What to expect after tear trough filler
After tear trough filler, some swelling and bruising are common and usually settle; the area can look slightly uneven at first, so the result is judged at review rather than in the first few days.
You are asked not to rub or press on the area and to keep make-up off the entry points until they have closed. Heat, strenuous exercise and alcohol can increase swelling for a short while and are worth avoiding early on. Sleeping with the head slightly raised can help the first nights.
Some signs need urgent attention: skin that turns white, grey, blue or mottled, pain that is severe or increasing, or any change in vision. These can signal a blocked blood vessel and are treated by dissolving the filler with hyaluronidase without delay. Puffiness that persists, or a bluish tint that appears weeks later, should also be reviewed; both are related to how and where the product sits, and both can be corrected by dissolving it.
Further filler is not added until the first placement has settled, because over-correction is hard to judge while swelling is present.
Tear trough filler compared with other under-eye options| Option | What it does | What it cannot do | Typical recovery | Who it tends to suit |
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| Tear trough filler (soft hyaluronic acid, placed deep with a cannula) | Replaces volume in the groove along the inner lower lid so the shadow it casts softens | Lighten pigment, hide visible vessels or flatten an eye bag | Swelling and bruising that settle; can be dissolved with hyaluronidase | A true hollow with reasonable lower-lid skin and no significant bag |
| Skin boosters (such as polynucleotides) | Work on the quality of thin under-eye skin rather than its contour | Fill a groove or change the shape of the lower lid | Small injection bumps or bruising that settle | Thin, crepey skin where vessels show through |
| Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at conservative settings | Targets excess melanin in the skin around the eyes | Fill a hollow or change a shadow cast by a bulge | Mild redness that settles | Brown darkness that stays when the skin is gently stretched |
| Collagen biostimulators | Stimulate the skin's own collagen production gradually | Be dissolved if the result is not right, which is why hyaluronic acid is preferred in this thin-skinned area | Swelling or bruising; nodules are a recognised risk | Not usually chosen for the tear trough; considered for other areas of the face |
| Lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), referred to a plastic surgery or oculoplastic specialist | Removes or repositions herniated orbital fat, with or without excess skin | Change pigment or the quality of the skin | Surgical recovery with swelling and bruising, guided by the operating team | Eye bags from herniated fat, where filler would add weight |
Who it suits, who should wait, who is referred on
Tends to suit
- A true hollow along the inner lower lid
- Lower-lid skin of reasonable thickness and tone
- A shadow that is mainly caused by the groove, not by pigment
- No significant bag or swelling over the upper cheek
Better to wait
- Active infection or inflammation near the eye
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Under-eye puffiness that comes and goes with fluid, allergy or sleep, until its cause is understood
Referred on
- Herniated orbital fat or markedly lax lower-lid skin → plastic or oculoplastic surgical assessment
- Eye pain, redness or vision symptoms → ophthalmology review
Who should not have this treatment
- Active infection or inflammation near the eye
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- A true bulge from herniated orbital fat, where filler would add weight
- Marked lower-lid laxity or festooning
- Earlier filler of unknown type in the area
- Bleeding disorder, or blood-thinning medicine that has not been reviewed
People whose under-eye darkness is mainly pigment or visible vessels, or whose concern is a true fat bag, tend to respond poorly, because filler is the wrong tool for those problems.
What happens, step by step
- Consultation and examination to tell a hollow from a bulge
- Written plan and quote, including the option of no treatment
- Treatment day: cleansing, numbing, then soft hyaluronic acid placed deep through a small entry point
- Review and adjustment, with further filler added once the first placement has settled
Aftercare
First 24 hours
- Avoid rubbing or pressing the area
- Keep make-up off the entry points until they have closed
- Avoid heat, strenuous exercise and alcohol while swelling settles
First week
- Sleep with the head slightly raised if swelling is bothersome
- Expect some bruising and unevenness while swelling settles
- Avoid facial treatments around the eyes unless the doctor agrees
Sun
- Use sun protection around the eyes
- Avoid heat treatments such as saunas early on
Skincare
- Use gentle products around the eyes
- Restart active ingredients once the skin is comfortable
When to call
- White, grey, blue or mottled skin, severe pain or any vision change: contact the clinic at once, or go to emergency for vision change
- Puffiness that persists or a bluish tint that appears later
Before you book
- Declare blood-thinning medicines and supplements such as fish oil
- Tell the doctor about allergies, hay fever or any eye condition
- Tell the doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
- Avoid sun exposure and pause retinoids around the eyes if the skin is irritated
- Bring photos of your eyes from earlier years and any record of previous filler
What determines the fee
The fee depends on the amount of soft hyaluronic acid the hollow needs, whether one or both sides are treated, whether the cheek beneath also needs support, and whether another under-eye treatment such as a skin booster or laser is combined. If earlier filler has to be assessed first, that also affects the plan. A written quote is given at consultation, after Dr Sin Yong has examined the area. The consultation decides whether filler is advised at all, since some under-eye concerns are better treated another way.
