TEAR TROUGH FILLER
A non-surgical option where the cause is volume loss, not herniated fat
TEAR TROUGH FILLER - YOU, BUT RESTED
Look rested again. Tear trough filler replaces the volume lost beneath the eye, lifting the hollow that casts a shadow and creates that permanently tired appearance. Results are immediate and last around 9–12 months. Precise, conservative, and only ever performed where your anatomy genuinely suits it.
30 min
299 British pounds
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
THE BASICS
What is tear trough filler?
Tear trough filler is a treatment that restores lost volume in the hollow that runs from the inner corner of the eye down towards the cheek. A small amount of hyaluronic acid gel is placed deep against the bone to soften the hollow, reduce the shadow it casts and smooth the step between the lower eyelid and the cheek. The result, when the anatomy is right, is a face that simply looks rested.
What is the tear trough?
The tear trough is the natural groove between your lower eyelid and your cheek. With age, the fat pads that support the mid-face descend and the bone behind them remodels, which deepens that groove. Light then falls into it and creates a shadow — which is why people are so often told they look tired when they feel perfectly well.
Is under eye filler the same thing as tear trough filler?
Yes. Under eye filler, eye bag filler, dark circle filler, infraorbital filler and tear trough filler all describe the same treatment. Some clinics also market it under brand names such as Bright Eye or Eye Lift.
What does tear trough filler treat?
It treats hollowing beneath the eye, the shadow that hollowing creates, the visible step from lid to cheek, and the tired appearance that comes with both. It works well for a true volume deficit.
What will tear trough filler not fix?
It will not remove genuine eye bags caused by herniated orbital fat, it will not lift loose eyelid skin, it will not treat brown pigmentation, and it will not fix fine crepey lines caused by thin skin. Placing filler in any of those situations tends to make the area look heavier and more swollen rather than fresher. Those concerns need different treatments — see the alternatives section below.
Can tear trough filler help dark circles?
It depends entirely on what is causing them. Where the darkness is a shadow cast by a hollow, filler often improves it significantly. Where it is brown melanin pigmentation, filler will do nothing and prescription skincare and peels are the answer. Where it is dark blue-purple showing through very thin skin, polynucleotides or a biostimulator such as Juvelook, that thicken and strengthen the skin, are usually the better route.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
SUITABILITY - PLEASE READ THIS PART
Am I suitable for tear trough filler?
Possibly not, and we would rather tell you that at the start. In our clinical opinion, only around two in ten people who come to us asking for tear trough filler are genuinely good candidates for it. It is one of the most anatomically demanding areas in the face, the margin between a beautiful result and an obvious one is very small, and the wrong patient with the wrong anatomy will not get a good outcome no matter how skilfully the product is placed.
What happens if you decide I'm not suitable?
We tell you honestly, we explain exactly why, and we set out your options — which will be either an alternative treatment that suits your actual anatomy, or no treatment at all if nothing we offer would genuinely improve things. We will never place filler under an eye simply because it has been requested. Declining to treat is a legitimate clinical outcome and it happens regularly here.
Why do so many clinics say yes when you say no?
We cannot speak for other clinics. What we can say is that tear trough filler is heavily requested, commercially attractive, and unregulated in the UK in terms of who is permitted to inject it. Our position is that a treatment declined costs us a booking, whereas a treatment that should not have been done costs you far more than that.
Who is not suitable for tear trough filler?
Common reasons we decline include: herniated orbital fat pads, or "true" eye bags rather than hollows; existing fluid retention or puffiness in the mid-face; a history of malar oedema or festoons; very lax or crepey lower lid skin; poor lymphatic drainage; significant pigmentation rather than shadowing; unrealistic expectations of what the treatment can achieve; and previous filler in the area that has migrated or overcorrected and needs assessing first.
How do I know if I have hollows or eye bags?
It is genuinely difficult to tell from a mirror or a selfie, and the two frequently coexist. A useful indicator is lighting: a hollow deepens and darkens under overhead light and improves when you lie down, whereas herniated fat tends to protrude regardless. That said, this is what an in-person assessment is for. We look at the area in different lights, at rest and animated, and we press and palpate to establish what is actually there.
I've been told I have malar oedema. Can I still have filler?
Almost certainly not in that area. Malar oedema is fluid sitting over the cheekbone, and hyaluronic acid attracts water, so filler placed near it will typically make the swelling considerably worse and can be very difficult to resolve. If you have a history of puffiness that comes and goes, or that is worse in the mornings and after salt or alcohol, tell us at your consultation.
