insurance does not cover the cost of this procedure. Tear trough fillers are considered to be nonessential and cosmetic.
Tear Trough Treatment in Boca Raton
Dr. Geoffrey R. Morris, DMD, MS was born and raised in South Florida. His family has provided dental care for over 100 years. Dr. Morris’s work has garnered him national acclaim. He is proud to offer plastic surgery and aesthetic dentistry to patients in the Boca Raton area.
If you are searching for a board-certified tear trough treatment in Boca Raton, we can help you. Our facility in Boca Raton does many different types of procedures. You can regain your youthful appearance in many ways that do not involve invasive procedures.
We offer preventive dentistry services, Botox, lip augmentation, cheek augmentation, non-invasive rhinoplasty (nose jobs), parentheses and marionette lines, Kybella fat dissolving, and other services in addition to tear trough filling. We can also provide saliva testing for ancestry, general health, oral pH, and microbial testing.
Take a virtual tour of our offices or check out the gallery of our work. Then, call us to schedule an appointment. We will do our very best to make you look your very best.