How quotes work at this practice: how we quote.
Myths we hear in clinic
“Filler can treat every kind of dark circle.”Filler softens a shadow cast by a hollow; it does not lighten pigment, hide visible vessels or flatten a fat bag.
“Using more filler gives a smoother under-eye.”Over-correction can create a shelf or puffiness, which is why small amounts placed deep and judged at review are preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tear trough hollowing and true eyebags?
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Tear trough hollowing is a concavity — the valley deepens under the eye creating a shadow. True eyebags are a convexity — orbital fat herniates forward creating a bulge. Filler fills a concavity; it worsens a convexity. This distinction is critical and assessed at every consultation.
Is tear trough filler safe?
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No injectable treatment is without risk. Known complications include Tyndall effect (bluish discolouration), prolonged swelling and, rarely, vascular occlusion; product choice, a deep plane, cannula technique and conservative volumes are how these risks are managed, and hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed.
How much filler is used for tear trough?
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0.3–0.5ml per side is typically sufficient. Overcorrecting the tear trough is one of the most common mistakes — creating a shelf or puffiness that worsens the appearance.
Can tear trough filler be dissolved?
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Yes — Dr Sin Yong uses only HA-based filler for tear troughs, which is can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
How long does tear trough filler last?
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It varies with the product, the plane and how your body breaks hyaluronic acid down, and the periorbital area may metabolise filler faster than other areas because of tissue mobility. The timing of any top-up is set at review.
Does tear trough filler hurt?
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Most people feel pressure and some stinging rather than sharp pain. Numbing cream is applied beforehand, the filler itself usually contains local anaesthetic, and a cannula needs only a small entry point. The area may feel tender for a few days afterwards.
Who is not suitable for tear trough filler?
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Filler is usually not appropriate where the fullness is herniated orbital fat, where the lower-lid skin is markedly lax, where there is festooning or swelling over the upper cheek, or where under-eye puffiness comes and goes with fluid, allergy or sleep. Active infection near the eye and expectations that filler cannot meet are also reasons to wait or to choose a different route. These are assessed before any treatment is offered.
Why can the under-eye look puffy months after tear trough filler?
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Hyaluronic acid holds water, and in some people the lower lid retains fluid around it, especially if too much product was placed or it sits too close to the surface. This is one reason soft, low-water-absorption filler, a deep plane and small volumes are used. Persistent puffiness is reviewed and, where filler is the cause, can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
How much does tear trough filler cost in Singapore?
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Fees are not published. They depend on the amount of soft hyaluronic acid the hollow needs, whether one or both sides are treated, whether the cheek also needs support and whether another under-eye treatment is combined. A written quote is given at consultation, after Dr Sin Yong has examined the area and decided whether filler is suitable.
Is tear trough filler worth it?
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It can be worthwhile for a true hollow along the inner lower lid with reasonable skin and no significant bag, where the shadow is the main concern. It is not worthwhile for pigment, visible vessels or herniated fat, where filler can look heavier. Assessment decides which of these you have before any treatment is offered.
What are the disadvantages of tear trough filler?
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The area is demanding. Swelling and bruising are common, the result can look uneven at first, and persistent puffiness, a bluish tint or lumpiness can occur. A true eye bag can look heavier. Rarely, a blocked blood vessel is an emergency. Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, but that is a further procedure.
