Tear Trough Treatment Melbourne
Under-Eye Contour & Lower-Lid Skin SupportThe tear trough is the groove that runs down and out from the inner corner of the eye, where a ligament ties the skin to the rim of the eye socket. As fat and bone around the eye thin with age, the groove becomes more pronounced, fat behind the lower lid can push forward above it, and shadow collects beneath. Tear trough treatment aims to soften the groove with volume, while skin treatments may thicken thin lower-lid skin and fade pigment that darkens the area.
Your AHPRA-registered nurse looks at your under-eyes under overhead light, then again as you look up, which pushes any fat behind the lower lid forward and shows whether a bag or a hollow is casting the shadow. Treatment is available at our Camberwell, Moonee Ponds and Brighton clinics.
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Understanding Tear Troughs
The lower eyelid meets the cheek along the bony rim of the eye socket. Fat behind the lid is held back by a thin membrane, a small pad of fat over the rim softens its edge, and the skin covering it all is the thinnest on the face. Small changes to any of these show quickly under the eyes, usually because of one or more of these:
GENETICS
a visible trough often runs in families
AGEING
the rim of the eye socket recedes with age
WEIGHT LOSS
fat loss often shows under the eyes first
SUN & RUBBING
both thin the lower-lid skin and darken it
Whether the shadow comes from a hollow, a bag, the skin or pigment decides which treatment comes first, and whether volume is used at all.
Tear Trough Treatment by Cause
When a hollow and dark circles appear together, the hollow is usually treated first, since much of that darkness is shadow and may lighten once the groove is softened.
Common planning options we may discuss during a tear trough consultation include:
The tear trough starts at the inner corner of the eye and runs down and outward along the rim of the eye socket. Along this line a ligament holds the skin firmly to the bone. As the cheek below loses fat and the rim recedes with age, the skin over the ligament canโt drop with it, so the groove sharpens into a line of shadow that can make the under-eye look tired even after a full nightโs sleep.
Volume is used along the bone beneath the groove, built up in small steps, aiming to soften the step between lower lid and cheek. Biostimulators may add support gradually over a course of sessions, and they often suit a trough that is mild and wide.
How far the groove runs from the inner corner of the eye How it catches shadow under overhead light Skin thickness over the groove Whether the groove sits evenly on both sides Any previous under-eye treatment and its timing - โWill my under-eyes look puffy?โ Volume is built up in small steps and checked as you look up and down, aiming to soften the groove without creating a ridge.
- โIโve had this since my teens. Can it still be treated?โ An early trough usually comes from inherited bone and ligament shape, and itโs assessed the same way as one that forms with age.
- โWhy do I look tired when Iโm not?โ The groove casts a line of shadow under overhead light, which reads as tiredness whether youโve slept or not.
- โCan it leave a blue tinge?โ Volume close to thin skin can show through as a bluish tint, so skin thickness is checked before anything is placed.
- A softer step between lower lid and cheek
- Less shadow along the groove under overhead light
- An under-eye that may look less tired
- Support that may build gradually with biostimulators
- Previous under-eye treatment is reviewed before more is added
- Swelling can last longer under the eyes than elsewhere
- Recent eye surgery or eye conditions are reviewed first
- Thin skin is assessed, since volume can show through it
- A visible groove from the inner corner of the eye
- A tired look that sleep doesnโt change
- A trough that has been there since early adulthood
Fat behind the lower lid is held in place by a thin membrane. With age the membrane weakens and the fat pushes forward, forming a bag along the lower lid. Just below it, the lid-cheek junction marks where the lower lid ends and the cheek begins, and as the cheek loses fat this line drops and hollows. The bag above and the hollow below make each other look larger, and the bag usually shows more when you look up.
Volume is used in the hollow below the bag, aiming to blend the lower lid into the cheek so the bag looks smaller. Fotona laser and Morpheus8 may firm lax lower-lid skin over the bag across a series of sessions. None of these removes the fat itself, so a large bag may need a surgical opinion.
How far the bag pushes forward as you look up The hollow along the lid-cheek junction below it Lower-lid skin laxity, checked with a gentle pinch Puffiness that eases as the day goes on Whether a surgical opinion would suit the bag better - โWonโt volume make my bags bigger?โ Volume is used in the hollow below the bag, where it aims to soften the drop-off that makes the bag stand out. The bag itself is left alone.
- โWhy are my bags worse in the morning?โ Fluid gathers under the eyes overnight and drains once youโre upright. Puffiness that comes and goes is often fluid, while a bag that stays all day is usually fat.
