Under-eye wrinkle treatment in Suwon: why you need to distinguish hollowing and sagging first
If the area under your eyes looks dark and tired even after plenty of sleep and it bothers you, it is worth first checking whether it is under-eye wrinkles, hollowing, or sagging. Under-eye wrinkles form as collagen decreases in the under-eye skin, the thinnest skin on the face, and the facial expression muscles contract repeatedly, and they often appear together with hollowing, fat bulging, and sagging.
Under-eye wrinkle treatment differs depending on whether the cause lies in the skin surface, in volume, or in a loosened structure. The same filler that is used for hollowing can make the area look puffier if it is placed under eyes where fat protrudes significantly. At our Suwon clinic, during consultation we first look at the depth of the groove, fat bulging, and skin thickness from the front, from the side, and with a smile before deciding on the treatment method.
In this article, we outline in order why under-eye wrinkles form, how to distinguish hollowing from sagging, the treatment and process for each type, recovery and care, and side effects.
Under-eye wrinkles: key points
- Under-eye wrinkles are caused by thin skin and repeated contraction of facial expression muscles, hollowing by loss of volume, and sagging by loosening of the skin and the membrane that held the fat in place.
- We classify the type by whether the line appears only when you smile, whether the groove remains even at rest, and whether it bulges when you look upward.
- Shallow fine lines are commonly addressed with eye-area skin boosters, and tear troughs and hollowing with hyaluronic acid fillers.
- For 2 to 3 weeks after filler, take care not to press or rub the under-eye area.
Why do under-eye wrinkles form?
The skin under the eyes is among the thinnest on the face, and it moves every time you blink or smile. As collagen in the dermis decreases with age, fine lines appear first in this thin skin, and the lines that fold when you smile deepen along the areas where the orbicularis oculi muscle repeatedly contracts.
Hollowing is a matter of volume. When the fat under the eyes and in the front of the cheeks decreases or moves downward, a groove forms between just below the eye and the cheek, and when light falls from above, this groove casts a shadow that looks like dark circles.
Sagging occurs as the membrane and skin that held the under-eye fat in place loosen. The fat is pushed forward into a bulge, a shadow forms beneath it, and wrinkles overlap on the loosened skin.
How do you tell under-eye wrinkles, hollowing, and sagging apart?
Looking in a mirror in a bright place and checking in the order below can help you estimate the type. It is also common to see two or more at once.
| Type | How it looks | How to check | Layer where the cause lies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expression lines | Fine lines under the eyes | Appear only when smiling and are barely visible at rest | Skin and the orbicularis oculi muscle |
| Hollowing (tear trough) | A diagonal groove and shadow running from the inner corner of the eye toward the cheek | The groove is visible even at rest | Subcutaneous fat and front cheek volume |
| Fat bulging | A puffy pouch below the eye | Bulges more when you lower your head and look upward | Under-eye fat and the supporting membrane |
| sagging | Wrinkled skin appears to overlap downward | The skin loosens and several layers of folds are visible | Skin and supporting tissue |
If the brown color stays the same when you gently pull the under-eye skin with a finger, pigmentation is likely the cause; if it fades when pulled, shadow and show-through are likely the cause. If pigmentation is the cause, you need a method that addresses pigment rather than filler.
How is under-eye wrinkle treatment performed?
Treatment principles by type
For shallow fine lines and thin skin, we inject an eye-area skin booster such as Rejuran i or Juvelook Eye shallowly to work on the skin foundation, and if lines that fold when smiling are prominent, we also consider a small amount of wrinkle Botox. For tear troughs and hollowing, we place a small amount of soft hyaluronic acid filler along the groove to reduce the height difference between the under-eye area and the front of the cheek.
If fat bulging is mild, we may fill only the border below the bulge with a small amount to reduce the step. If the fat protrudes significantly and the skin has loosened a lot, it may be a structure where filler can hardly even out the height, so we first check during the examination whether it is within the range a procedure can address.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Photos (Before Treatment)
- Numbing Cream / Local Anesthesia
- Design
- Disinfection
- Treatment
- Photos (After Treatment)
Under-eye filler takes about 10 minutes, and you can return to daily life right after. How long it lasts varies within a range of 6 to 12 months depending on the treated area, product, and person, and a retreatment is decided in consultation after bruising and swelling have subsided. For the under-eye area, we start with a small amount and add only as much as needed after looking at the shape once the swelling has gone down, and for eye-area skin boosters we offer Rejuran i 1cc and Juvelook Eye in 1-session and 3-session packages.
