Under-Eye
Soften hollows and shadows under the eyes for a fresher look.
- Treatment time
- Roughly 30 minutes
- Results
- Seen straight away; fully settled after 2 weeks
- Longevity
- Usually 12–18 months
- Downtime
- Very little — swelling for a day or two
- Price
- £300
About Under-Eye
The tear trough is the groove running from the inner corner of the eye out across the upper cheek. As it gets deeper with age, or simply because of how you're built, it throws a shadow that looks like dark circles and tiredness, however much sleep you get. Tear-trough treatment places a small amount of very soft hyaluronic acid filler under the groove to raise it and lighten the shadow.
This is a delicate area that calls for a careful, cautious technique. John uses a blunt cannula to keep bruising down and to put the filler precisely where it's needed.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Eases hollows and shadows beneath the eyes
- 02Makes dark circles caused by hollowing less visible
- 03A fresher, more rested appearance
- 04Evens out differences between the two eyes
- 05The cannula technique keeps bruising to a minimum
- 06Can be paired with cheek support for a smoother blend
Is this treatment right for me?
Tear-trough filler is for people with a noticeable hollow under the eyes that casts a shadow. It's less of a fit when the real issue is puffiness, loose skin or pigmentation rather than a hollow — then polynucleotides or another approach may work better, and John will talk you through the options honestly.
You may be suitable if…
- A hollow or groove under your eyes casts a shadow
- You look tired even after a good night's sleep
- The skin under your eyes is fairly firm, not puffy or loose
- You aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
Your consultation will consider…
- Whether the darkness comes from a hollow, pigmentation, thin skin or puffiness — filler only helps a hollow
- How much volume your cheeks have, as a flat cheek often needs treating first
- Whether you tend to retain fluid or get puffy under the eyes
- Your health history and any under-eye treatment you've had before
What to expect
Before treatment
Your first step is an in-person consultation with John. He looks at the area alongside the rest of your face, asks what you'd like to change and what would suit you naturally, and goes through your medical history. Bruising is more likely if you take alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen or supplements like fish oil or vitamin E, so stop these for the week before where it's safe to. Leave at least two weeks between any dental work and your appointment.
During treatment
After the skin is cleaned, numbing cream goes on for about 10–15 minutes, and many of today's fillers have a local anaesthetic mixed in too. John then injects the hyaluronic acid gel with either a fine needle or a blunt-ended cannula, whichever suits the area, sculpting and checking both sides match as he works. Expect a sense of pressure and the odd sting, not pain. The appointment usually lasts 30–45 minutes. For this area John uses a blunt cannula from one entry point on the cheek, laying tiny amounts of soft filler deep down against the bone.
After treatment
The difference shows immediately, but the area will be slightly swollen, and the final shape takes one to two weeks to settle. John explains your aftercare, and if anything needs fine-tuning you can come back for a review at the two-week mark.
Watch
See this treatment in the clinic, in short videos on John’s aesthetics site, Trusted Touch Aesthetics.
Watch 11 videos →Results & longevity
The hollow looks softer immediately, and the result keeps improving over two weeks as swelling fades. Filler under the eyes lasts well because there's so little movement — usually twelve to eighteen months. A little product goes a long way, and a light top-up is normally all it takes to maintain it.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
The main effects are slight swelling and sometimes a bruise, though the cannula makes bruising unusual. For the first week some people see mild puffiness in the mornings while the area settles. Sleeping with your head propped up for a night or two helps.
Side effects
The usual, expected effects are swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising, all of which fade within days. While the gel settles over the first couple of weeks you may feel small lumps or a little unevenness; these generally go on their own, and anything that lingers can be looked at. Less common risks are infection, an allergy-like reaction, or filler ending up somewhere it wasn't intended. On rare occasions filler can affect a blood vessel. John's technique is designed to keep this risk low, he checks for warning signs before you go home, and the clinic keeps the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid on hand so it can be dealt with straight away.
Aftercare
For 24–48 hours, leave the area alone — no touching, pressing or massaging unless John has told you to. For 48 hours, avoid hard exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and alcohol, and on the first night sleep with your head a little raised to keep swelling down. If the area is tender, a cool compress (not a frozen one) can help. Hold off facials, dental treatment and any other procedures on the area for two weeks, and don't put make-up over the injection points for the rest of the day.
Get in touch with the clinic immediately if you have pain that is unusual or getting worse, skin that turns patchy, pale or greyish-blue, blisters, redness that is spreading, or any change in your eyesight. You don't need to call about normal swelling and bruising, though you're always welcome to check in.
- Downtime
- Very little — normally a day or two
- Redness
- Slight, gone within hours
- Swelling
- Slight; may be more obvious in the mornings for a week
- Bruising
- Can happen; clears within a week
- Normal activities
- The same day; hold off hard exercise for 24–48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it get rid of my dark circles?
If they're a shadow cast by a hollow, yes — raising the hollow takes the shadow away. If they come from pigmentation or very thin skin, filler won't work, and John will be upfront about that at your consultation.
Could it make my eyes look puffy?
It can if too much is used or it's placed too close to the surface, which is why John uses very small amounts of soft filler placed deep. If you tend to get puffy, he may suggest an alternative like polynucleotides.
How much filler is used?
Generally 0.5–1 ml for both eyes together. Here, less really is more.
Will I bruise?
The cannula makes bruising unusual, but it can still happen — leave a week before any big event.
Is it painful?
Numbing cream goes on beforehand and most fillers include a local anaesthetic, so what you feel is pressure and the odd sting, not pain. Expect the area to be a little sore for a day or two.
Can filler be undone?
It can. If needed, hyaluronic acid filler can be broken down with an enzyme — one reason it's the filler we choose — and the clinic always keeps that dissolving treatment in stock.
What does the consultation involve?
Before anything is booked, John looks at the area as part of your whole face, hears what you'd like to change, reviews your medical history and is clear about what can realistically be achieved, roughly how much product you'd need and what it would cost.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Banana Beauty Lab and runs his aesthetics practice, Trusted Touch Aesthetics, here. He specialises in facial balancing and harmonisation, alongside wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. His training is CPD-certified, he is fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.