- โDo I need surgery?โ Fat behind the lid can only be removed surgically. Your nurse explains whether non-surgical options may help or a surgical opinion suits you better.
- โCan laser tighten the skin over my bags?โ Fotona and Morpheus8 may firm lax skin over a mild bag, with change building gradually across a series.
- A smoother line from lower lid to cheek
- A bag that may look smaller once the hollow is softened
- Firmer lower-lid skin that may build across sessions
- Less shadow beneath the bag under overhead light
- Thyroid eye conditions are screened, as they cause swelling
- Allergies and hay fever are noted, since both worsen puffiness
- Previous lower-lid surgery is reviewed before planning
- A large bag may be referred for a surgical opinion
- A mild bag sitting above a visible hollow
- A lower lid that blends poorly into the cheek
- Lax lower-lid skin over a small bag
Dark circles usually come from more than one source. Brown pigment builds up in the skin, especially in olive and darker skin tones and after years of sun or rubbing. Blue or purple tones come from veins and muscle showing through lower-lid skin, the thinnest on the face. Shadow from a hollow can sit over both, and it changes with the light while pigment and veins donโt.
PicoSure laser breaks brown pigment into fragments the body clears over a series of sessions. Where veins show through thin skin, Rejuran and PRF aim to thicken the skin gradually so less colour shows through. Light chemical peels may support either approach, though they’re never the first treatment for the under-eye.
Whether the darkness is brown, blue-purple or both How the colour changes as the skin is gently stretched Your skin tone and past reactions to laser or peels Sun exposure and any habit of rubbing your eyes Whether the colour shifts with the light or stays the same - โWill eye creams fix this?โ Creams may help mild surface pigment, but they canโt thicken lower-lid skin or hide veins showing through it.
- โIs laser safe this close to my eyes?โ Eye protection is worn throughout PicoSure treatment, and settings are matched to your skin tone.
- โI have olive skin. Can I still be treated?โ Darker skin tones can react to laser or peels with new pigment, so a patch test and gentler settings are often used first.
- โWhy are they worse when Iโm tired?โ Poor sleep can leave skin paler and veins more visible, so the colour beneath the eyes looks stronger.
- Brown pigment that may fade across a series
- Lower-lid skin that may thicken gradually
- Less blue or purple showing through the skin
- Change that tends to build over several months
- Patch testing may be needed for darker skin tones
- Daily sunscreen helps keep pigment from returning
- A recent tan delays laser treatment
- Eye rubbing and allergies are discussed, as both darken the area
- Brown pigment beneath the eyes
- Blue or purple tones showing through thin skin
- Dark circles that look the same in any light
Lower-lid skin has little collagen and few oil glands, and it folds every time you smile or squint. As collagen thins with age and sun, the skin loses its spring. Fine lines that once smoothed out stay put, and the surface takes on a crinkled, crepey texture that shows most when you smile or look up.
Rejuran and PRF aim to improve skin thickness and hydration gradually over a course of sessions, and exosomes may support repair alongside them. Fotona and Morpheus8 work on firmness and texture, with change tending to build over several months. Light chemical peels may smooth the surface, though they’re never the first treatment for the under-eye.
Fine lines at rest and as you smile Crepey texture as you look up How quickly the skin springs back after a light pinch Your skin tone and sensitivity around the eyes Sun damage and your current eye-area skincare - โIs there downtime?โ It varies by option. Rejuran and PRF can leave small bumps for a day or two, while Fotona and Morpheus8 may cause redness and swelling for several days.
- โWill retinol do the same thing?โ Retinol may soften fine lines over months, but lower-lid skin often canโt tolerate strong strengths, and it wonโt add thickness.
- โHow many sessions will I need?โ Most options run as a course spaced several weeks apart. Your nurse confirms the number after assessing your skin.
- โWhy do my lines look worse with makeup?โ Concealer settles into fine creases and highlights them, especially on crepey skin.
- Smoother lower-lid texture over several months
- Fine lines that may soften as you smile
- Skin that may feel firmer and better hydrated
- Concealer that may sit more evenly
- Eczema or dermatitis around the eyes delays treatment
- Retinol and exfoliants may be paused beforehand
- Contact lenses are removed before laser near the eye
- Courses are timed around events, as change builds slowly
- Crepey texture on the lower lid
- Fine lines that stay after you stop smiling
- Concealer that settles into creases
Photographed Under the Same Light at Every Visit
A tear trough can look far more pronounced under a bathroom downlight than by a window, so your under-eyes are photographed under the same overhead light and at the same angle at every visit. Each review is measured against those photos, so progress isnโt judged on a good or bad lighting day. Thereโs no obligation to go ahead.
