Permanent bruise from under eye filler two years ago - how can I treat this? (Photos)

I’m really sorry you’ve been dealing with this for so long. Persistent discoloration under the eye after filler can be frustrating, emotionally taxing, and—especially when it affects the face—very distressing. You’ve clearly been diligent and patient, and it’s understandable that you’re feeling discouraged after trying multiple treatments without relief.

Based on your history and the photos, what you’re describing is unlikely to be a true bruise at this point. Two years out, this is much more consistent with one (or a combination) of the following:

What is most likely going on

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Even mild trauma from injections can trigger pigment changes, especially in the thin under-eye skin. Once established, PIH can be stubborn and does not respond well to arnica.

Tyndall effect or filler-related shadowing
Hyaluronic acid filler placed too superficially can cause a grayish, bluish, or bruise-like hue that persists and does not fade with time or bleaching creams.

Vascular congestion or hemosiderin staining
This occurs when blood products linger in the skin after an injection-related bleed. It can look like a chronic bruise and often does not improve with hydroquinone.

Importantly, bleaching creams will not help if the issue is vascular staining or residual filler-related discoloration—which explains why you haven’t seen improvement despite using them.

Would dissolving the filler help?

Even if the filler is not the original cause anymore, dissolving it can still be beneficial in some cases. Removing any remaining filler can:

Reduce shadowing or light refraction

Improve lymphatic drainage

Clarify whether filler is contributing to the discoloration

This is often a diagnostic and therapeutic step, and it does not mean anything was done “wrong”—the under-eye area is simply very unforgiving.

Realistic treatment options (prioritized, cost-conscious)

Since you’ve shared that laser treatments are not financially feasible right now, here’s what may actually help without continued trial-and-error creams:

Hyaluronidase (filler dissolver) – If any filler remains, this is the most logical next step.

Time + sun protection – UV exposure can worsen and “lock in” pigment changes.

Avoid further irritation – No aggressive peels, scrubs, or strong actives under the eye.

Topical vitamin C or niacinamide – These can help with vascular tone and discoloration, but results are gradual.

Unfortunately, there is no topical cream that reliably removes chronic under-eye discoloration caused by filler-related changes. That’s not a failure on your part—it’s a limitation of what creams can do.

What I want you to know

You are not imagining this.

You did not fail by trying arnica, bleaching creams, or being patient.

This is a known complication pattern, and it can be addressed—but it requires the right mechanism-based approach, not more experimenting.

I completely understand how embarrassing and exhausting this has been for you. Covering something every day takes a toll, and your concerns deserve to be taken seriously. My goal would be to focus on stopping the cycle of guessing and instead addressing the most likely root cause.

You’re not alone in this—and there are answers, even if they haven’t been clearly explained to you before.

I’m really sorry you’ve been dealing with this for so long — under-eye concerns can be both emotionally and physically frustrating, especially when they linger despite doing “everything right.”
From an educational standpoint, what you’re describing is unlikely to be an active bruise two years later. Bruising from injections typically resolves within weeks. When discoloration persists this long, we usually consider a different underlying cause, which is where a multi-modality approach becomes essential.
Common possibilities we evaluate include:
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): This can occur after trauma (like injections) and may appear bruise-like but behaves more like pigment than blood.Tyndall effect or residual filler-related shadowing: Even small amounts of hyaluronic acid filler can refract light under thin under-eye skin, creating a blue-gray appearance, sometimes without obvious swelling.Vascular show or hemosiderin staining: In some cases, iron deposits from old blood products remain in the skin, especially in the delicate tear trough area.Skin thinning or structural shadowing: Volume placement, anatomy, and skin quality all influence how light reflects in this area.
This is why simply rotating through topical creams, including bleaching agents, often doesn’t solve the issue. Topicals alone rarely address structural, vascular, and pigment components at the same time.
In a thoughtful, patient-first practice, the next step would usually involve a comprehensive in-person assessment, which may include:
Determining whether filler is still present and whether cautious dissolution could be helpfulEvaluating whether energy-based treatments (like specific lasers) are appropriate, not as experimentation, but as targeted therapySupporting the skin barrier and pigmentation gently rather than aggressivelyConsidering anatomy, skin thickness, and vascular factors together instead of in isolation
Not every case requires laser treatment, and not every persistent under-eye issue is caused by filler, but after two years, it’s reasonable to seek a second opinion from an experienced provider who specializes in under-eye anatomy and uses a multi-modality approach, rather than continuing trial-and-error solutions.
You deserve clear answers, continuity of care, and a plan that’s rooted in anatomy and evidence, not guesswork.
Aesthetic treatments should always be discussed with and performed by a trained, licensed, and medically certified aesthetic provider. The recommendations above are for educational purposes only and do not replace an in-person consultation, examination, or personalized medical advice.