Is there an age limit?
No, but age is informative. Under-30s asking about their under eyes usually have dark circles and thin skin rather than a genuine volume deficit, and are far better served by polynucleotides. Volume loss becomes a real finding from the mid-thirties onwards.
Can I have this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. We do not perform dermal filler treatments during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
PRODUCTS & TECHNIQUE
Which filler do you use for tear troughs?
For this area we use only Teosyal Redensity I or Restylane Eyelight. Nothing else. Both are low-cohesivity, low-hydrophilic products developed specifically for delicate, thin-skinned areas, which is what makes them appropriate here.
Why only those two products?
Because the under eye punishes the wrong choice. A standard cheek or lip filler is firm, highly cross-linked and strongly water-attracting — placed under the eye it swells, holds fluid, sits visibly, and can give a bluish cast through thin skin. Redensity I is a lightly cross-linked redensifying gel with a dermo-restructuring complex, which integrates softly rather than projecting. Restylane Eyelight is a product specifically developed and indicated for infraorbital hollowing, with a lower water-binding profile than conventional fillers. Using the correct product for this region is not a preference, it is the difference between a good and a bad outcome.
Which of the two will I have?
Whichever suits your tissue. That is decided at your appointment on the basis of skin thickness, the depth of the hollow and how your tissues behave, and we will explain the reasoning at the time.
Do you use a needle or a cannula?
Both are used in this area and the choice depends on your anatomy and the placement required. We will explain what we intend to use and why before we start.
How deep is the filler placed?
Deep — against the bone, beneath the muscle, in very small aliquots. Superficial placement under the eye is what produces visible lumps and the blue-grey Tyndall effect.
How much filler will I need?
Very little. This is an area where restraint is the entire technique. Most patients need well under 1ml in total across both sides, and it is often better to place a conservative amount, let it settle for a few weeks and review than to try to correct everything in one appointment.
Is the product MHRA-approved?
We work exclusively with genuine UK-licensed pharmacies and official UK distributors, and every product we use is CE-marked and sourced through those channels. We do not use unlicensed imports.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
THE APPOINTMENT ITSELF
Do I need a consultation first?
As for anything we do, we always assess first because the assessment is the treatment. Suitability cannot be established from self diagnistics, social media, or AI.
However, you do not need to book a separate consultation, as this forms part of the appointment itself.
Does tear trough filler hurt?
All our patients describe it as very tolerable. Topical numbing cream is applied beforehand where appropriate, and both products contain lidocaine. You may feel mild pressure, and the inner corner is the most sensitive point.
How long does it take?
Allow around 30 minutes for the treatment itself, plus consultation time. Oftentimes, it is much quicker than this.
Is there downtime?
Plan for bruising. The under eye is highly vascular and bruising is common — usually minor, occasionally more noticeable, and typically settling over 5 to 10 days. Mild swelling for the first 48 to 72 hours is normal. We would not book this within two weeks of a wedding, holiday or event.
What should I do before my appointment?
Avoid alcohol and ibuprofen or other NSAIDs for 24 hours beforehand, as both increase bruising. Come without eye make-up if possible. Tell us about any blood thinning medication, supplements such as fish oil, ginkgo or high-dose vitamin E, and any history of cold sores.
What is the aftercare?
Keep the area clean, sleep slightly elevated for the first couple of nights, avoid heavy exercise, saunas and hot yoga for 48 hours, be mindful of salt and alcohol in the first few days, and do not massage or press the area. Full written aftercare is provided.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
RESULTS
When will I see results?
Immediately, although what you see on the day is not the final result. Swelling settles over the first week and the product integrates over two to four weeks.
How long does tear trough filler last?
Typically 9 to 12 months, and often longer in this area than elsewhere in the face because there is very little muscle movement to break the product down. Longevity varies with metabolism, product choice and how much was placed.
Will I need a top-up?
Sometimes. Because we deliberately treat conservatively, a small review and refinement at four to six weeks is not unusual, and is often the right way to do this area properly. Please note, there is a charge for this, and can be booked via our 'top up' services.
Will it look obvious?
It should not. The intention is that nobody can identify what you have had done, only that you look less tired. If your expectation is a dramatic transformation, this is the wrong treatment and we will say so.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
RISKS & COMPLICATIONS - HONESTLY
What are the risks of tear trough filler?
