Dear Dr. Seckel, I started noticing at the beginning of the year lines on my eyes that start near the corners of my eyes by the nose that go downward and a little dark in color.I believe you refer to them as Dark Circles Under The Eyes. I first noticed them when I was at the hair salon looking in the mirror. I thought I had eye makeup or even dirt in that area and went to wash it off. Well, the lines are still there. I thought maybe this happened because of my contact lenses which I got right before I noticed this; it would take me forever putting them in and taking them out and I really irritated my eyes. Also I thought maybe crying could do this. I did turn 50 at the end of July but I have never had this before. I have tried many creams. Is there anything that could be done whether it be topical, surgery, or Restylane (though you did say never to use fillers around the eyes)? Thank you, Lisa, Staten Island, New York
Dear Lisa,
The dark color you mention starting at the corner of your eyes is called a Tear Trough Deformity, commonly called dark circles under the eyes. You can read about what causes dark circles under the eyes in Chapter One of my book Save Your Face.
The dark circle under the eye is normal, but gets worse as we age. The only method I know to correct it is a transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release and fat repositioning or grafting or placement of a tear trough implant. I have written a great deal about eyelid rejuvenation, the correction of dark circles under the eyes and you can read about this by checking the blogs on my website saveyourface.com by following the link below:
Dark Circles Under The EyesAs you know I do not recommend using fillers like Restylane, Radiesse, Cosmoplast, Sculptra and others to correct dark circles under the eye. The risks of filler injection around the eyes to the eye is too great, results are often unsatisfactory with lumps and swelling, and the companies that make the fillers do not recommend it.
If you would like to send me your photos, which I will keep confidential I will be happy to give you a more detailed answer.For more information on dark circles under the eyes, fillers and plastic surgery and non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Thank you,
Dr Seckel
Boston, Massachusetts