You know how you get dark circles (or bags) under the eyes when you wake up if you haven’t slept well? As we get older, those are a lot harder to avoid and are just one of the many troublesome signs of aging we get under our eyes. Besides dark circles, you also get bags under your eyes. Both are caused by the same problem: Tear Troughs, which refer to hollow or depressed areas under the eyes.
Commonly called under-eye hollows, they cause a shadow that makes it look like you have dark circles or bags under your eyes. This is caused by various factors, including genetics, age and the loss of collagen and elastin, leading to a sunken appearance under the eye.
Typically, Tear Troughs are one of the first signs of aging; you might even start to notice them in your late teens or early twenties, depending on genetic factors. More commonly, they become an issue in your late twenties and early thirties, and the loss of facial volume and changes in skin structure make them more noticeable from your mid-thirties and beyond. As you get older they become harder to avoid, and can be annoying for a lot of people.
While Tear Troughs used to be an unavoidable part of aging, SpaMedica has a wide variety of non-surgical options that can eliminate those annoying under-eye hollows and make you look and feel a whole lot younger.
Injectable Fillers: The most common and popular way to eliminate Tear Troughs is through injectable dermal fillers. The injections are made directly into the under-eye hollow, plumping and filling the recessed area in your skin while promoting collagen production. Several fillers are perfect for this treatment, including Restylane, Juvederm, and Teosyal. During your consultation, we can discuss which filler might be best for you. The cost varies, depending on what filler you choose, but the results are immediate and last for months, while the treatment takes less than an hour.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Another procedure that has become popular in recent years is Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. In this treatment, a small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and then processed to create platelets injected into the under-eye hollows. However, this is a new procedure with results that have yet to be proven, so it’s not offered at SpaMedica for the moment, as the results aren’t guaranteed.
Blepharoplasty (surgical procedure): Another more permanent solution is a blepharoplasty procedure, which is commonly referred to as eyelid surgery. What they do in this procedure depends on what area is being treated. Excess or saggy skin is removed if your upper eyelid is being treated. For your lower eyelid, excess skin and fat are removed and redistributed. The results are excellent and significantly slow down the aging process.
The cost of the surgery depends on what area is being treated. Surgery on your upper eyelid starts at $6999, while lower eye surgery begins at $9999. You can also have them both done simultaneously, with a full Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty starting at $13,999. Typically, the surgery only takes about an hour or two, and you should be able to fully recover in about 2-3 weeks, with the sutures removed around 7-10 days after surgery.
While genetic factors that predispose you to tear troughs cannot be prevented, there are plenty of things you can do to delay or minimize the appearance of tear troughs.
While not a permanent solution, dermal fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Teosyal should last six months to a year. How long they work depends on various factors, including what kind of filler is used, how much is used and lifestyle factors. If you spend a lot of time in the sun and don’t protect your skin, the effect will wear off sooner. If you apply sunblock and adopt a healthy skin care regimen, you can expect the results to last much longer. For a more permanent solution, consider a Blepharoplasty.
The Teosyal injectable filler line can replace the HA your skin has lost. Teosyal injectable filler products have a high concentration of cross-linked HA.
Juvederm is made from a naturally occurring substance, hyaluronic acid sugar gel polymer, the dermal filler’s main ingredient.
Restylane (hyaluronic acid fillers) injections are used for cheek augmentations, midface contour deficiencies, and lip augmentations.
A blepharoplasty, commonly referred to as eyelid surgery (or eye bag surgery), removes or tightens sagging skin, bulging fat, and excess muscle around the eyes, resulting in a smoother, more youthful appearance that can help slow down the aging process.
