Puffiness or circles under the eyes
Do you always look a little tired? Do people often ask you if you slept poorly? A deep tear trough, dark circles and puffiness can give your face a tired look.
What are puffinesses?
Just about anything that shows irregularity between the lashes of the lower eyelids and the cheeks is colloquially called “puffiness.” The complex anatomy of the area under the eyes and the many variations of proportions mean that this region needs some explanation. In addition, before treatment, it is important to properly assess the exact cause of the puffiness or circles. Often there are multiple factors and one particular treatment can remove only part of the causes. How much effect that produces and whether that is enough in your case to be satisfied with the result is discussed in detail during the consultation.
Displacement of adipose tissue
Around the eyeball, in the eye socket, there are fat pads that ensure that the eyeball, well protected from external shocks, remains in the center of the eye socket. At the front, these fat pads are held in place by connective tissue. As this connective tissue softens and widens with age, the fat pads can visibly emerge. Two (light-colored) elevations can usually be seen per eye.
Reduction of fatty tissue
One level below, toward the cheek, there is subcutaneous fat tissue which gives padding and softness to the face. The subcutaneous fat compartments move downward and often lose padding as we age. This causes a gutter to form about 1.5 cm. below the lower eyelid lashes, the tear trough.
Change in skin thickness and skin quality
With age, the skin around the eyes begins to lose firmness and elasticity. As a result, the first wrinkles appear around the eyes. Also, the skin there can become thinner and more transparent, which also creates a dark shadow.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation can also play a role in how “deep” the skin around the eyes appears.
Widening of the skin around the eyes
Simultaneously with all other changes to the skin, it becomes wider to a lesser or greater extent. This widening can be the cause of wrinkling and the appearance of relief that makes the lower eyelids wrinkled.
Treating dark circles and puffiness
Correcting puffiness can be done in several ways. Which way is best for you depends on the situation. If excess skin or excess fat from the eye socket is the culprit then eyelid correction is logically better. If puffiness has been caused by sagging or disappearance of subcutaneous fat or thinning skin, then treatment with a filler may be a solution.
Treating puffiness with a Filler
Filling in puffiness with a Filler such as Restylane is an effective way to remove fatigue from your face if it is caused by the tear trough and/or the naso jugal groove, the fold that can be visible from the tear trough diagonally across the cheek. Using the Filler, the subcutaneous volume can be corrected as well as the thickness of the skin improved.
Puffiness treatment consists of several small pricks. Through the pricks, natural Filler (hyaluronic acid) is applied to the areas around the eyes, reducing the circles under the eyes. The pricks are usually not experienced as painful. Nevertheless, anesthesia by means of a cream can also be chosen.
Instant results
The treatment takes about 15 minutes after which you can see immediate results. However, after 4-8 weeks the result of the first treatment is optimal and the result can last up to a year.
Treatment regime, correction in four dimensions
Restylane has a stimulating effect on collagen production in the skin. When the skin around the eyes is very thin, it can be chosen to gradually thicken it by repeating the Filler treatment every two to three months.
Personalized Cell Therapy, PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma, against puffiness
The use of own platelets to make the skin thicker, collagen-rich skin is also effective under the eyes. Because collagen is light in color, the transparency of thin skin will be reduced. This technique is applicable for patients who do not want a Filler or when there is thin, transparent skin under the eyes with no significant lack of volume under the skin. This is because the “filling” effect of PRP is minor.