"People tell me my under-eyes are hollow, so I always look tired."
"If I get under-eye filler, will the dark circles disappear?"
These are the first things people worried about their under-eyes tend to bring up.
Hello, I'm Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're getting ready to open our doors in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people have been worried about their under-eyes ahead of our opening, we wanted to put together this overview for your information first.
If the shadow under your eyes bothers you every time you look in the mirror, we completely understand that feeling.
That said, not all dark circles are the same, so let's start by unpacking that part.
Not All Dark Circles Are the Same
Let me clear up one misconception first.
There are broadly three grains to why the under-eyes look dark: cases where the pigment looks deep, cases where blood vessels show through the thin skin, and cases where it's a shadow that forms as the tissue hollows out.
Among these, what filler mainly addresses is the 'shadow that forms because of hollowing.'
So I wanted to point out in advance that dark circles caused by pigment or blood vessels may not lighten as much as you'd hope with filler alone.
Under-Eye Filler 'Fills' the Hollowed Spot to Reduce the Shadow
Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is a treatment that fills the dermis and the deeper layers beneath it with a viscoelastic substance to supplement the hollowed volume and lines.
Put simply, it's a method that gently fills in the sunken spot so that the shadow which formed where light pooled becomes lighter.
On top of that, one advantage often cited for hyaluronic acid is that it can be reversed to some degree with a dissolving enzyme (hyaluronidase).
Having room to adjust when it settles differently than you'd imagined is a part that puts your mind more at ease when deciding on the treatment. (That said, the reversal response also has individual variation)
The Under-Eye Skin Is Thin, So 'Design' Is Especially Important
The under-eye is among the thinnest-skinned spots on our face.
So if it's placed too shallow or in too large an amount, the filler can show through and look bluish (the Tyndall effect), or it can look lumpy in spots.
Even for the same under-eye, finely designing at what depth, with what formulation, and how much to place greatly determines the result.
Since we tend to look at how it moves when you make expressions as we decide the amount, the duration also varies widely — from roughly several months to over a year — depending on the area and the formulation.
It's good to keep in mind together that it isn't a treatment that stays permanently.
Look at How It Looks a Few Days Later, Not Right After the Treatment
The under-eye is a spot where it's hard to judge the result from the look right after the treatment alone.
For the first few days, some fine swelling may remain and it can look slightly full, but as this period passes it gradually settles in naturally.
So placing the right amount and then watching the progress for a few days, supplementing bit by bit if needed, is the key to naturalness.
The speed and look of settling in have individual variation, so it's better to judge by how it looks a few days later rather than the mirror on the day.
People Who Should Take an Extra Moment to Consider
Under-eye filler isn't a treatment lightly recommended for every situation.
As mentioned earlier, if the dark circles are mainly caused by pigment or blood vessels, the change may feel small with a filling treatment alone.
Also, though rare, a problem related to blood vessels can arise during the injection process (signs like the skin turning pale or an abnormality felt in pain or vision), so if you see such a change it's important to report it right away and respond.
Depending on things like whether swelling tends to be slow to go down for you or a habit of sleeping face-down, the way it settles in can differ, so it's best to check your condition together before proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I get under-eye filler, will all the dark circles go away?
A. Under-eye filler is less a treatment that 'erases all dark circles' and closer to one that fills the hollowed spot to lighten the shadow. The reasons the under-eye looks dark divide into pigment, blood vessels showing through, and a shadow from hollowing, and what filler mainly addresses among these is the hollowing shadow. So if pigment or blood vessels are the main cause, it may not lighten as much as you'd hope with filler alone. Often the causes are mixed, so it's reasonable to first look at what grain of dark circle it is and then decide the direction. Please look at it together with the fact that the degree of change has individual variation.
Q. The under-eye skin is thin — won't the filler show through?
A. That's something you could reasonably worry about. The under-eye is among the thinner-skinned areas of the face, so if it's placed too shallow or in too large an amount, the filler can show through and look bluish (the Tyndall effect) or look lumpy in spots. So finely designing at what depth, with what formulation, and how much to place is especially important. Rather than overfilling, placing the right amount and reassessing while watching the progress is the key to naturalness, so rather than being greedy at first, we recommend looking at it in stages.
Q. Once it's placed, how long does it last?
A. It varies with the area, the formulation, and the movement of the expression muscles, so it ranges widely from roughly several months to over a year. In a spot like the under-eye that moves often with expressions, the duration may feel a little shorter. That said, a feature is that hyaluronic acid filler isn't a treatment that stays permanently — it's gradually absorbed over time, and if needed it can be adjusted to some degree with a dissolving enzyme. Both the duration and the absorption speed have individual variation, so it's good to regard it as a process of reassessing while watching the progress.
In Closing
If we sum up today's content in one line, it's this.
Under-eye filler isn't a treatment that 'erases dark circles'; it's a treatment that fills the hollowed spot to lighten the shadow.
If the shadow in the mirror has been bothering you, it's fine to first look at what grain that darkness is. Just please keep in mind that the result and the duration vary from person to person.
This piece isn't one that recommends a treatment; it's an informational article we put together for your information as we prepare to open.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. We'll share news of our opening and treatment information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading this long piece. This was Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article meant to provide general medical information, and the effects and side effects of treatments may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)