It’s dark outside. You’re on your way to bed. You look in the mirror, and there they are: under eye circles that terrify you. Okay, so maybe it’s not Halloween 4, but this common sign of aging affects most Americans at some point. Whether they’re induced by genetics, age, or lack of sleep, 53% of women cite under eye circles and puffiness as their number one beauty concern according to a survey from Clinique. We often look to concealer to temporarily solve the problem, but the cakey appearance of concealer is often too evident to provide the naturally youthful appearance that we seek.
In 2006, studies reported a dramatic increase in the cosmetics and skin care industry in spending on developing products to reduce under eye circles, from $588 million to $1.06 billion. You may have seen a variety of products pop up on drugstore and grocery store shelves claiming to reduce under eye circles and puffiness, but the ubiquitous presence of these over-the-counter solutions reflects the unlikelihood that they are actually effective. Dark under eye circle are generally have three causes: 1. Dark pigmentation of the skin. 2. Prominent vasculature behind fair color translucent skin. 3. Shadowing and hollowing out behind the eyes that is common with aging In our office, the third cause is the most frequently seen and we have been able to effectively use fillers such as Restylane(r) and or Radiesse to improve the appearance of under eye hollowing, creating more effective and long-lasting results than over-the-counter skincare products. The hyaluronic filler is naturally found in the skin to bond water molecules. When injected under the skin, the filler helps counteract volume loss beneath eyes. For those with thin skin and prominent vasculature Radiesse which has an opaque color seems to work better because it not only fills in the hollow but also blends out the dark colors behind the eyes. The essential to getting a good result though is to see an expert injector. To place filler under the eye takes enormous amount of skill and if it isn’t done well the dark circle can look much worse. It also is important to not use Juvederm under the eyes. Its extraordinary ability to attract water may be a benefit in other parts of the face but under the eyes it tends to cause puffiness and blue discolorations. Of course, not every patient is a candidate for filler. For those with dark skin pigmentation, we also recommend Auriderm, a topical vitamin K solution, or laser treatments to improve the appearance of any darkness or circles beneath the eyes
Steven H. Dayan is an expert in injectables in addition to his world-renown surgical experience. Dr Dayan was the only Midwest Doctor selected to be in the Dyport FDA trial. Dr. Dayan was the only Chicago Doctor on U.S. Consensus Panel for Botox dosing.
Expert facial plastic surgeon Dr. Dayan can also be found on RealSelf.
