Dear Dr. Seckel, I’m a very faired-skinned Irish lass of 42 and I’ve literally been annoyed with my dark circles from as early in life as I remember. I have always had dark circles under the eyes. I now also have a more defined Nasojugal fold than ever before to go along with it. I’ve gone to many a consultation with plenty of plastic surgeons over the years and blepharoplasty has been discussed but this is the first time I’ve come across any type of procedure that addressed the problem without a blepharoplasty. Yesterday, however, I had a consult with a reputable certified surgeon who suggested administering a dental block and injecting Radiesse filler into the trough area through the top inside cheek area from inside my mouth. He was so into the idea of filling the depressed area, that no matter how I tried, I couldn’t get him to actually say if it would take care deep blue color in the area, as well. I’m skeptical that it could. Now I’m seeing postings online about hardening and bumps and lumps and warnings that the manufacturer of the filler suggests not using it in that area of the face. I’ve just come across your website today. Can you help? Is the filling procedure safe? Will it work for my kind of problem or will it just puff the area a little still leaving me with the deep blue that I hate? Is the procedure you use best? Thank you, Gina, Dallas, TX
Dear Gina,
Don’t let anyone inject a filler around your eye. The manufacturer of Radiesse do not recommend it. Filler injection around the eye has caused blindness.
My guess is the reason the doctor would not answer your question is that he/she knows that the filler injection would not change the dark blue or purple color of the eyelid. That color is caused by the color of the eyelid muscle beneath the skin and nothing can change the color—only concealer.
The naso-jugal fold, dark circles under the eyes and puffy eyes of the eyelid can be corrected beautifully with the transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release and fat repositioning or fat grafting. I do this procedure with the laser through the inside pink part of the eyelid—thus no visible scar, no skin incision, no scalpel. The procedure takes 30-45 minutes and recovery is only bruising and slight swelling for 7-10 days.
The procedure corrects the dark circles under the eyes, naso-jugal fold, eye bags and puffy eyes. I do not do filler injections around the eyes. I will not mislead you, the transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty does not change the color of the eyelid.
For more information on dark circles under the eyes, eyelid rejuvenation, fillers and plastic surgery read Save Your Face or contact me.
Sincerely,
Boston, Massachusetts