ROAD TEST: I got 'tear trough' filler to see if it could plump my hollow under eyes.

There I was, staring at the ceiling, an electronic needle going into one side of my face, my best friend trying to keep me calm whilst the doctor talked me through what was happening…

But all I could focus on was the deafening buzz that was coming from the ‘distractor’ next to my ear.

I’m talking about the time I decided to get tear trough filler. In other words, filler injected under my eyes.

Over the last year, I started noticing a sunken appearance in my under eye area. I can remember waking up one day after a solid 12 hours of sleep and asking myself, “Why do I look so tired?” It was only then I started to realise how that area of my face was bothering me and affecting my self confidence.

This brought me to researching and ultimately having tear trough filler, and documenting the entire process. Here’s my experience.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alisha | Beauty & Bargains (@lishyglows) on Jul 24, 2019 at 12:44am PDT

Hang on… what is ‘tear trough filler’?

Tear trough filler, more commonly referred to as under eye filler, is treatment where a hyaluronic acid-based filler is injected into the tear trough, the area that sits below the lower eyelid and above the cheek (known as the periorbital area).

Tear trough filler is designed to treat volume loss in this area, which can depress as you grow older. In many people, the sunken appearance of the tear trough is a genetic predisposition that can become more noticeable with age.

Is getting tear trough filler safe?

Done correctly by a reputable doctor, the tear trough filler procedure itself is safe. But as with anything in life (especially times that involve needles being poked into your face), there are risks of complications if you aren’t treated by an experienced professional.

Make sure you feel comfortable with your chosen specialist and do your research. Ask as many questions as you like and be honest during your consultation.

How much does tear trough filler cost?

Tear trough filler isn’t cheap, but it’s also not the kind of thing you want to scrimp on.

1ml of filler to treat the periorbital area can start from $700 and can increase up to as much as $1000 dependent on where you go.

Leigh Campbell discussed botox and filler on this episode of You Beauty below. Post continues after audio.

My tear trough filler experience.

I cycled through nervousness, anxiety and excitement when I finally made the appointment to have the areas under my eyes filled.

After countless hours of Googling, I booked in two consultations to discuss price, risks and whether I was even a suitable candidate for this type of treatment.

Walking in, I was armed with questions like:

Is this safe? What is the chance of blindness? Will I have to sell my first born to afford this? Will I bruise? What about swelling? Will anyone be able to notice? How long does it last? And most importantly, does it hurt?

A myriad of questions as a result of the internal monologue of an over thinker. Once my doctor eased my nerves and I was satisfied with the answers to all my questions, I made the treatment appointment.

What is getting tear trough filler like?

You can watch footage from Alisha’s tear trough treatment below (skip if you’re not into needles!). Post continues after video.

On the day of, I stepped into the treatment room and listened carefully as the nurses applied numbing cream.

I was given the option of an electronic needle or a cannula. I chose the electronic needle, which involves an electronic needle (V2 pen) placing dermal filler evenly at safe depths. The cannula method allows dermal filler to pass through the tissue and has a blunt tip which can reduce the amount of bruising or swelling you may experience after the treatment. There’s no right or wrong method, talk to the consulting professional about which option suits you more.

Once the numbing cream had kicked in (roughly 10 minutes), the doctor began marking up my face and talking me through what I was about to experience to ease my nerves.

Enter: the ‘distractor’ I mentioned earlier.

Most clinics will have different versions of this device, but the idea is to have something to distract you while a needle is being inserted into the soft skin below my eye.

In my case, it was… a vibrator inside a surgical glove.

Internally, I questioned the method but it did the trick. While the filler was injected into one side of my face, this device emitted rigid vibrations on the other side of my face, completely distracting me for most of the procedure.

Did getting tear trough filler hurt?

For me, no, but it depends on each individual’s pain threshold and sensitivity.

I found there was no pain with each injection – just slight discomfort as the needle distributed filler into all the right places. At times the doctor would stop, assess and ask me how I was doing. The whole procedure was over in 20 minutes.

After the tear trough filler treatment.

Personally, I saw the difference instantly following the treatment. I couldn’t believe how awake and fresh I looked.

Following the treatment, I was a little bit swollen in the area for about a week, but luckily, I had very minimal bruising - nothing a little concealer couldn’t fix! I was told to avoid alcohol and exercise for 48 hours post-op, keep fluids up as the filler grips to moisture, and to ice the area to reduce swelling.

A few weeks later, I went back to the doctor’s office for a follow up appointment. My dark circles were gone, and my self-confidence was up. People around me kept commenting on how ‘well rested’ I looked – little did they know.

Whilst I still noticed some pigmentation (darkness) below my eyes, the sunken appearance is nowhere to be found. It’s been about 16 months since I had my tear troughs done. I began to notice the hollows reappearing around the 12 month mark.

Would I get tear trough filler again? Hell yes, no hesitation.

But until the money in my 'Smile' account builds up a bit more (fellow Barefoot Investors will know what I mean), I’m relying on Tarte Shape Tape Concealer and Drunk Elephant eye cream to get me through.

Want to see more from Alisha? Follow her on Instagram (@lishyglows) for beauty and lifestyle content.

This story is one person's experience and is not to be substituted for professional, personalised medical advice. Please speak to your medical professional before undergoing any medical or cosmetic procedure.