Common and expected: bruising, swelling, tenderness, small lumps that settle. Less common: prolonged swelling or fluid retention, the Tyndall effect (a bluish-grey tinge where product sits too superficially), visible or palpable product, migration over time, and asymmetry. Rare but serious: infection, delayed-onset nodules, and vascular occlusion — filler entering a blood vessel, which in this region carries a very small but real risk of skin necrosis or visual loss. This is precisely why product choice, depth, technique and injector experience matter so much here, and why we assess so strictly.
What happens if I don't like it, or something goes wrong?
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is a prescription-only medicine, so it must be prescribed and administered by a prescriber. Nevertheless, all potential risks, side effects, and what could happen is discussed during your appointment in clinic.
Do you correct other clinics' tear trough filler?
Yes. We regularly assess migrated, overcorrected or lumpy under-eye filler placed elsewhere. That assessment is a consultation, not a treatment booking, and dissolving is a prescription-only procedure requiring a face-to-face consultation with Rachel at least 48 hours beforehand.
Why does tear trough filler go wrong so often?
Three recurring reasons: the wrong patient, the wrong product, and product placed too superficially or in too great a quantity. All three are avoidable, and all three are addressed by proper assessment and conservative technique.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
ALTERNATIVES - WHAT WE OFFER INSTEAD
What are the alternatives to tear trough filler?
This is the most useful question on the page, because for eight out of ten enquirers the answer sits here rather than in filler.
Purified DNA fragments that stimulate fibroblasts and genuinely thicken, strengthen and improve the quality of the under-eye skin. The treatment of choice for crepey, thin, finely lined skin and for blue-toned dark circles. Formulations include Lumi Eyes, Plinest Eyes, Newest, Rejuran, Vitaran and Plenhyage, matched to your age and concern.
Lumi Eyes
Apolynucleotide specifically for the under eye, well suited to younger patients with dark circles and early changes.
A PDLLA collagen stimulator in a hyaluronic acid carrier that rebuilds structure through the skin rather than filling a space beneath it. Increasingly our preference where the skin itself has lost support and filler alone would sit poorly.
A soft gel prepared from your own plasma, with no synthetic product, giving gentle structural support alongside a regenerative effect.
PRP — platelet rich plasma to improve skin quality and tone in the periorbital area.
Prescription skincare and peels
Where the concern is brown pigmentation rather than shadow.
Surgical referral
Where herniated fat is the actual problem, a lower lid blepharoplasty is the appropriate treatment and no injectable will substitute for it. We will tell you that plainly rather than sell you something that will not work.
Tear trough filler or polynucleotides — which is better for me?
Filler addresses a missing volume. Polynucleotides address poor skin quality. If your hollow is genuine and your skin is good, filler. If your skin is thin, crepey or dark and the hollow is modest, polynucleotides. Many patients ultimately do best with polynucleotides first to build skin quality, then a reassessment to see whether any filler is needed at all — and frequently it is not.
Is there an under eye treatment that isn't filler?
Yes — polynucleotides, Juvelook, Bio Filler, PRP and medical skincare are all non-filler routes to improving the under eye area, and for most people they are the more appropriate starting point.
TEAR TROUGH FAQ's
COST, LOCATION & BOOKING
How much is tear trough filler in Cardiff?
Tear trough filler at Sebastian Rose is from £299. Full pricing for all under eye treatments is on our prices page.
Why is tear trough filler cheaper elsewhere?
Price usually reflects product and practitioner. Redensity I and Restylane Eyelight are premium products with a higher cost per syringe than standard fillers. A very low price in this area is worth asking questions about — specifically which product is being used, and who is available to prescribe and manage complications if something goes wrong.
Where is your clinic?
Sebastian Rose Medical Aesthetics, 39 Charles Street, Cardiff, CF10 2GB. Central Cardiff, a short walk from Queen Street station.
Do you see patients from outside Cardiff?
Yes. We treat patients from across South Wales and the surrounding region, including Newport, Penarth, Barry, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil, Cwmbran, Blackwood, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Abergavenny and Chepstow.
Who will perform my treatment?
All injectable treatments at Sebastian Rose are performed by expert medical aesthetic practitioners GMC / NMC registered.
How do I book?
Book your consultation online, or call the clinic on 0800 772 0137. If you are unsure whether you are suitable, book the consultation rather than the treatment — that is exactly what it is for.