View Filler Treatment Information
Recovery and care after under-eye wrinkle treatment
- After filler, you can wash your face and wear makeup from 2 to 3 hours later, and the DuoDERM applied to the treated area is removed after 1 to 3 days.
- For 3 to 7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and Korean bathhouses, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
- Take the prescribed medication consistently for 3 days to help prevent inflammation and relieve pain.
- For 2 to 3 weeks, avoid sleeping face down, wearing glasses, and facial meridian massage so the under-eye area is not pressed or stimulated.
The under-eye area treated with filler may feel swollen and heavy for the first few days, so the shape is checked after the swelling has gone down. Habits such as not rubbing your eyes often and applying sunscreen when going out can help slow how quickly under-eye wrinkles deepen.
Under-eye filler side effects and precautions
Because it is an injection procedure, bruising, swelling, pain, or a foreign-body sensation may occur depending on skin condition, and most subside within 1 to 2 weeks. If it is placed too shallowly or the amount is large, the filler may show through with a bluish tint or look bumpy, and the speed of recovery and the results vary from person to person.
Rarely, nerve damage, allergic reactions, or inflammation can occur. In injections around the eyes, if filler blocks a blood vessel leading to the eye, there is a risk of decreased vision or vision loss, and if it blocks a blood vessel in another area, there are risks such as skin necrosis. If you have a medical history such as an antibiotic allergy or any special conditions, please be sure to tell us before the treatment.
If during or after the treatment your vision suddenly becomes blurry, your eye hurts, the skin turns white or purplish, or the pain keeps getting worse even after taking prescribed medication, please contact the clinic right away.
What should I check before under-eye wrinkle treatment?
If these apply to you, start with an examination of your under-eye structure
- Even at rest, a groove and shadow are visible from the inner corner of the eye toward the cheek.
- When I lower my head and look upward, the area under my eyes bulges more.
- When I smile, several fine lines fold under my eyes.
- Even when I pull the under-eye skin, the dark color stays the same.
If two or more apply, before choosing a treatment name, it is best to first check which is the main cause among under-eye wrinkles, hollowing, and sagging. Whether to proceed, the method, and the scope are decided together in consultation after the medical team examines you.
In short, the key with under-eye wrinkles is to first distinguish hollowing, fat bulging, and sagging, then address the layer where the cause lies, starting with a small amount.
FAQ
Q. Can under-eye filler lighten dark circles too?
A. If the darkness comes from the shadow of a hollow groove or shows through thin skin, we consider evening out the height with filler to reduce the shadow. Dark circles caused by brown pigmentation do not change with filler, so we discuss other methods as well.
Q. I have under-eye fat. Can I still get filler?
A. If fat bulging is mild and the groove beneath it is deep, filling only the border with a small amount can reduce the step. If there is so much fat that the whole under-eye area bulges significantly, filler may make it look puffier, so whether to proceed is decided carefully after an examination.
Q. Is there a specific way to get rid of under-eye wrinkles?
A. For under-eye wrinkles that appear only when smiling, options include using a small amount of wrinkle Botox or addressing the skin with an eye-area skin booster. For lines that remain even at rest, we check whether hollowing is also present, and you continue moisturizing and sun protection habits as well.
Q. Can Juvelook or Rejuran be injected for under-eye wrinkles?
A. For thin areas like under the eyes, we inject Juvelook Eye or Rejuran i, which are made for the eye area, shallowly in divided amounts. Since this approach works on the skin foundation rather than filling volume right away, it is done over several sessions, and we decide based on the degree of hollowing and skin thickness.
Q. How long does under-eye filler last?
A. Hyaluronic acid filler is absorbed gradually, and duration varies within a range of 6 to 12 months depending on the treated area, product, and person. A retreatment is decided in consultation after bruising and swelling have fully subsided, based on the remaining amount and shape.
Q. How can I find out the cost of under-eye wrinkle treatment?
A. The cost depends on the product used, the amount, and the number of sessions. We guide you after confirming in consultation whether filler or an eye-area skin booster will be used and over what range, and you can also check it on the treatment information page.
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.