Are We Over-Filling the Under-Eye Area?

On this period of masks and correcting eye points that trouble us, are we over-filling below the eyes? Based on Boca Raton, FL oculoplastic surgeon Steven Fagien, MD, the reply is “sure.”  Dr. Fagien does admit that the utility of under-eye filler, used off-label, can appropriate some points in some sufferers, however he strongly insists that it’s not a one-syringe-fits-all answer for a lot of. What he’s seeing at his observe is the over-use of filler and sufferers who find yourself needing further correction with a view to look pure once more and will require extra complete therapies to appropriate their points. Right here, he breaks down many misconceptions surrounding our new obsession with under-eye injections.

Baggage or Hollows

Firstly, Dr. Fagien notes that the under-eye hole concern is a novel one which has been propagated by social media and misinformation. “Decrease-eye baggage are considered one of the commonest presenting options, for any plastic surgeon, aside from liposuction. If somebody doesn’t like the manner their decrease eyelids look—some folks will name them baggage, some name them pockets and a few will name them hollows” says Dr. Fagien. “We by no means talked about hollows 20 or 30 years in the past, however the purpose the time period ‘hollows’ have grow to be so prevalent now’s as a result of we’ve a perceived ‘answer,’ which is filling them with “filler.” Like most getting older areas of the face, the phantasm of ‘hollows’ is essentially as a consequence of shadows which are created by contour abnormalities.”

The Under-Eye Filler Repair

Dr. Fagien believes that extra typically what we predict are hollows, are as a consequence of the look of shadows. “In some ways, the darkness and relative despair below the bag seems deep, when actuality it’s extra likened to being at sea degree whereas sitting subsequent to a mountain. So, in some methods they’re a results of the shadows which are created from gentle, which is a typical reason for darkish circles. This makes it appear to be there’s depth to the darkish circle when there both actually isn’t a despair or it isn’t as deep because it appears to be.”

When he’s performing surgical procedure on a affected person with under-eye baggage, Dr. Fagien says he often doesn’t fill this space by injection, however reasonably blends the “hollows” into the remainder of the under-eye panorama. “I’m simply mixing contours similar to you do wherever in the face. While you surgically mix contours by creating mild slopes and curves, you restore the pure form of the decrease eyelid. With this strategy, you illuminate the whole lid-cheek junction, the place the eyelid blends to the cheek, with a comfortable pure curve which makes the darkish circles disappear. While you appropriate these perceived hollows with fillers, you create an unnatural eyelid contour.”

Creating Unnatural Contours

“While you appropriate darkish circles with fillers, there’s an try and quickly inflate the perceived despair to permit gentle to replicate on this area to enhance the look,” he explains. “While you have a look at younger, stunning girls, nonetheless, there’s often a slight concavity that begins close to the eyelashes and continues as a delicate slope in the direction of the cheek. As we age, we lose this pure slope and form. Fillers may make issues look a bit higher however they’ll create many points together with seen product and long-term swelling that may be tough to appropriate. Many sufferers inform me that their first injection appeared to enhance the state of affairs however ended up showing worse with time or after repeated remedy.”

Based on the surgeon, many former under-eye filler sufferers who’ve been handled by others come to see him for a decrease blepharoplasty as a long-term answer to rejuvenate the eyes in an exquisite, natural-looking manner. “We’ve gotten extra refined as a result of we perceive the getting older course of a bit higher and what it takes to make folks look each pure and their finest. Many sufferers at present will likely be higher off reaching a extra everlasting end result with out the overuse and upkeep of filler, whereas getting their youthful-looking facial contours again.”