"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.
This is Director Kwon Si-jin of 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
There are broadly three reasons 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.
Let me clear up one misconception first.
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.
What we're especially careful about under the eyes
The under-eye is among the thinnest skin on the face.So two cautions apply here that don't elsewhere.
First, show-through.A firm product placed shallow can show through with a bluish cast.It's easily mistaken for bruising, but it's a different thing.
Second, cases that aren't hollowing at all. What looks like an under-eye hollow is sometimes a shadow cast by fat pushing forward. Filling that makes it look heavier instead.
So before starting, whether this is a hollow or a shadow has to be separated out.If volume is discussed straight away without that distinction, it's worth another look.
Recovery runs in this order
- Evening of the day to the next morningswelling is most pronounced. Looking puffier the next day than on the day itself is the natural course
- 2 to 3 daysswelling drops noticeably
- 1 to 2 weeksbruising fades and the shape settles
- After 2 weekswhat you see around then is close to the actual result
So there's no need to judge it in the mirror the next day. At first the swelling makes it look larger, and as it drops many people feel it has "shrunk" — usually it has simply returned to what was put in.
During this period, don't rub firmly, and it's safer to postpone anything that heats the body, such as saunas, for a few days.If you have an important date, leave at least two weeks.
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.
- It is not a treatment that erases dark circles
- It fills the hollow so the shadow softens
- If pigment or vessels are the cause, the effect is limited
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 which kind 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.
Don't sit on these signs
Rarely, if a vascular problem arises, a fast response decides the outcome.
- The skin turning pale or mottled
- Pain that steadily worsens
- Blurring vision
In these cases don't wait — contact where you had the treatment immediately. It's worth checking before the treatment how to reach them at night or at weekends.
And whether the dissolving agent (hyaluronidase) is immediately available is a fair question to ask beforehand.The probability is low, but it's a point where preparedness differs, so it's worth asking.
Q. It feels lumpy — can I massage it myself?
A. Don't massage firmly. Early swelling and a genuine lump need separating, and the responses differ. If something still feels firm after two weeks, it's safer to have it checked where you had it done.
Q. Is it better to put it all in at once?
A. For a first time, putting in less and adding if it falls short is usually advised as the safer order.Judging after the swelling has dropped is also more accurate.
Q. What should I prepare before the treatment?
A. The medications and supplements you take, and a record of previous treatments, are enough.What filler you had and where bears directly on this plan — adding without knowing what remains makes it easy to overdo.
Softening the shadow, not erasing it
There's just one thing to remember.
Under-eye filler isn't a treatment that 'erases dark circles'; it's a treatment that fills the hollowed spot to lighten the shadow.
The question you first held leads here.
If the shadow in the mirror has been bothering you, it's fine to first look at what kind that darkness is. Just please keep in mind that the result and the duration vary from person to person.
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 was Director Kwon Si-jin of 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)