Dark circles are a common complaint. Those pesky eye bags can appear at any time or age. Permanent dark circles tend to make you look more tired and older than you actually are. Even when a person is in optimal health, dark circles can make you look like you haven’t slept the night before. Keep reading to find out more about dark circles treatment.
What are Dark Circles?
When you have dark circles under the eye, it looks like the skin in this area is darker, almost looking like a shadow. Sometimes dark circles can be shadows that are cast from puffy eyes. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can cause fluid to build up under the eyes and give you puffy eyes.
What Causes Dark Circles Under Eye?
Dark, hollow circles can appear due to the ageing of the face, but sometimes it’s just an unfortunate hereditary characteristic visible from a young age. After a sleepless night, it’s not unusual to wake up with dark circles under the eye. Under-eye circles are very common and have several causes like:
- Allergies
- Genetics
- Poor sleep
- Nutrient deficiency
If you find that you’re getting a good night’s sleep consistently and not suffering from allergies or any other issues, it’s frustrating to still have dark circles. At this point, it’s normal to seek out dark circles treatment to find out if you can improve the appearance of circles and wrinkles under the eye.
Dark Circles Treatment: What is Under-Eye Fat Transfer?
Fat grafting around the eyes is a specialist and delicate surgical treatment. The procedure adds volume to under the eyes and can address several issues like:
- Sunken and hollow under eyes
- Eye creases
- Small eye bags
- Dark circles
To treat dark circles, your surgeon uses fat transfer techniques to the face. Using fat transfer, you can extract fat from one part of the body and fill in the problem area under the eyes.
The procedure takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour to perform. During this time, your surgeon will extract fat cells. These fat cells are then put into a centrifuge machine to remove excess fluids and debris. Afterwards, the fat is inserted into the face using a small needle.
Fat transfer is the only way to treat dark circles. If you use hyaluronic acid, it doesn’t reabsorb in the under-eye area quickly enough. Over time, you can see the product, and it can sometimes change the colour of the eyelid.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Fat Transfer to the Face?
Most patients need about 5 to 7 days off work after the facial fat transfer procedure as there can be some swelling. You should see the final results after 3 months.
Like all surgeries, there are some risks and potential side effects, such as:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Asymmetry
- Pain
Most of the swelling should subside after about 72 hours, but persistent swelling may last up to 2 weeks. As the swelling continues to subside, you will feel back to your normal self and start to see the results of the procedure.
Dark Circles Treatment: 5 Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer
1. Get Rid of Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
Under-eye fat grafting can remove eye bags, dark circles, and hollow areas under the eye. As a rejuvenating procedure, it can have a significant impact on the overall look of your face. Dark circles can make you feel self-conscious. If you find that eye bags and dark circles continue even after a good night’s sleep, facial fat transfer may help to get rid of dark circles.
2. Decrease Risk of Complications and Allergic Reactions
Because you’re using your own fat to increase volume and treat dark circles, you’re not putting a foreign substance into your body. This decreases the risk of allergic reactions and complications.
3. Long-Lasting Results
One major benefit of it is that it has long-lasting results. Results should last for at least 3 years. Some patients require touch-up procedures to achieve optimal results. Technically the results aren’t 100% permanent, but they are very long-lasting.
4. Restore Volume Under the Eyes
As you get older, it’s normal for your collagen levels to deplete. This can cause your skin to lose volume and sag. If you lack volume under the eyes, fat transfer to the face can restore volume under the eyes and rejuvenate the under-eye area.
5. Improve Skin
Facial fat transfer can improve volume and skin quality. Results are natural-looking while achieving a refreshed and youthful appearance.
Fat grafting to the eye area is an extremely specialised procedure. A deep understanding of fat transfer techniques and the human anatomy is needed to achieve results effectively and safely.
Dark circles can make you look and feel older and more tired than you are. You can make dark circles disappear with fat grafting surgery to the face. The procedure can also reduce lines and wrinkles around the eye area. If you have always struggled with dark circles or a lack of volume under the eyes, fat transfer to the face may be a solution.
Facial Fat Transfer at the Harley Clinic London
During facial fat transfer, your surgeon uses fat from another part of the body. That means it’s a useful procedure to target a stubborn area of fat at the same time. You can use facial fat transfer techniques on the following areas:
- Cheeks
- Lips
- Temples
- Corners of the mouth
If you’re getting another procedure at the same time like a facelift, then your surgeon would perform under eye fat transfer alongside your treatment. Combining a facelift and facial fat transfer can work well because you can add volume while removing excess skin and tightening the skin. So if your main concerns are with a lack of volume in the face and sagging, these two procedures target both of those issues.
You can also combine dark circles treatment with:
To discuss your options and find out if you’re a suitable candidate for facial fat transfer, book a consultation today at the Harley Clinic.
