You’re getting 9 hours of sleep each night, following your trusted skincare routine, and still seeing stubborn dark circles beneath your eyes.
Hollow or bruised-looking under-eyes can linger despite healthy habits, betraying a fatigue you may not feel.
While topical creams can firm the skin for a few hours, your delicate under-eyes may benefit from a little extra TLC. At Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness, we often administer dermal filler to help ease signs of aging, lifting sunken tear troughs and brightening dark circles.
Continue reading to explore the ins and outs of under-eye filler in St. Petersburg, or use our treatment planner tool to begin mapping out your injectable treatments at our practice.
What Contributes to Tired-Looking Under-Eyes?
The “periorbital” area, or the area right below the eyes, is covered with a very thin layer of skin. Until adulthood, many people have plump under-eyes that sit nearly flush or even with the cheeks. This refreshed appearance comes from the pillowy fat pads and skin density of youth.
However, genetics predispose some individuals to darker pigmentation, puffiness, or deep-set tear troughs. And as we grow older, time and other external factors can take a toll on this delicate tissue.
Deepening Hollows
Tear troughs, or the indented grooves that form beneath the eyes, are typically a natural side effect of aging. The periorbital area often appears to hollow out as the fat pads under your skin break down or migrate downwards. This gradual “deflation” of the soft tissues that gave the under-eyes volume creates a concave look.
Dark Shadows
Many people with sunken under-eyes also experience dark shadows. Depending on your skin tone, these circles might appear purple, blue, brown, or black.
The skin beneath the eyes is paper-thin to begin with—and as we age, this delicate tissue breaks down further because of collagen and elastin loss. With fewer fibers to strengthen the skin, the tissue becomes even finer and more translucent. This reduced density makes the blood vessels beneath the skin more visible to the naked eye.
Your daily habits also impact the look of your under-eyes. When you don’t drink enough water or moisturize the skin, your dehydrated complexion dulls, worsening any discoloration. A poor night’s rest can similarly diminish your glow, as slowed skin repair makes the tissue look paler and thus more transparent.
Smoking and prolonged sun exposure damage the collagen and elastin proteins in the skin, speeding up the natural aging and skin-thinning process.
Under-Eye Puffiness
Under-eye bags can stem from many internal and external changes.
For some patients, the periorbital area appears to sag or bulge with age. A protruding tear trough is typically the result of structural changes to the skull, fatty tissue, and muscle. The receding bone forces the surrounding fat and muscle to shift, often pushing the displaced fat deposits forward.
In other cases, weakened ligaments in the area may stop fully supporting the pockets of soft tissue, leading to a drooping appearance that creates greater contrast with the cheek below.
You also may notice a puffier appearance after sleeping on your stomach or with your head level to the rest of your body. After hours in this position, retained fluid can accumulate around your eyes, yielding a fuller look. Seasonal allergies can contribute to stubborn eye bags, as the irritation causes swelling.
Your Initial Consultation
When you visit our practice seeking support for your skin, you have our undivided attention. To begin your personalized care experience at Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness, one of our talented injectors invites you to sit down for a one-on-one consultation.
We listen as you share your concerns, desired results, and medical history. Then, your provider examines your periorbital area to assess your skin’s condition.
Our team may not advise dermal filler injections if you are:
- Younger than 18 years of age
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Currently experiencing an infection (like a stye) near the treatment area
- Allergic to lidocaine
- Living with an autoimmune condition, like lupus or scleroderma
- Expecting unrealistic results from treatment
Once your provider confirms that you could benefit from under-eye filler in St. Petersburg, they outline the pre-care steps you should take to prepare your skin, and they walk you through the injection process.
Preparing for Filler
In preparation for your filler injections, your provider may advise that you:
- Refrain from using skincare products that contain exfoliative or harsh active ingredients for 2 weeks.
- Stop taking blood-thinning or anti-inflammatory medications within 10 days of treatment, and talk with your primary care provider about prescription medications.
