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Filling Eye Hollows

Methods of Controlling and De-Emphasizing Under Eye Hollows

Hi Jean, as always....

I love this site so much!!! So helpful.

My question is I have been reading on your site about all of the different peptides and EGF in products.

I have the problem of not only dark circles and veins around my eyes but there are "hollows" under my eyes that have always been there and make me look so tired.

Short of an "eye lift" surgery which of the types of treatments would be best to help "build up" that area if that is even possible?

Thanks for all of your help!

Sonja

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You say you have always had the under eye hollows, but some people tend to develop hollows under the eyes due to exaggerated fat loss in the area as the skin thins with age.

This causes, not only the hollowed-out look you hate but also, the dark circles that are due to the underlying blood vessels showing through the thinned skin.

The good news is that there are several things that can be done – short of surgery.

And in fact, stretching the remaining thin skin with an eye lift doesn’t address this genetic predisposition very well. [An eye lift is better suited to puffy or baggy eyes, where the surgeon extracts or zaps excess fat tissue and then surgically tightens the loose skin.]

For dark circles due to the blood vessels showing through thin skin, your doctor may recommend intense pulsed light laser treatments designed to target blood vessels near the skin’s surface.

First Line of Attack: Dermal Fillers

If the underlying cause is localized thin tissue or tissue loss underneath the eye, injectable fillers, such as Restylane, can be used to plump the area.

Such fillers are said to last up to a year. The better news is that these fillers have been shown to stimulate the body to produce new collagen of its own, so the benefits are actually longer-lasting.

I can almost see you wincing at the thought of having needles poked around your eyes, but believe me, with an experienced (in aesthetics) and sensitive dermatologist or plastic surgeon, there is only very minor discomfort. Read about my experience with dermal fillers here.

Do your research first. Check the doctor’s credentials and relevant experience and, in your consultation, be sure to ask whether the doctor will apply a topical anesthetic (cream) and allow time for it to work.

Hyaluronic fillers, like Restylane, cause a slight burning sensation as they are injected.

Your doctor may even recommend one of the “permanent” fillers like Artefill. I had Artefill injected into my lips and the crease across the bridge of my nose – no burning, no pain whatsoever.

Attacking Melanin Agglomeration

If your dark eye hollows are exacerbated by the accumulation of excess melanin, Skin Lightening Creams will help fade the darkness. Be aware that the excess melanin is being generated in the deeper layers of the skin, so consistent application over one to two months is necessary to see improvement.

For quicker results, your doctor may recommend laser treatments designed to destroy excess melanin or a chemical peel to remove the top layers of excess melanin.

Topical Products Specifically for the Eye Area

In this article on reducing and preventing Eye Lines , I explained what ingredients to look for and wrote in-depth reviews of some excellent eye creams. In that article, I listed the creams from least to most expensive.

Below, I’ve listed them from most to least effective based on the ingredients. But remember, these are all very good products – the crème de la crème of all the anti-aging eye creams I’ve evaluated.

I’ve added two newer products to the list as well: Peter Thomas Roth MegaRich Eye Crème (reviewed here) and a new formula from Dr. N. V. Perricone which contains ingredients to lift, firm, clarify and protect delicate eye area skin.

Price wise, the Perricone product is right up there with that of Peter Thomas Roth. For overall effectiveness, I rate it lower than PTR’s.

However for dark circles, the Perricone product is a better choice because of its skin clarifying ingredients. Read more here.

• Peter Thomas Roth MegaRich Eye Crème
• Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Eye
• Kinerase Under Eye Rescue
• Perricone Advanced Eye Area Therapy
• Prevage Eye Treatment
• Kinerase Intensive

Cosmetic Tips

You’ve probably experimented with concealers to camouflage the hollows and darkness, but here are some tips that may help you do a better job.

An art teacher will tell you that much of what we perceive visually is due to the way the mind interprets colors and shades of colors.

We view a three-dimensional world in only two dimensions. The brain and eye work together to translate between the 3D world and our 2D way of perceiving. Light colors appear to be closer or to bring an area forward in the visual field.

That’s why makeup artists use under eye concealer a shade or two lighter than the foundation used on the rest of the face to camouflage under eye hollows. Be sure to blend carefully.

If your circles are very dark, try a color corrector under your concealer. Colors that are opposite on the color wheel (here’s our art teacher again) complement or neutralize each other.

If your under eye circles are bluish indicating thin skin and blood vessels showing through, choose a corrector with a touch of peach. If your circles are orangey or brown due to excess melanin, choose one with a hint of green or blue-green.

Lifestyle Tips

I hesitate to state the obvious because you seem quite savvy about skin anti-aging, however there are some lifestyle steps one can take to diminish that tired-eye look.

• Apply broad spectrum sun protection if you will be exposed to the sun for more than 15 minutes (the amount of time your skin needs daily to produce sufficient Vitamin D).
• Always wear UV-rated sunglasses outside during daylight hours.
• Get sufficient sleep.
• Stay hydrated.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption.
• If your eyes appear puffy in the morning, try sleeping with your head elevated a bit more. Pooling of fluids during the night causes puffiness as well as stimulates melanin production in those areas.
• First aid for tired eyes: relax in a comfortable recliner for 15 minutes with cool compresses over your eyes. Use cold wet tea bags or a handful of frozen peas wrapped in a wet cloth. The cold causes skin tissue and blood vessels to constrict; plus this feels wonderful. Aaaah …

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