How Your Under-Eyes Are Assessed
Many people who book for dark circles find the main cause is a hollow, and many who book for a hollow have a bag sitting above it. Your consultation works out which is which, and in what order theyโre treated, before any option is chosen.
What we cover in your consultation
MEDICAL AND EYE HISTORY
eye conditions, eye surgery and medications
ALLERGIES AND SLEEP
hay fever, eye rubbing and morning puffiness
HOLLOW OR BAG
how the lower lid changes as you look upward
COLOUR
brown pigment, visible veins or cast shadow
LOWER-LID SKIN
thickness, crepiness and how it springs back
A STAGED PLAN AND QUOTE
which cause comes first and how many visits
Softening a hollow often takes one appointment, while pigment and crepey or lax skin are treated across a course spaced several weeks apart.
Before Your Appointment
WHAT TO BRING & KNOWMakeup sits right on the area being assessed, and under-eye puffiness changes through the day, so a few small things on the day make the assessment more accurate.
Come without concealer, mascara or eyeliner
Wear glasses if you normally wear contact lenses
Book later in the day if you tend to wake up puffy
Bring photos of your under-eyes from a few years ago
During Treatment
WHAT TO EXPECTYouโre marked sitting upright, since the hollow flattens when you lie back. Your nurse treats one side at a time and has you look up and smile between steps, so both under-eyes match as treatment builds.
Marking done upright, with all eye makeup removed
A cool compress to ease swelling as you go
A hand mirror to compare both sides between steps
The option to pause at any point
Aftercare & Follow-Up
WHAT HAPPENS NEXTMild swelling and bruising under the eyes are common, and a bruise here can sit as a faint purple shadow for a week or so. Puffiness may look stronger first thing in the morning for the first few days. Your review compares your under-eyes against your first-visit photos under the same light.
Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow for a few nights
Skip eye makeup and eye creams for 24 hours
Avoid rubbing your eyes or pulling at the lower lid
Wear sunglasses outdoors while any bruising settles
Treatment Is a Process, Not a Single Decision
Tear troughs aren’t only an ageing concern. In a study of 78 people treated for tear troughs, ages ranged from 25 to 62 and the average was 38. Inherited bone and ligament shape can set the groove early, long before other signs of ageing appear.
The same review notes that the line where the lower lid meets the cheek barely moves over the years. What changes is the volume and skin around it, so a softened groove can gradually return as fat, bone and collagen continue to thin.
Each cause also changes at its own pace. Pigment can return with sun, puffiness shifts with sleep and allergies, and lower-lid skin keeps thinning with age, so reviews check each one against your first-visit photos and maintenance is matched to whatever has changed.
CLIENT REVIEWS
What our clients say
Explore More Treatment Options
The lower lid ends where the cheek begins, so the fullness of the upper cheek shapes how sharp the tear trough looks. The same fat loss that hollows the under-eye often shows at the temples and in the folds beside the nose.
Wrinkle Treatments
crowโs feet that fan out from the outer eye
Fotona 5D
a five-step laser for firmness across the face
Exosomes Treatment
exosome serum used alongside microneedling
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
your own plasma to support thin, tired skin
Lumecca IPL
for surface pigmentation and vascular redness
3 accessible clinic locations across Melbourne
All locations
Camberwell
1172 Toorak Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationMoonee Ponds
30-32 Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia
+61 477 441 340 Book an in-clinic consultationHave Questions? Your Consultation Is a Good Place to Start.
Frequently Asked Questions
SAFETY & SUITABILITY
Can I have tear trough treatment after laser eye surgery? 
Can under-eye treatment affect my vision?
Can I have treatment if I have dry eyes?
RESULTS & TIMELINE
Is it normal for swelling to peak a few days later?
How much lighter can dark circles get?
How far ahead of a wedding or event should I book?
AFTERCARE & LOGISTICS
Can I fly after tear trough treatment?
Can I use a cold compress or eye mask at home?
Can I see a price for tear trough treatment online?
WHERE TO START
Is it a tear trough or a bag? Can I check at home?
Iโm in my twenties. Is it too early to treat a tear trough?
MYTHS, WORRIES & 'WHAT IF'
Do cucumber slices or cold spoons get rid of tear troughs?
Can allergies cause dark circles?
What if my under-eyes look puffy months after treatment?
COMPARISON
Tear trough treatment vs lower eyelid surgery: whatโs the difference?
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