How Many Times Can You Repeatedly Use Dermal Fillers for the Eyes?

Aside from facial wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes is another sign of aging that many people dread having. But there’s no need for plastic surgery to correct these skin concerns thanks to facial filler injections. Injectable fillers are safe enough to be administered into the treatment areas multiple times to erase wrinkles and smooth deep nasolabial folds.

So how many times can patients get dermal filler treatments for their eye bags? There isn’t a limit when it comes to filler injections for dark circles under the eyes so patients can receive them as many times as needed. However, there might come a time when the fat pads and loose skin under the eyes are better treated with surgical excision instead of a tear trough filler treatment.

Tear Trough Filler Treatments and Dosage: Is There a Limit?

Injectable treatments like dermal filler injection and Botox cosmetic injection are popular anti-aging procedures known for their versatility. They can be injected into different parts of the face to erase wrinkles and improve the patient’s overall appearance.

According to the latest plastic surgery statistics report by the ASPS, there were about 3.4 million dermal filler treatments performed in the country alone. Although these facial fillers are often injected into the lips, cheeks, and forehead to erase wrinkles and enhance their appearance, they’re also useful for erasing the dark circles in the eye area in a procedure known as tear trough treatment.

While a dermal filler treatment is highly effective in getting rid of under eye bags, its results are still temporary so patients need to receive another eye filler treatment every few months. Since this approach requires multiple treatment sessions, it’s not surprising for some patients to feel worried about continuously getting injectable fillers and their long-term effects on the body.

How Do Tear Trough Fillers Work?

An eye bag forms in the eye area because of different reasons – like sun damage, sleep issues, smoking, lack of proper skincare routine, and the natural aging process. As an individual age, the facial muscles, tissues, and fat around the eyes weaken and sink. This casts a dark shadow beneath the eye that makes them look tired and old.

An injectable filler can help plump these sunken areas and restore the facial contour beneath the eyes when injected into the upper cheeks (tear trough area). They come in different types and brands, but hyaluronic acid fillers work best for tear trough treatments.

Aside from instantly adding volume to the tear trough area, a hyaluronic acid filler also stimulates collagen production to further plump and smooth the skin. This leads to better skin health that lasts long even after the hyaluronic acid has been absorbed by the body.

How Long Do Dermal Fillers for the Eyes Last?

This depends on the type of under-eye filler used, how much is injected, and how the filler is placed underneath the skin. But most of them last around 6, 12, or 18 months before being fully absorbed by the body. Here are some of the most common dermal filler brands for the eye area and how long they usually last on the skin:

• Juvederm: Juvederm is a line of hyaluronic acid injections that are formulated for different treatment areas. The best ones to use around the eyes are the Juvederm Volbella and Juvederm Vollure because they’re less likely to produce nodules compared to Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Voluma. They usually last for about a year or more.
• Restylane: Restyle is another family of HA filler injections that many providers use for different anti-aging treatments. The best ones to use for a tear trough treatment are Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne because they’re made for areas with a lot of facial expression and movement. For most patients, Restylane may last for about 10 months.
• Belotero: Belotero Balance is another preferred soft tissue filler for the eye area because it’s easy to inject and manipulate for providers. It also doesn’t cause discolorations or lumps like other types of fillers do. Belotero fillers usually last about 3 to 9 months in the treatment area.

Is it Safe to Get Multiple Tear Trough Filler Treatments?

Yes, it’s completely safe for patients to receive multiple tear trough filler treatments every few months or as soon as their results fade. However, it’s important to only get dermal fillers from trusted providers to avoid unwanted side effects and serious complications.

There isn’t a fixed limit when it comes to how many filler treatments an individual can only get – as long as their skin laxity is still good, then they can receive eye fillers to correct the dark circles. But if you’re worried that you might be getting more filler treatments than necessary, you can always talk to your provider about different ways to prolong the results.

Are There Long-Term Effects of Repeated Facial Fillers?

The long-term studies on the safety of facial fillers aren’t explored well, but most of the data about them suggest that these injectables have no long-term health implications for anyone who uses them. Most cases of bad facial filler jobs were caused by inexperienced providers, DIY fillers, and black market injectables.

