Eyes have been said to reflect a person’s spirit and character—Shakespeare famously declared that they are the windows to the soul. While the truth of that may be up for debate, there’s no denying that they are one of the face’s most central features, and the hardest to ignore.
A person’s eyes can reveal when they are happy or sad, nervous or excited. That being said, sometimes, our eyes aren’t always a reflection of how we feel inside. We may wake up feeling refreshed, only to look in the mirror and see bags and creases that just won’t go away.
If you’re tired of looking tired all the time, then under-eye fillers can be a great solution. At AESTHETICS 360º, we use dermal fillers to help eliminate shadows, decrease the appearance of bags, brighten your eyes, and create better facial balance.
Treating Under-Eye Bags at AESTHETICS 360º
What Causes Under-Eye Bags?
The term “eye bags” can be a bit misleading. We use this term to describe several different things we might see beneath our lower lids. When we begrudge our “eye bags,” we can mean:
- Under-eye swelling or puffiness
- Dark circles
- Crepey skin
- Under-eye hollows
Under-eye bags are most frequently caused by aging. As you get older, the tissues and muscles around your eyes start to weaken and cause the skin to droop. Oftentimes, this is paired with thinning skin, which makes the blood vessels under your eyes become more visible and create dark spots. Fluid can also gather under your eyes, making the area look swollen and puffy. Other causes of eye bags may include:
- Genetics: Studies have found that dark circles may be a biological feature that runs in families.
- Dermatitis: Inflammation and swelling caused by dermatitis can make your eyes appear puffy.
- Rubbing: Rubbing at your eyes can cause the blood vessels to break and create shadows.
- Lack of sleep: Sleep is essential for collagen production; without it, your skin may start to sag.
- Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough water, the skin under your eyes can become dull.
- Lifestyle factors: Stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking can cause dark circles.
In some cases, what may look like an under-eye problem might actually be the side effect of volume loss in the adjacent cheek or midface region. In these instances, descending facial fat caused by atrophy will give your eyes their “bags”. (If this is true, another treatment, such as a cheek filler, is actually more appropriate to treat your eye bags—but we’ll get to more on that later.)
How We Get Rid of Under-Eye Bags
If we determine that an under-eye treatment would be beneficial, then we’ll recommend dermal fillers to treat the area. Dermal fillers are a class of injectables that add volume to your skin, and they are especially used around sensitive areas of the face.
This is because dermal fillers are often biocompatible, which means they use ingredients that naturally occur in the body, thereby minimizing the likelihood of an adverse reaction. At AESTHETICS 360º, we pride ourselves on offering our clients only the highest-quality, FDA-approved fillers available—and that’s why we use Restylane, a best-in-class dermal filler for eye bag treatment.
What is Restylane?
Restylane is a high-quality hyaluronic acid gel filler. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance produced by your cells, and is well-known in the world of aesthetics for its ability to hold an enormous amount of moisture. In fact, each particle of hyaluronic acid can hold an amount of water up to 1,000 times its own weight!
Restylane offers its users two great benefits. First, the hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin in this area, plumping the skin cells to increase volume. Then, the acid stimulates collagen production, which then causes continued, fresh fullness, even after the filler has been absorbed by the body. Although the results are subtle, it can still provide a more well-rested and rejuvenated appearance.
What Happens During an Under-Eye Treatment?
Step 1: Consultation Prior to Treatment
Before we begin any of our aesthetic treatments, an educational and fully transparent consultation is required. The under-eye area is especially delicate, and, as mentioned, under-eye fillers are not always the right solution to what may look like an under-eye problem.
During your consultation, we will perform an anatomic assessment of your facial features and review in detail what to expect from your treatment. We take this time to teach you about the factors that go into the appearance of under-eye hollows and answer any of your questions. We complete this assessment for two reasons:
- While under-eye filler is the second-most requested treatment (just after lip filler), only 1 in 10 individuals is a suitable candidate for this treatment. Many clients who come in for under-eye fillers actually require cheek fillers to resolve under-eye hollows. In such cases, treating the midface can resolve the problem.
- For any treatment in this area, facial harmony among all of the features is an essential consideration. Every person has a unique aesthetic form, and the face must be assessed as a whole to determine if a treatment is suitable. With an anatomical assessment, we can consider adjacent facial areas that might have signs of aging or loss of volume and structure.
At AESTHETICS 360º, we will never recommend a treatment that is not suitable for you. Some under-eye issues can only be addressed with cosmetic surgery, whereby we will refer you to a board-certified plastic surgeon if you choose to pursue a consultation.
Step 2: Beginning Treatment
On the day of your appointment, you will be comfortably seated in a treatment chair in one of our private rooms. Your Nurse Specialist will provide an overview once again, and an informed consent form will be presented for your review and signature. Any outstanding questions will be addressed, and a series of “before” photos will be taken so we can track results.
From start to finish, you can expect your appointment to last around 1½ to 2 hours. We will begin by cleansing the treatment area. From there, with guidance from our state-of-the-art Accuvein “vein finder,” we will mark the points of injection to ensure precision and decrease potential bruising.
Step 3: Clarius Ultrasound
After we have marked the points of injection, we will use our handheld Clarius facial ultrasound device to guide the injection and avoid prominent arteries and vascular areas. This device is able to evaluate structures beneath the skin, including fat and muscle that otherwise can’t be seen.
By using this, we are able to avoid prominent arteries and vascular areas that could cause complications.
As an added benefit, if an injected filler ever needs to be dissolved, an ultrasound device is essential to target exactly where it is and completely dissolve it without harm to adjacent areas.
(Did you know that we’re one of only two medical aesthetic practices in southeast Wisconsin to utilize this progressive technology to help ensure safe and accurate treatments?)
Step 4: Cannula Injector
The next tool we’ll use during our under-eye treatment is a cannula injector. As previously mentioned, the under-eye area is very delicate. A cannula injector uses a thin, flexible tube with a blunt tip to minimize discomfort. The cannula can then go deep under the muscle, injecting the filler into the appropriate plane for the desired aesthetic result. This allows us to provide a safer and more accurate filler placement.
What to Expect After Eye-Bag Treatment
Although you can expect to see results immediately after treatment, due to the sensitive nature of this area of the face, bruising and swelling are common. But don’t worry—we will send you home with a complete care guide. Recovery can be immediate, or it can take up to 2 weeks or more; each patient’s body heals on a slightly different timeline.
Make sure you keep the treated area clean and try not to touch it, and do not apply makeup or any other products for at least a day after your treatment. We will schedule a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks’ time to take more photos and discuss the next steps in your treatment plan (if needed).
Timing and Duration of Results
If your eye bag treatment is in preparation for an event, like a wedding or a reunion, you should plan your treatment for an absolute minimum of 3 to 4 weeks beforehand. Although many patients leave their appointments without any visible signs of treatment, there is always the chance that your body will respond to the treatment with bruising or swelling.
It’s not worth it to take the gamble—make sure you give yourself ample time to recover. Within 2 to 4 weeks after your treatment, you will be able to see your complete results. On average, results can last anywhere from 3 to 18 months, depending on the area treated, amount of sun/UV exposure, lifestyle habits, and more.
Schedule Your Under Eye Treatment Today at AESTHETICS 360º
It’s time to stop letting those dark circles drag you down! Schedule an appointment with the experts at AESTHETICS 360º today for eye bag treatment, and discover why we’re Milwaukee’s favorite med spa. Just contact us today or use our virtual assessment tool to tell us about your skincare needs. Then, you can schedule a free 45-minute consultation and get started on your journey towards experiencing the 360-degree difference.
