Tear Troughs Overview
Tear troughs are located just below the eyes and above the cheeks, made visible by loss of fat pads as we age. As this area begins to lose volume, dark circles begin to appear below the eyes.
By administering dermal filler in these areas, volume is added to help diminish under-eye shadows. Brands of dermal filler most commonly used for this area include Restylane Lyft ®, Belotero ®, Teosyal Redensity ® and Juvederm Voluma ®. All of these fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid and last up to 12 months.
The procedure itself takes 15-20 minutes to perform with no down-time. Topical numbing cream or local anaesthetic injection can be used to help manage your pain an ensure no tears when the troughs are being filled.
In the unlikely event of an adverse reaction, dermal filler can be dissolved using a special enzyme called Hyaluronidase. This is a prescription only agent and so it is important you seek a medically qualified practitioner with the ability to prescribe.
There are different types of dermal fillers on the market specially designed for different areas of the face. For tear troughs, a hyaluronic acid based filler is required. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar based protein which is present in our skin which gives it its youthful volume. As it is being injected beneath the skin, it acts like a sponge to draw water molecules to it – adding volume to the area. Typically 1ml of dermal filler should be sufficient to treat both sides.
With tear troughs, filler is injected deep into the dermis of the skin using a cannula (a blunt needle). This is used to reduce the chances of damaging any blood vessels present in the area. A cannula also allows dermal filler to be deposited in a uniform manner and minimises the number of injections needed. Just to reiterate – tear troughs should always be treated using a cannula.
The effects last an average of 12 months before the filler is naturally resorbed by the body. The filler can also be dissolved using a special prescription only enzyme known as Hyaluronidase which breaks hyaluronic acid down in 24-hours.
How does tear troughs filler work?
As mentioned earlier, tear troughs should only be treated using a cannula (a blunt needle) after making two small entry points on each side. The entry points are highlighted with the yellow dots in the image below and are made using a small sharp needle. The cannula is then passed through this entry point until it reaches the tear trough. Dermal filler is then injected slowly as the cannula is withdrawn.
What happens after the tear troughs treatment?
Recovery after your treatment is immediate. You can genuinely go back to work the same day.
You might experience the following, and if present, here are some great tips in managing them.
- Bruising – This can sometimes happen, especially if you are on blood thinning medication. To help, you can apply some Arnica cream.
- Mild pain – Not common but if experienced, Paracetamol is your go to. Do not go over the recommended dose. If Paracetamol is not helping, get in touch with your practitioner for a review as there might be another cause for the pain that needs addressing.
- Swelling – After any application of dermal filler, some swelling is expected. An ice pack can help but take care in the first 24 hours where it is recommended you do not touch the site of injection.
Most of these symptoms resolve after 3-5 days following treatment. If they last any longer, we recommend you contact your practitioner.
Please note, if you develop any blue/grey discolouring of your skin, severe pain/swelling, any skin changes or changes in vision in the minutes/hours after treatment, contact your practitioner urgently to seek some medical advice.
We created some great aftercare literature for you, so if you want to know more, simply create an account and we will email you the details.
Following your treatment, it is important to be aware of certain signs and symptoms which may need urgent medical attention. These rarely occur but we want you to be well informed. If these arise, it is vital you contact your medically qualified practitioner for advice.
- Infection – If you develop a fever, redness of the skin, warmth of the skin or any itchiness around the area injected – it could mean you have an infection. This is easily treated with a course of oral antibiotics. If you have a history of cold sores, injectable treatment might cause a outbreak. As a preventative measure, your practitioner will prescribe you a course of oral anti-viral medication before your treatment.
- Allergic Reaction – In the minutes/hours following treatment, if you develop severe swelling, itchiness, puffiness around the eyes, any difficulty in breathing – this could indicate a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. If these symptoms occur, it is important to seek urgent medical attention through A&E. You will also need your dermal filler to be dissolved using Hyaluronidase.
- Vascular Occlusion – This occurs if dermal filler accidentally enters a blood vessel. Although rare, symptoms include grey/blue discolouration of the skin and severe pain, If present, urgently contact your practitioner as the only way to treat this is by dissolving the filler. In even rarer circumstances, the occlusion can affect your vision. If you notice any changes, it is vital you go to your nearest eye hospital and also contact your practitioner to meet you there.
What are contraindications for the tear troughs treatment?
Dermal fillers are widely used in the field of aesthetics however there are some contraindications which if present, would mean it is simply unsafe for you to have the procedure. At Fvce, we never compromise on safety, and so if you meet any of the following criteria, we would not allow you to book through us. There is some grey area with every case, and we more than welcome you to contact our dedicated medical team to get some free advice on whether you would be eligible for treatment:
- Active skin infection on the face/planned injection area eg Cellulitis
- Known allergy/hypersensitivity to hyaluronic acid based dermal filler
- Known allergy/hypersensitivity to lidocaine (local anaesthetic agent)
- Currently pregnant
- Previous history of glabellar skin necrosis (previous vascular occlusion around the forehead following dermal filler injection)
Email us on medical.team@fvce.co.uk for any queries regarding contraindications to treatment.
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