All You Need To Know About Tear Trough Fillers

The peri orbital area is extremely sensitive are both in terms of the anatomy and also in the personal and emotional connotations that come with having treatment to this area.

Although the tear trough (the depression that runs from your inner eye down to the cheek) is a natural anatomical variant (babies have tear troughs!) a deepened or depressed tear trough as a result of volume loss, lack of support from the overlying skin and genetics can result in a sunken and tired appearance.

Many people also have a further depression on the outer sides of the eye (lateral tear trough) and a sunken appearance at the ‘lid cheek junction’ a combination of puffy eyes and eye bags (small fat pockets) can make someone look tired and much older.

The usual presentation is with a patient saying . “I look tired all the time and I am sick of people commenting”

“Treatment of this area does not come from vanity but from a desire to look the way you feel.”

Although the treatment methods for the periorbital area are vast, the following will focus on the use of dermal fillers for the tear trough also referred to as tear trough filler. Primarily to target volume loss and loss of natural contours.

So what is the process?

After a full consultation and determination of patient suitability (eg correcting any cheek volume loss if needed) then the correct dose will be determined. The dose is very individual but many will require 2-3 treatments (2-3ml total) spaced at 3-4 week intervals. Once a full correction has occurred top up treatments of 1ml can be done every 12-18 months.

The initial treatment will usually be 1ml of a firm filler with minimal capacity to absorb water (to decrease risk of swelling)

My preference is to use a blunt ended microcannula in this area to minimise complications. A needle can also be used for very fine and accurate injection.

Complications and down time

This area is very sensitive and best left to more advance injectors. The majorities of complications from dermal fillers come from treating this area!

Complications may include:

• Vascular occlusion or blindness

• Excessive swelling and puffiness

• The Tyndall effect (bluefish grey tinge to the skin)

• Over correction resulting in a fake look

Because of the sensitivity of this area there are some EXPECTED side effects which is why it is extremely important to schedule your treatment with these in mind.

• Bruising – this is always a possibility with any cosmetic injectable. Although a cannula will ensure a reduction in this risk it is still highly likely. A bruise is just a bruise and will settle, in no way affecting the end result.

• Swelling – this is also common again sue to the sensitivity of this area. It will normally settle within the first 48 hours but it does take up to 4 weeks for the filler to settle into the tissues properly and for the final result to be evident

• Asymmetry – everybody (well most of us mere mortals) is asymmetrical and have more or less volume loss on one side of our faces. This is especially true for the tear trough area. Although attempts at full correction will occur there may be small amounts of asymmetry that will be further corrected at the second treatment. Asymmetry can also occur due to different levels of swelling (this is true for ALL dermal filler treatments) and is why we do not do any further treatments until all swelling has settled after 4 weeks.

Do not panic if you have bruising or swelling after the treatment!

Follow-up

I strongly advise all patients to come for their review at 4 weeks for their second treatment. Optimal correction may take time and you may need more than the 1 syringe of filler that your friend may have had.

Cosmetic medicine is not an exact science and treatments are tailored to the individual. Tailoring a treatment plan and working with individual patient anatomy is what makes cosmetic medicine an art and sets apart advanced and novice injectors.