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When you look in the mirror, do you often notice deep dark circles under your eyes that leave you looking tired and drained? You get enough sleep, keep good habits, and diligently take care of your skin, yet you still can't shake those deep dark circles? Whether at work, with friends, or on a date, this can be bothersome! In fact, these stubborn dark circles may well be what we call “tear trough hollows,” and if left unaddressed, they can greatly affect the impression you make on others!
Your Dark Circles Aren't Really Dark Circles: They're Tear Troughs!
Dark circles can be divided into three main types:
1. Tear trough dark circles: shadows caused by hollowing from tear trough depressions, bulging eye bags, or a descending cheek apple.
2. Vascular dark circles: blood vessels sit close to the surface and outline the dark circle.
3. Pigmented dark circles: caused by factors such as skin pigment deposits, thickened keratin, a thickened spinous layer, or laxity.
Patients usually have either a combined type or a single type, but the most common is tear trough dark circles, which is arguably the trickiest type! It is usually caused by everyday bad habits: rubbing the eyes often, staying up late for long periods, and overusing the eyes on phones as many people do today, combined with aging as the years go by.
Tear trough dark circles break down into three types by the cause of the “tear trough”:
1. Eye-bag type: fat from the eye bag shifts downward and accumulates, making the eye bag protrude; the shadow of the eye bag looks like a tear trough.
2. Laxity type: aging around the eyes and loss of soft tissue and cheek fat make the hollow deepen, making the tear trough obvious.
3. Congenital type: the eye socket bone is naturally more hollow, or the eyelid skin is thinner, making the tear trough hollow obvious.
All three types of tear troughs need an aesthetic medicine treatment to improve significantly. “Eye-bag tear troughs” must be improved with hidden-scar eye bag surgery, while the hollows of “laxity” and “congenital” tear troughs need to be improved by filling the tissue around the eyes. You can choose autologous fat grafting or injectable fillers.
However, because fat grafting for tear troughs requires a longer recovery, carries surgical risks, and costs more, most people may not have the time or budget for it and turn instead to injectable treatments that work immediately and cost less: collagen stimulator injections and hyaluronic acid. So what exactly is the difference between the two? What forms are available? And which brands can you choose? Read on for a full explanation!
Results in One Shot! The Tear Trough Dark Circle Fixer: Collagen Stimulator Injections
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, found in tissues such as skin, bones, muscles, and blood vessels, where it provides support and holds water. It acts like glue, holding tissues together. With age, collagen production declines, which accelerates skin aging and leads to tear trough hollows.
Popular “Collagen Injection” Brands, Formulations, and Who They Suit:
Collagen stimulators are products that prompt the tissue beneath the skin to produce collagen. They are nicknamed “girl-making machines” and can smooth folds and lines. Once the main ingredient enters the skin, it stimulates fibroblasts and promotes collagen production.
Taiwan currently has three popular brands: AestheFill, Sculptra, and Ellansé. Although their ingredients differ, the principle is similar: all use external ingredients to stimulate fibroblasts and increase collagen production. They are introduced below:
- AestheFill
- Sculptra
- Ellansé
Commonly known as the “elf needle” or the third-generation “youth needle,” it uses a new type of poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA). Its patented porous microspheres build a stable scaffold in the deeper layer of the skin, filling collapsed areas and stimulating new collagen. The filling effect is semi-immediate, collagen renewal becomes obvious after 3 to 6 months, and the price is mid-range.
Best for: people who want to feel some structural support at a lower price.
Commonly known as the “youth needle” or “liquid lift,” its main ingredient is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). It relies on the renewal of the body's own collagen for its supportive effect, has no immediate filling effect, takes about 3 to 6 months after treatment to show results, and is reasonably priced. Usually Sculptra is used first to lay the foundation (deep stabilization). After the support of the eye-area framework is restored, small-to-medium-molecule hyaluronic acid is then used on top to fill the tear trough.
Best for: budget-conscious people who can accept gradual improvement of tear troughs.
Commonly known as the “girl needle,” its main ingredients are 30% PCL and 70% CMC. Its gel carrier is elastic and viscous and can fill defects immediately, while the patented microspheres also gradually stimulate collagen production, giving a long-lasting, plumping effect. In Taiwan it comes in two forms, type S (one-year effect) and type M (two-year effect), but the price is relatively high.
Best for: those who want immediate tear trough improvement along with gradual rejuvenation.
Sunken Face? Rely on Sculptra! Collagen Stimulator Injections
The Secret of PLLA “Youth Injections”? How to Regain Youthful, Bouncy Skin
Collagen Stimulator Brands Compared for Tear Troughs
The Best Value? Sculptra, Ellansé, and AestheFill Compared on Price, Pros, and Cons
Results in One Shot! The Tear Trough Dark Circle Fixer: Hyaluronic Acid
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide naturally present in the body that moisturizes the dermis of the skin. It binds a large amount of water molecules, keeping skin moist and elastic. With age, the hyaluronic acid in the skin is lost, causing wrinkles, laxity, and other problems. Therefore, hyaluronic acid injections are widely used in facial aesthetic injectables to replenish and retain skin moisture, improve skin condition, and immediately fill tissue hollows.
Hyaluronic Acid Brands Compared! Which One Is Best for Me?
Two Main Types of Hyaluronic Acid: Popular Brands and Who They Suit:
- Gel-type hyaluronic acid
- Particle-type hyaluronic acid
Popular brands: Neuramis, Juvéderm
Gel-type hyaluronic acid: Highly durable and easy to blend with tissue, it combines well with the skin and stretches naturally with facial movement after injection, avoiding a stiff feel.
Best for: those who want a natural tear trough filling result
Popular brands: Restylane, Hya-Dermis
Particle-type hyaluronic acid: Strong support and high firmness, it stays stable after injection and is unlikely to migrate. Depending on the severity of the hollow, large-, medium-, or small-molecule hyaluronic acid can be chosen for reconstruction.
Best for: those who want to fix tear troughs at the root while also treating fine lines under the eyes
Note: gel-type and particle-type hyaluronic acid have different properties, and neither can be called better than the other. The doctor's professional judgment should be used to match the right type to each person's tear trough structure, and with skilled technique, the best post-treatment result can be achieved.
Comparison Table: Collagen Stimulator vs. Hyaluronic Acid for Tear Troughs
Collagen stimulator injections in the tear trough provide nutrients the skin needs and stimulate the body's own collagen production. Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, emphasizes support and hydration, but is then gradually metabolized by the body, whereas with collagen stimulators the results get better and better as new collagen forms.
Overall, collagen stimulator injections combine immediate support with excellent collagen renewal and therefore have a unique advantage in treating “tear trough dark circles.” But everyone's tear trough has a different cause, and expectations and budgets differ too, so if you want to treat tear trough dark circles, we recommend basing your decision on your own tear trough type, desired results, and budget, and discussing it with a professional doctor before proceeding!
This article is for general information only. Results vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person before deciding on any treatment.
