11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Undereye Filler

Hyaluronic acid is popular for its ability to replicate soft-tissue texture and eliminate fine lines. Most commonly used for lip filler, it is found naturally in your body, so it dissolves gradually over time. “HA binds to water, making it an ideal product for correcting wrinkles and folds, as it binds with the skin’s own water,” explains dermatologist Sheila Farhang, MD. It generally lasts from 6 to 12 months depending on the individual and the product used.

Juvéderm comes from the Allergan Aesthetics family and has a few different variations meant to plump different areas. Juvéderm Volbella XC is the smoothest and thinnest of the family. “It is a really nice filler for very subtle hydration of the lips and is now used to soften undereye circles, which is my favorite area to use,” says Kian Karimi, MD, founder of Rejuva Medical Aesthetics.

Restylane is an HA dermal filler Galderma made to correct a wide range of concerns. It’s the second most popular HA filler on the market and has very similar uses and results to Juvéderm. According the brand, Restylane Eyelight targets the tear trough area and minimizes the appearance of dark undereye shadows.

Undereye filler can last anywhere from 6 to 18 months.

According to Kitsos, undereye filler lasts anywhere from six months to a year, or possibly even longer. “Because the area doesn’t get a lot of movement—unlike, for example, the mouth, which talks and eats and moves quite a bit—it’s one of the areas that holds on to filler the longest,” she explains. “The less movement, the longer it lasts.” But of course, everyone’s body metabolizes filler differently.

Undereye filler is reversible, but that can be a long and painful process.

While hyaluronic fillers can be reversed with hyaluronidase, Moran points out that it can be a painful process that will likely have to be performed over the course of a few sessions.

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Having needles around your eyes is just as unsettling as you’d expect.

I love filler, but I really hate the process. It doesn’t hurt that much, but the disorienting popping sound and the sensation of something thick being pushed into deep layers makes me feel faint. The good news is that undereye filler requires thinner molecules than the ones used in your cheeks, so I didn’t feel the heavy pressure I’ve come to associate with the treatment. Pain is minimal and lasts only a few seconds, so the main challenge is just staying calm and reminding your brain that nothing is actually going into your eyeball.

You’ll see a difference right away, and there’s no downtime.

There’s no need to reschedule a date or take the afternoon off from work; you can go about your life as usual the moment you leave the doctor’s office. Dr. Liotta prefers to inject under the eyes with a blunt-tipped cannula (instead of a needle) because it requires only one entry point to reach all the areas beneath the skin. This reduces the risk of bruising, swelling, and vascular complications, but there is always the chance that you’ll have slight swelling or bruising for 48 hours after. I had a purplish dot at the cannula’s entry point—made by a single needle puncture—for about a week, but it was easily hidden with makeup. If you’re worried, avoid drinking alcohol and taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen a couple days before, and ask your doctor to ice your skin before and after.