By Dr. TRACY MOUNTFORD, MBBS MBCAM
Do you wake up in the morning feeling great, only to be dragged down by the tired eyes looking back at you in the mirror?
You’re not alone – this is one of the most common cosmetic concerns I hear from patients of all ages. When I consult people for treatment, I ask them whether they’d like to look less tired, less angry, or more beautiful. Looking less tired is right at the top of the list.
What causes tired looking eyes?
The skin under our eyes is delicate and vulnerable to ageing and in most cases, sunken, hollowed or tired looking eyes are just part of ageing.
As we age, the collagen and elasticity in our skin reduces, which means it is not as supported as it once was. This results in skin gradually sagging and becoming hollow due to loss of collagen. Dark circles can appear which is often just a shadow caused by hollow under eyes.
Other sunken eye causes can include:
- Weight loss
- Genetics
- Dehydration
- Sun Exposure
- Lack of sleep
- Smoking
Sunken eyes can also just be a sign of a sinus infection or allergies. We would recommend visiting your GP for help managing this and once treated the sunken under eyes appearance may disappear.
How to treat tired eyes?
Many of my patients choose to ignore dark circles under the eyes for as long as they can, fearing that the only solution is surgery. However, with modern advanced approaches and more sophisticated techniques, there is so much more we can do now to help achieve wonderful results.
How to get rid of tired eyes?
Thanks to a range of advances in non-surgical cosmetic medicine, there now exists a range of solutions to help individuals relieve the visible effects of tired eyes quickly and effectively, from dark circles and hollowed skin to under-eye wrinkles. The secret of success is seeking out a consultation with a reputable cosmetic practitioner, who understands that treating this sensitive area isn’t as straight forward as simply injecting a line of filler underneath the eye.
When I assess a face, I will look at it from every angle, from the forehead down to the neck, looking for how the ageing process has changed the foundations of the face. Only by restoring this strong foundation can we achieve truly incredible results in the area around and under the eye. I see many patients nowadays who 5 years ago I would have referred to a surgeon. But now, we can relieve the visible symptoms of tired eyes through a range of non-invasive techniques that require zero surgery or downtime.
Fillers for tired eyes
With our increased knowledge of dermal fillers and the exceptional quality of products available to us, many of our ‘hollow under eyes’ patients are treatable using hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. This process is now more commonly known as a ‘Tear Trough‘ filler treatment and involves the injection of restorative hyaluronic acid into the under-eye area.
Out of all the treatments we perform at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, ‘Tear Trough’ filler treatments rank as one of the highest for patient satisfaction and life-changing impact. By restoring volume and hydration to the hollowed-out areas under the eyes, the treatment smooths out fine lines while bringing back a plump, youthful and refreshed look to the under-eye area. In one quick 30-minute treatment, dark circles can be eradicated and patients will no longer suffer from a sunken or depressed appearance under their eyes. The cushioning and hydrating effects of the injectable filler restores strength and support to this delicate area for up to 12 months after treatment.
Other Treatments for tired eyes
As part of my assessment of the eye area, I also look at the skin quality around the eye too, assessing for crepiness that can make us look prematurely aged. Using thermal radiofrequency treatments such as Thermage® Eyes or Tixel, combined with injectables such as Profhilo® & Juvéderm® Volite, we can tighten and firm the skin around the eyes, restoring tighter, smoother and more glowing skin. Fillers tackle the immediate visible problem by replenishing lost volume to eye bags, while the Tixel, Thermage and Profhilo treatments work to build up collagen and elastin proteins around the eye area to give long-term support.
If you are looking to improve the upper eye area, Ultherapy Brow lift can help by lifting the brow and giving the upper eye lid a lifted appearance.
I believe the results we can achieve nowadays using these techniques can create premium-quality effects that are comparable to surgery.
By Dr. TRACY MOUNTFORD, MBBS MBCAM
If you are interested in finding out more about our treatments for tired hollow eyes, you can call us on 0330 433 2175 (London clinic and Buckinghamshire clinic). Also, be sure to follow my weekly Q&A on YouTube for more on non-surgical treatment tips and advice.
