What the tear trough is
The tear trough is the groove along the orbital rim, below the eye. When it deepens, it casts a shadow that people often call a dark circle. Under eye filler targets that groove, because the problem is a concavity.
Not every under-eye concern is a hollow. An eye bag is a convexity, and adding filler can make it look worse. Pigment and blood vessels are different again. So the first question is what is causing what you see.
Tear trough filler in Singapore: the short answer
Filler suits a hollow, not a bag or a brown stain. After assessment, the doctor may advise against filler. The procedure is described on the tear trough refinement page. If darkness is your main concern, read dark eye circles treatment first. Ask what the examination showed, and whether filler is the right tool at all.
Is it a filler problem?
| What you see | Likely cause | Route to assess |
|---|---|---|
| Groove with a shadow | Hollow along the orbital rim | Tear trough filler |
| Bulge under the eye | Herniated fat | Eye bag treatment or surgical referral |
| Brown tint that stays when skin is stretched | Pigment | Pigment laser, after diagnosis |
| Shadow that fades on stretching | Structural or vascular | Examination decides. Filler helps vascular show-through only partly |
| Thin, crepey skin | Skin quality | Skin boosters or polynucleotides |
How the area is examined
Who it tends to suit
A clear groove along the orbital rim, with dark circles that are mainly shadow.
Firm, even skin over the hollow.
Filler can make a true bulge look more obvious.
A shallower groove, not a flat one. Results vary.
How the filler is placed
Only hyaluronic acid is used here, because non-HA fillers cannot be dissolved. The gel is soft. Gel goes deep, on the bone at the orbital rim beneath the orbicularis muscle. Superficial placement risks a bluish tint. A fine cannula or needle is chosen by anatomy, and a cannula uses a single entry point in the cheek. Small amounts are placed while the contour is watched. The aim is a shallower groove, not a flat one, so dosing is conservative. Hyaluronidase is kept on hand throughout. A topical anaesthetic may be used, often one containing lidocaine. The cannula entry point is kept away from the infraorbital foramen and angular vessels. The specific product is chosen at consultation.
Why restraint matters under the eye
The skin here is thin, so small errors show. Too much product gives a shelf or lasting puffiness. High-viscosity filler can cause visible lumps. Product placed too near the surface can look blue. Hyaluronic acid can also stay longer than people expect, which is why earlier filler is checked before more is added. When an area has been overfilled, correction comes first. Taking a conservative approach may mean the groove stays slightly visible, and that is the aim. Moulding by hand finishes the session, and the area is then left to settle before any judgement is made.
Who should wait or choose something else
Prominent eye bags, malar oedema or festoons, very thin crepey skin, or dark circles driven mainly by pigment.
Earlier over-filling needs dealing with before anything is added. See pillow face treatment.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, active infection, cold sores or inflamed skin near the eyes.
Allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine, earlier filler reactions, autoimmune conditions, a bleeding tendency or blood thinners.
What under eye filler cannot do
Injected volume does not change melanin.
Fat prolapse needs assessment for other treatment.
Thin skin stays thin.
The effect on show-through of blood vessels is partial at most.
Risks to discuss first
Recovery, duration and fees
Cold compresses, sleeping with the head raised and avoiding pressure on the area are suggested. The result is judged once swelling settles, not at the end of the appointment. No fixed duration can be given. It depends on the product, amount, depth and how your body breaks down hyaluronic acid. Product can stay longer here than people expect, so maintenance is planned at review and not by calendar. Fees are set after assessment and depend on the product, the amount, whether earlier product must be dissolved, and whether other treatments are combined.