Is an under eye fat transfer the best option for moderate under eye hollowness? (Photos)

Question

I suffer with moderate under eye hollowness and to be honest nothing has helped so far. I have had: - filler 4 years ago - Profhilo structura around cheekbones - x 2 Cellenis PRP filler Unfortunately, once the initial inflammation goes away, I’m left with little to no difference in how hollow my eyes look. I’m really affected by this now and really struggling with my self image because of this. Nothing I’ve had done has given me the volume I want and a smooth transition between my cheek and under eye area. I‘m now considering a fat transfer as I don’t know what other choice I have.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

I am sorry this has been such a long and discouraging journey &mdash; when the under-eye area does not respond, it really can take a toll on how you feel about yourself, and your frustration is completely understandable. The good news is that your experience actually gives us useful information: when fillers and biostimulators repeatedly fail to create a smooth, lasting transition, it often means the issue is structural volume loss or the specific anatomy of your orbital rim rather than something a syringe can fix.
Fat transfer (fat grafting) is a very reasonable next consideration, and for the right candidate it can give a more natural result than filler because it is your own tissue. It is, however, a very technique-sensitive procedure, and this is exactly why it matters who performs it. The under-eye skin is extremely thin, so if fat is placed too superficially or in too large a volume it can show as a yellowish discoloration or form small nodules under the skin &mdash; so conservative, deep, meticulous micro-grafting is essential, and I would strongly recommend it be done by a plastic surgeon experienced in this specific area rather than as a routine filler-type injection. It is also important to have realistic expectations about permanence: a portion of the grafted fat naturally does not survive, so a single session may not be enough for a lasting result, and a second session or touch-up is often needed.
In some patients a deep tear trough is actually better addressed with lower blepharoplasty and fat repositioning, or a combination, depending on whether your hollowness is true volume loss versus a sharp rim and fat pseudo-herniation. Because you have already invested in several treatments without success, the most valuable next step is an in-person assessment by a surgeon who performs both fat grafting and lower lid surgery, so you get an honest, unbiased recommendation and a realistic picture of what can be achieved.

Is an under eye fat transfer the best option for moderate under eye hollowness? (Photos)

Answers (1)

More Facial Fat Transfer Questions

Will fat transfer to my upper lip help the overall appearance? Will filler to the piriform fossa or Sculptra be better? (Photos)

Under-eye hollowing at 24 - fat transfer, filler, or Rejuran? (Photos)

Would an under eye fat transfer without lower bleph be effective? (Photos)

What are these shadows under the corners of my mouth? How can they be fixed? (Photos)

Upper molar removed - asymmetric cheeks. Fat transfer or filler, to get result I'm looking for? (Photos)

Horizontal line between eyebrows - would fat grafting be the best option? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS