In 2011, I wrote a blog about Filling Your Eye Hollows with dermal filler; my experience and the risks.

I thought it was time to update this post, since so many of my readers have sent me questions  over the years.

I first had Juvederm injected in my eye hollows causing lumps, bumps, swelling and much bruising. The Juvederm was dissolved with Wydaise and replaced with Restylane which worked beautifully.  The Restylane lasted  around 12 months in my tear trough area.   Note that the duration of fillers will differ from one patient to the next.

Filling Hollow Eyes- What’s new?

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC

Since the FDA approval this year of  Allergan’s  JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC  there is shift  in the philosophy among some dermatologists and plastic surgeons about how to treat the tear trough area.

Volumna is the latest FDA approved filler product in the family of HYALURONIC ACID. What’s new and exciting about this filler is that is it lasts up to 24 months  it can be dissolved if necessary.  Volumna gives you instant volume to the cheek area, therefore in some cases eliminating the need to fill the eye hollows. By injecting Volumna is the upper cheek area, the doctor can place it close to the bony orbital rim that is usually volume depleted in hollow eyes. This is great option because it lasts for up  to 24 months and not only are you plumping and lifting your cheeks, but it may eliminate the hollow area under eyes as well.

Volumna costs more than a one syringe of Juvederm, however over the long-term it ends being less expensive due to its longevity. A syringe of Volumna costs on an average of $1,000 per syringe as compared to $625 for one syringe of Juvederm or Restylane.

Restylane is still used for filling the tear troughs and works better for this area than Juvederm Ultra– not to be confused with Volumna.

BELOTERO BALANCE® .

Another good temporary option for the tear trough area is a new HA called  BELOTERO BALANCE^® ,  Belotero is a newer-generation HA which is injected superficially to fill lines and wrinkles. For this reason it works great in the eye hollow area. However, Belotero does not last as long as other fillers such as Restylane. Another nice advantage to using Belotero in the eye hollow area is there is less of chance of the Tyndall Effect. This is a blueish line that can occur after filler injections, which is unsightly.  As with any filler there are pros and cons. Discuss filler choices with your  doctor.  Cost: Average price $575.00 for one syringe.

Choose Your Injector Wisely- This is SO Important

Any filler can cause bruising and swelling, so scheduling filler injections at least  3-4 weeks before an event is prudent. The eye area is much thinner than other areas on your face, thus bruising is very common. Keep in mind you may always need a tweak since less is more.  My bruising lasted several weeks.  If you do get a bruise post filler, as your doctor to zap it with a Laser treatment. The bruising will disappear within 24-48 hours.

It’s very important to choose your injector carefully, especially for treating the eye area. The eye area takes skill and practice. Injecting Volumna also takes skill and practice as this is a newer filler. Not all doctors have the same skill or training.  Ask you injector how long they have used Volumna or Belotero and how often they treat the eye hollows.

Go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist’s practice. Some practices employ highly skilled and trained RN’s who specialize in injectable fillers.

Be wary of buying deals online from unknown practices that are offering discounts.

What you save in dollars, you may end  up of paying, plus more to correct a bad result that could lead to a serious problem.  It’s not worth the risk. Do your homework.  #SafetyFirst