Under-eye hollow fillers in Suwon: when dark circles fade and when they do not

If the area under your eyes looks dark and tired even when you get enough sleep, it is worth first checking whether the darkness is caused by color or shadow before deciding on filler. Under-eye filler is a treatment that injects hyaluronic acid filler into the hollow between the under-eye area and the front cheek to fill the difference in height.

Under-eye filler does not change skin color; it reduces the shadow that forms over a hollow, so it is used for dark circles caused by shadows. If brown pigment or visible blood vessels are the main cause, the extent of change with filler is small. At our Suwon clinic, during consultation we first look from the front and at a 45-degree angle at the extent of the hollow, how much the under-eye fat protrudes, and skin thickness, and then decide where and how much to inject.

In this article, we go through the causes of dark circles, the criteria for identifying dark circles suited to under-eye filler, the treatment process, recovery and care, and side effects.

Key points about under-eye hollow fillers

• Dark circles are divided into the pigment type, the vascular type, and the structural type, in which hollows or fat create shadows, and two or three types often overlap.
• Under-eye filler is used to reduce structural shadows, and brown pigment is treated separately with a pigment laser.
• Because the skin under the eyes is thin, a soft formulation is injected into a deep layer in small, divided amounts.
• For 2 to 3 weeks after treatment, avoid pressing or irritating the treated area so the shape of the filler does not change.

Why do dark circles and under-eye hollows form?

There are three main reasons the area under the eyes looks dark: the pigment type, where melanin builds up and looks brown; the vascular type, where blood vessels and muscle show through thin skin and look blue or purplish; and the structural type, where shadows from hollowness or bulging fat look dark.

The structural type becomes more pronounced with age. As the elastic substances in the skin decrease and the front cheek tissue moves downward, a groove forms between the under-eye area and the front cheek, and a diagonal shadow called the tear trough appears along this groove. Even at a young age, the same shadow can appear because of natural bone structure and a thin fat layer.

In real faces, dark circles with only one cause are rare. That is why we make a plan in which filler addresses the shadow, while pigment and blood vessels are treated separately with other methods.

How do you identify dark circles suited to under-eye filler?

If you gently stretch the skin under your eyes in front of a bright mirror and change the direction of the light, you can roughly tell which type plays the larger role.

If the under-eye fat protrudes significantly, filling the area below it with filler can make the bulging part stand out as well. If the entire under-eye area puffs up a lot when you smile, or the skin sags and folds, we separately assess whether surgery to address the fat is more suitable. Aegyo-sal filler is a treatment that enhances the plump band just below the lower lashes, so its location and purpose differ from under-eye hollow filler, and when both are done together we set the amount for each area separately.

How is under-eye filler performed?

How hyaluronic acid filler fills hollows

Hyaluronic acid binds with water to maintain volume, so when injected into a hollow it works to fill the difference in height and reduce the shadow above it. It is gradually broken down and absorbed in the body, and if the shape is not right, it can be dissolved by injecting a dissolving enzyme and then corrected again.

Because the skin under the eyes is thin, under-eye filler placed too shallowly can show through with a bluish tint. That is why we inject a soft formulation into a deep layer in small, divided amounts, and if filler from a previous treatment remains, we first check the remaining amount and its location.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Photos (Before Treatment)
3. Numbing Cream / Local Anesthesia
4. Design
5. Disinfection
6. Treatment
7. Photos (After Treatment)

The treatment takes about 10 minutes, and you can return to daily life right after. Our Suwon clinic uses only hyaluronic acid fillers, choosing between domestic and imported fillers based on the area and skin thickness. Results last 6 to 12 months depending on the treated area, the product, and the individual, and if you want another injection, we decide through consultation after bruising and swelling have subsided.

See Restylane filler treatment details

Recovery and care after under-eye filler

• You can wash your face and wear makeup starting 2 to 3 hours after treatment, and the DuoDERM patch applied to the treated area is removed after 1 to 3 days.
• Depending on the treated area, medication is prescribed to prevent inflammation and relieve pain; take it for 3 days without missing a dose.
• For 3–7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise to prevent inflammation.
• For 2 to 3 weeks, avoid anything that presses on the treated area, such as sleeping face down or on your side, wearing glasses, facial meridian massage, ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments, and dental treatment.

The tissue under the eyes is loose, so swelling can be more visible in the morning; check the shape filled with under-eye filler after the swelling has subsided. If the pigment or vascular type is also present, some darkness may remain even after filler, so we plan that part separately with laser or skin care.

Under-eye filler side effects and precautions

Common reactions are bruising, swelling, pain, and a foreign-body sensation, most of which subside within 1 to 2 weeks. If the amount is large or the filler is placed too shallowly, bulging or a bluish tint may remain, and the degree of reaction varies from person to person depending on skin thickness and the degree of hollowing.

In rare cases, if filler blocks a blood vessel, skin necrosis can occur, and if blood vessels around the eyes are blocked, there is a risk of reduced vision or blindness. Inflammation, allergic reactions, and nerve damage may also rarely occur. If you are taking aspirin or blood-thinning medication, have an antibiotic allergy, or have inflammation in the treatment area, please be sure to tell us before treatment.

If pain keeps getting worse even after taking the prescribed medication, if the skin color changes, if blisters, itching, or a feeling of heat persist, or if your vision looks blurry, please contact the clinic right away.

What do we check before under-eye hollow filler?

In these cases, start by having your dark circle type checked

• The shadows under my eyes look especially dark under ceiling lights.
• I can see a diagonal groove between the under-eye area and my front cheeks.
• The brown color remains even when I pull the skin under my eyes.
• My under-eye fat protrudes and bulges.

If two or more of these apply, it is best to first check whether your dark circles come from pigment, blood vessels, or shadows before deciding on filler. Whether to proceed, the method, and the scope of treatment are decided together during consultation after an examination by our medical staff.

In short, the key to under-eye filler is to identify shadow-type dark circles, inject small, divided amounts suited to thin skin, and protect the shape for 2 to 3 weeks.

FAQ

Q. Will under-eye filler get rid of dark circles?

A. If your dark circles are caused by shadows, filler works to fill the hollow height so the darkness fades. If brown pigment is the cause, filler does not change skin color, so we also discuss a pigment laser, and the degree of change varies from person to person.

Q. My under-eye fat bulges. Can I still get under-eye filler?

A. If the fat protrusion is not large and the groove below it is deep, we consider filler to fill the boundary. If the fat protrudes significantly, it may look even more bulging after filler, so we first examine whether another method is more suitable.

Q. What if the filled area looks bluish?

A. This may be a phenomenon in which under-eye filler remains in a shallow layer and light shows through with a bluish tint. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with a dissolving enzyme, so after checking the remaining amount and its location through an examination, we decide together whether to dissolve it and whether to inject again.

Q. Can I get aegyo-sal filler and under-eye filler together?

A. The two areas differ in location and purpose, so they can be done together on the same day. However, since the aegyo-sal and the under-eye area are adjacent, we set the amount for each area separately so the overall height does not become excessive, and check the shape after the swelling goes down.

Q. How long does under-eye hollow filler last?

A. For hyaluronic acid filler, we advise a duration of about 6 to 12 months, depending on the treated area, the product, and the individual. If you want another injection, we check the remaining amount after bruising and swelling have subsided and decide the timing and amount during consultation.

Q. How can I find out the cost of under-eye filler?

A. The cost depends on the area injected, the type of filler, and the amount used. We provide the details after confirming during consultation whether only the under-eye area will be filled or the front cheeks or aegyo-sal will also be treated, and you can also check the items on the treatment information page.