Tear Troughs
Tear troughs refer to the hollow or depressed areas that form beneath the eyes, commonly known as under eye hollows. They create a shadow beneath the eye that can make it appear as though you have dark circles or bags, even when you are well rested. This sunken appearance is caused by a combination of factors including genetics, the natural loss of collagen and elastin with age, and a reduction in facial volume that leaves the under eye area looking hollow and tired.
When Do Tear Troughs Appear?
Tear troughs are often one of the first visible signs of facial aging. Depending on genetic factors, some patients begin to notice them as early as their late teens or early twenties. More commonly they become a concern in the late twenties and early thirties, with the progressive loss of facial volume and changes in skin structure making them more pronounced from the mid-thirties onward. As the face continues to age, tear troughs tend to deepen and become more difficult to address with skincare alone.
How to Prevent Tear Troughs
While genetic predisposition to tear troughs cannot be prevented, there are steps you can take to delay or minimize their appearance over time:
- Protect the skin beneath your eyes from sun exposure by applying sunscreen consistently to this often-overlooked area
- Moisturize the under eye skin daily using gentle, hydrating skincare products suited to the delicate periocular area
- Get adequate sleep, avoid smoking, and follow a balanced diet, as these lifestyle factors all influence the rate at which facial volume and skin quality decline
- Manage allergies appropriately, as the chronic puffiness associated with untreated allergies can make tear troughs appear earlier and more pronounced than they would otherwise
Non-Surgical Tear Trough Treatments at SpaMedica
While tear troughs were once considered an unavoidable part of aging, we now offer a range of non-surgical options that can effectively restore volume to the under eye area and significantly reduce the appearance of hollowing and shadowing.
Injectable Dermal Fillers: The most common and popular approach to treating tear troughs is through the precise placement of injectable dermal fillers directly into the under eye hollow. The filler plumps and fills the recessed area, restoring volume and reducing the shadow that creates the appearance of dark circles or bags. Several fillers are well suited to this treatment including Restylane, Juvederm, and Teosyal. Results are immediate and typically last for several months to over a year depending on the product used and the individual patient's metabolism. Treatment takes under an hour and our team will discuss which filler is most appropriate for your anatomy and concerns at your consultation.
How to Prevent Tear Troughs From Worsening
Once tear troughs have developed, slowing their progression requires consistent attention to both skincare and lifestyle. Using a hydrating eye cream with peptides or hyaluronic acid, wearing sunscreen under and around the eyes daily, staying well hydrated, and avoiding smoking all help preserve the quality and volume of the skin in this area over time. Regular maintenance filler treatments are also an effective way to stay ahead of progressive volume loss and keep the under eye area looking consistently refreshed.
Injectable Dermal Fillers
The most common and popular approach to treating tear troughs is through the precise placement of injectable dermal fillers directly into the under eye hollow. The filler plumps and fills the recessed area, restoring volume and reducing the shadow that creates the appearance of dark circles or bags.