How Do I Know if Dermal Fillers Are Still the Best Option for Me?

Dermal fillers work best around the eye area if the patient wants to get rid of dark circles that were caused by facial volume loss, aging, or genetics. They’re also effective for patients who have mild to moderate sunken eyes.

But if the appearance of eye circles is caused by a dynamic wrinkle, severe skin laxity, or serious facial volume loss, then other treatment options might be more appropriate. In some cases, the doctor or plastic surgeon may recommend Botox injections or cosmetic surgery instead of dermal fillers.

3 Factors That Affect Tear Trough Filler Longevity

Dermal filler longevity is crucial because filler results that last longer require fewer maintenance injections. To figure out how to make the fillers stay on the skin for a long time, it’s crucial to know the factors that affect their longevity first.

1. Type of Under-Eye Filler

Fillers made of acrylic, calcium, and silicone permanently stay on the skin, but they’re not recommended for the eye area. The best ones to use for a tear trough treatment contain hyaluronic acid – such as Belotero, Restylane, Juvederm, and more. The main difference between these HA fillers is the concentration of hyaluronic acid and the thickness of the solution, which influences how long it takes before they’re fully absorbed by the body.

2. How the Filler is Placed

Facial filler injections placed near the surface of the skin usually last longer, but they may form lumps or discolorations if done incorrectly. Deeper filler placement disappears more quickly because they’re covered more by the skin tissues, but they also look more natural compared to shallow placements.

3. How Much Filler is Injected

Even a small amount of filler can go a long way when it comes to improving the patient’s facial contours. Injecting more filler into the treatment areas means the results may last longer, but they might not look great under the eyes since they distort the slopes and contours of the face. In such cases, it might be better to opt for fewer fillers for a more natural appearance.

Tips to Make Your Tear Trough Fillers Last Longer

In addition to choosing the right type and amount of filler to use for the tear trough treatment, patients should also take other precautionary measures to prolong the results of the procedure. Here are some important tips to follow that can make your fillers last longer:

• Protect the skin from the sun by applying sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
• Eat nutritious foods and maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
• Learn how to manage stress better.
• Maintain a daily skincare routine that includes collagen, hyaluronic acid, and retinoids.
• Follow the recommended maintenance appointments by the provider.

3 Alternatives to Dermal Fillers for the Eyes

Although dermal filler injections are great for erasing wrinkles and reducing the appearance of dark circles around the eye area, they might not be the best procedure for everyone. If dermal fillers won’t work for you, here are other alternatives to try:

1. Botox Injection Treatments and Other Neurotoxins

Botox treatment can also be performed around the eye area to erase wrinkles and make the treatment area appear plumper. Neurotoxin injections like Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport work by relaxing the muscles, but they might not work as great as dermal fillers when it comes to completely erase the dark circles since they can’t restore facial volume. Botox also works great for non-surgical brow lift treatments.

2. Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser treatments for the skin work by removing the top layers of the skin to reveal a new and healthy layer. The heat from the laser device also generates collagen, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and improves the skin’s overall condition. Although they can treat dark circles under the eyes, continued use of laser treatments can thin the skin in the lower eyelid.

3. Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is a type of surgical procedure that reduces the puffiness around the eye area by trimming the fat and excess skin there. It’s usually recommended in cases of severe eye bags and skin laxity. Eyelid surgery is often associated with risks, so many patients opt for minimally invasive treatments first.

Treat Your Baggy Eyes With the Best Fillers at Dr. Lanna Aesthetics

The appearance of dark circles under the eyes is normal as people age, but dermal filler treatments can help reduce these eye bags even without the need for cosmetic surgery. They’re perfectly safe to inject on the skin multiple times, as long as the procedure is performed using FDA-approved fillers and by an experienced provider.

At Dr. Lanna Aesthetics, we ensure that each patient that walks into our office leaves feeling more beautiful inside and out. We offer tear trough fillers and other minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to help patients become their most beautiful selves even without plastic surgery. Call us today to book an appointment.