- Apply sunscreen and protect the treatment area from direct sun exposure, as UV damage can irritate the skin.
- Drink plenty of water the week leading up to your injectables.
- Arrive at your filler appointment with clean skin, free of makeup or skincare products.
Following these simple steps supports your skin health prior to treatment and smooths the subsequent healing process.
Selecting the Optimal Formula
Your skilled injector thoughtfully selects the filler formula that best suits your goals and your skin’s needs. Under-eye filler is a highly specialized service that requires attention to detail and precision. When executed by our experienced injectors (ranked among the top 1% in the nation), the outcome is a beautifully refreshed periorbital area.
Typically, we use Juvederm Volbella XC or Belotero Balance for under-eye filler in St. Petersburg. Each of these formulas can be injected more superficially than other fillers, to even out and brighten the under-eyes even with thinner skin.
The Juvederm Volbella XC formula is exceptionally soft and smooth, adding plush volume to delicate areas like the lips and under-eyes. This hyaluronic acid-based injectable lifts the skin of the tear trough, providing deliberate, gentle enhancements.
Belotero Balance similarly uses hyaluronic acid to achieve subtle, natural-looking results. The soft, flexible gel filler easily adapts to your facial expressions, refreshing your under-eyes without disrupting natural movement.
Filler Placement
To kick off your appointment for under-eye filler in St. Petersburg, your provider cleanses the treatment area. Then, they apply a topical numbing solution to the skin, so you can relax throughout the injection process.
After prepping your skin, your expert injector marks the injection sites and administers the filler.
The Hermann Aesthetics & Wellness injection process builds volume with an artful eye, adopting a modest approach to create subtle change in tiny increments. This refined technique enables methodical, uniform enhancements that support your anatomy and your aesthetic goals.
From start to finish, most filler appointments take just 40 minutes. At the end of your session, your provider outlines the steps you should take to preserve your glow, and they help you schedule any subsequent touch-ups.
Caring for Your Skin
For most patients, the after-care is simple. After receiving under-eye filler in St. Petersburg, your provider may recommend that you:
- Continue drinking lots of water to foster smooth healing.
- Apply a cold compress to the treatment area to manage any mild swelling or bruising.
- Limit makeup application around the treated skin for at least 12 hours after your injectables.
- Refrain from strenuous, sweat-inducing activities that could cause inflammation or irritation within 48 hours.
- Avoid touching or massaging the injection sites for the first 3 days after treatment.
- Do not schedule major dental procedures within 2 weeks of your filler appointment.
Supporting Lasting Results
There are 3 main benefits of under-eye filler. By reintroducing volume below the eyes, we can:
- Create distance from the blood vessels responsible for discoloration and dark circles.
- Lift sunken tear troughs for a more youthful, alert appearance.
- Even out lingering puffiness, creating a smoother transition between the eye socket and cheeks.
Many patients enjoy a fresher, more radiant look for up to 1 year after under-eye filler in St. Petersburg. As the body steadily metabolizes the gel formula, the lifted effects gradually fade. To maintain your youthful appearance year after year, your provider may recommend annual or biannual touch-ups.
Complementing Your Results
For patients hoping to bring their other features into alignment with their rejuvenated eyes, our providers can tailor a comprehensive plan with additional aesthetic treatments.
- To further plump your features and enhance youthful definition, your injector can guide you through treatments like lip or chin filler.
- If you experience other signs of aging—like crow’s feet—around your eyes, your provider can relax unwanted dynamic wrinkles with targeted Dysport injections.
- For deeper skin renewal, we can activate dermal remodeling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The growth factors in your plasma stimulate skin turnover and fortify your collagen and elastin structure for lasting enhancements.
Embrace Under-Eyes That Reflect Your Vitality
When your skin-plumping creams can only awaken your under-eyes for a few hours at a time, there’s no better time to seek support. With expertly placed under-eye filler in St. Petersburg, you can enjoy renewed radiance for months to come.
