Dear Dr. Seckel, I am a 32-year-old male. I have hollowness under my eyes and would like to use Restylane to fill the area under my eyes. > > The doctor says that he will also inject Botox to prevent the lower eyelid > muscles from moving during the recovery period of 3-4 weeks. > > I have read a few of the responses here and you are against Restylane > under the eyes. > > Why exactly? Thank you, Sheila, Calgary, CN
Dear Sheila,
My main concern about filler injections around the eyes to treat dark circles under the eyes and achieve eyelid rejuvenation is the risk of injury to the eyeball or the blood vessels feeding the eye, such injury could cause blindness, which has been reported in England. Proper correction of dark circles under the eyes requires the skill of a board certified plastic surgeon or occuloplastic surgeon who is trained and has knowledge of eyelid and eye anatomy. The correction of dark circles under the eyes requires an eyelid rejuvenation surgical procedure described below.
Many physicians who do soft filler injections are not trained in eyelid surgery and may not have a detailed knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the eyelid.
The problem is of course if something goes wrong. Filler injection around the eyes is a BLIND procedure-the doctor can only guess exactly where he/she is injecting the filler and the structures that are near the needle and may be injured. In addition one cannot be certain the filler is not injected into one of the blood vessels which feeds the eye.
Just my opinion!
If you can find a board certified plastic surgeon or occuloplastic surgeon who has experience with filler injection around the eyes and who assures you he is comfortable that he/she can give you a good result then I would be less opposed to your considering this technique. The company that makes restylane does not recommend filler injection around the eyes nor does the FDA approve of this use of restylane.
But PLEASE avoid the occasional or new user of fillers who is not an experienced board certified surgeon. The responses I have had on my website of people who have had filler injections around the eyes have been negative-bruising, lumps, (even after a year) worsening of bags.
You should know that the company that makes Radiesse-in my opinion the best filler-has clearly cautioned their sales force that they DO NOT recommend that their product be used around the eye.
I prefer to do procedures that work and are safe-the transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with arcus marginalis release and fat grafting or tear trough implants is the definitive procedure for dark circles under the eyes.
Thank you for your very important and timely question.
For more information on fillers, dark circles under the eyes, eyelid rejuvenataion, blepharoplasty and non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Sincerely,
Boston, Massachusetts