You do so much to live a healthy lifestyle. You eat right superfoods, workout regularly, and maintain mind-body health. But you still look old because of sleepy and sunken eyes. No fitness routine can solve this problem.
Tired and sunken eyes are often an early sign of aging. Sometimes it isn’t aging at all. It’s your genetics. The good news is there is you have a natural option to solve this problem. And, unlike many cosmetic procedures, this solution is easily reversed.
The FDA originally approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvéderm Volbella and Restylane Lyft (formerly known as Restylane-L) for lip treatments. Since the thin skin under the eyes is similar to that of the lips, the FDA has approved it for under-eye treatments.
Here, we will answer several questions you may have about using these under eye dermal fillers, including:
- What is an under eye filler?
- How do under eye fillers work?
- Why are hyaluronic acid dermal fillers the best choice?
- Who is a good candidate for hyaluronic acid fillers to treat sleepy eyes?
- How do you prepare for under eye filler injections?
- What is the filler injection procedure like?
- What results can you expect?
- Are there any side effects?
What Is an Under Eye Dermal Filler?
Healthcare professionals usually use dermal fillers on the face to smooth lines and wrinkles. The different fillers include:
- Fat grafting
- Chemical fillers
- Permanent soft-tissue fillers
- Hyaluronic acid fillers
Natural hyaluronic acid fillers are best for thin skin like that under the eyes. The hyaluronic acid procedures are also far less invasive than a treatment like fat grafting. Fat grafting is a surgical procedure involving transferring fat from one part of the body to another. While surgeons use fat grafting to treat the area under the eyes, it has a far higher risk of complications and side effects.
A great advantage hyaluronic acid under eye fillers have over other dermal fillers and surgery is the results are reversible. If you don’t like your fat grafting results, you’ll need another risky surgery.
Your body naturally produces and absorbs hyaluronic acid. If you don’t like your Juvéderm or Restylane results or suffer side effects, a simple injection of hyaluronidase will cause the hyaluronic acid to dissolve.
How Do Under Eye Fillers Work?
Since the skin under your eyes is thinner than elsewhere, it ages quicker. Under eye fillers fill in the area under the skin. This reduces or eliminates the sunken eye appearance. It also reduces most dark circles associated with sleepy eyes, since lost volume is usually the cause.
While dermal fillers affect dark circles from loss of skin volume, they do not work when skin pigmentation is the reason for the dark circles. Your expert clinician will identify the cause of your dark circles during your consultation at our Woodland Hills office. They can give you a better understanding of the results to expect.
Why Are Under Eye Dermal Fillers a Good Option for Sleepy and Sunken Eyes?
The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology reports that hyaluronic acid fillers not only show significant improvement in for sunken eyes but also are an excellent alternative to surgery for reducing under eyelid bags — known as sleepy eyes.
So these under eye dermal fillers are natural, effective, and reversible. But they’re not perfect. Some patients may benefit from another option. You’ll have a better understanding if hyaluronic acid fillers are the best option for you after reading the sections below.
Getting Ready for Your Filler Injections
You should stop taking the following medications and supplements at least two weeks before the procedure:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Fish oil
- Vitamin E
- St John’s Wort
If you’re prescribed blood thinners, discuss this with your clinician. You need an expert opinion before deciding whether you should stop taking these necessary drugs for up to a week before the procedure. It may also be a good idea to ask your primary healthcare provider also since they know more about your condition that led to their prescribing these medications. Some clinicians even encourage abstaining from alcohol for up to three days before the procedure.
It’s important that your clinician know about all prescriptions, over-the-couter medications, and supplements you’re taking. The list above may not be complete, as we’re continuously learning about the potential effects of different substances.
Your clinician may recommend taking oral Arnica before your injections. This supplement reduces swelling and bruising that may occur after the procedure.
What Is the Procedure Like?
The injections may take up to half an hour, but are usually over within minutes. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to prevent pain during the injections. It can take 30-40 minutes for the anesthetic to take effect. Since most people choose to avoid even slight pain, expect the entire process to take 45 minutes to a little over an hour.
What To Expect After Your Filler Injections
You could see some results between 24 and 48 hours after the injections. Full results usually occur around two weeks after the injections.
While most patients have no downtime from these under eye filler injections, some need 24 to 48 hours to recover. Everyone should avoid strenuous exercise for one to two days after the injections, as this will help minimize swelling.
You may suffer redness, bruising, and tenderness. These common conditions usually occur at the injection sites. You can use over-the-counter pain medications to avoid any discomfort. After a few days, these problems go away.
If these issues persist, or you suffer from an infection, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider.
Will Your Sleep Eyes or Sunken Eyes Return After Your Dermal Filler Injections?
The results from hyaluronic acid fillers are not permanent. While the most recent advances from Juvéderm and Restylane last up to nine months, it’s common to need maintenance injections in the four-month to six-month range.
How Much Do Dermal Fillers Cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost for hyaluronic acid dermal fillers nationwide is $684 per syringe. Healthline reports that under eye treatments usually need one syringe for each eye. So the average cost per treatment is over $1,300.
If you need two treatments per year, in California, the cost will be at least $2,600 per year. But every person is different meaning that the amount of filler needed is different. You’ll have a better idea of the cost after your free consultation with one of our clinicians.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are the least expensive option on a per treatment basis. But over the long run, other fillers are less expensive since they require fewer maintenance treatments. The downside is that these fillers have higher risks of complications.
Are There Any Side-Effects With Under Eye Filler Injections?
All medical procedures have risks and side effects. Dermal fillers are no exception. Fortunately, over 90% of the time, the short-term side effects mentioned above are the only issues. Those are redness, bruising, and tenderness.
The Mayo Clinic lists the following potential side effects from dermal fillers. The top of the list includes the most common, while the bottom involves the rarer issues.
- Swelling
- Mild pain
- Bleeding at the injection site
- Bruising at the injection site
- Changes in skin color
- Allergic reaction at the injection site
- System-wide allergic reaction
- Infections
- Scarring
- Blood vessel damage
The American Academy of Ophthalmology points out that in rare cases, the side effects can be severe. But the Journal of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery reports that even with the most severe potential complication, vascular occlusion, quick action can significantly reduces the risk of long-term injury.
Left untreated, these complications can lead to blindness. That’s why it’s critical that you contact your healthcare provider immediately if you believe you’re experiencing a severe reaction.
Who Can Benefit From Under Eye Dermal Fillers?
Almost anyone with sunken eyes or sleepy eyes can benefit from under eye fillers. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fillers may not be appropriate for people with bleeding disorders or certain allergies.
If you have any of these conditions, discuss it with your clinician. You need expert advice to decide if dermal fillers are best for you. Of course, you should not use hyaluronic acid fillers if you are allergic to hyaluronic acid.
When Another Procedure To Repair Sunken and Sleepy Eyes May Be the Better Choice
If you have large eye bags, surgery may be your best choice. Only an expert can make this recommendation. Some plastic surgeons argue that surgery is no less invasive than filler injections.
But that’s a hard argument to make against hyaluronic acid fillers since surgery requires an incision and the risk of complications from surgery is far higher. Surgery has its good points, though. The results from surgery are permanent, meaning there’s no need for maintenance treatments.
Of course, your onetime surgery will be much more expensive than dermal fillers. Also, hyaluronic acid fillers are easily reversible. Reversing surgery is difficult and expensive.
If your only issue is that you’re allergic to hyaluronic acid, another filler may be a better option for you.
Conclusion
As you can see, you have a lot to talk about when you meet with one of our expert clinicians. What are you waiting for? Contact us today at our Woodland Hills, CA office. The quicker we see you, the sooner you can put sleepy eyes and sunken eyes into your past. To set a consultation appointment, click the “book now” button at the top right of your screen. Or call us at (818) 446-6111. We look forward to helping you.
