What are these lumps under my eyes and will under eye filler help? (Photos)

Question

I never had under eye filler. Only lip and cheek filler. However, I have lumps next to my nose that make my under eye hollows worse. I am talking about the long, diagonal oval shaped next to my nose where the skin appears lighter. Looking back, I seem to have had hollow under eyes since before I ever had filler, but these lumps have become more and more prominent over time. I’m 32. What do you think the cause is? And Will under eye filler help?

Behnoush Zarrini, MD · Answer

The diagonal, oval-shaped lumps you’re seeing next to your nose are likely Malar Mounds. At 32, these often become more prominent as the transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek changes.
Will under-eye filler help?You should be very careful with filler in this specific area. Traditional fillers attract water, which can actually make these lumps look more "puffy" or prominent.
The Better Solution: PRP Injections -- Instead of adding artificial volume, the goal should be to tighten the skin and improve the health of the tissue. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections are often the preferred choice for the under-eye area because:
+ Natural Tightening: It uses your own growth factors to thicken the thin skin over those lumps, smoothing the transition.+ No Fluid Retention: Unlike filler, PRP doesn’t hold onto water, so there’s no risk of making the "puffy" look worse.+ Structural Repair: It helps improve the skin's overall architecture, making those diagonal lines appear much softer and more rested.
Beverly Wilshire AestheticsSpecializing in physician-led, regenerative facial restoration.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I can understand why this is bothering you—what you’re describing is actually a very common concern, especially in your early 30s when facial structure and fat distribution start to subtly change.

From your description (the long, diagonal, lighter areas next to the nose), this sounds most consistent with a combination of tear trough hollowing and malar contour changes—not necessarily true “lumps” in the sense of something abnormal.

What This Area Actually Is
6

That diagonal shape you’re noticing is often the tear trough (nasojugal groove) extending into the malar groove. These are natural anatomical contours, but they can become more visible due to:

Volume loss under the eyes and midface
Shifting of cheek fat over time
Skin thinning, which makes contrast more noticeable
Lighting (this area often appears lighter or shadowed depending on angles)

What feels like a “lump” is often actually:

A contrast between a hollow and a fuller area nearby
Or mild malar fat pad prominence next to a hollow
Why It May Look More Prominent Now

Even if you’ve had this before, it can become more noticeable because:

The midface slowly loses support with age
Prior cheek filler can sometimes accentuate adjacent hollows if not perfectly balanced
Natural facial changes in your 30s make contours sharper and less blended
Will Under-Eye Filler Help?

The answer is: it depends—and it has to be done very carefully.

It can help if:
The main issue is true hollowing
The area is smooth (not puffy or swollen)
There’s good skin quality
It may not help (or could worsen things) if:
There is under-eye puffiness or fluid retention
The “lump” is actually malar fat or festoons
There is improper balance with existing cheek filler
A More Nuanced Approach
6

In many cases like yours, the best results don’t come from just placing filler directly under the eyes. Instead, we think about facial balance:

Midface/cheek support (to lift and reduce the hollow indirectly)
Conservative tear trough filler (only if appropriate)
Avoiding overfilling, which can make the area look heavier
What I Suspect in Your Case

Based on your description:

You likely have long-standing tear trough hollowing
With increasing contrast from midface changes over time
Possibly accentuated by prior cheek filler placement
Bottom Line
These “lumps” are usually normal anatomical contours, not something dangerous
Under-eye filler can help, but only if the anatomy is right
The best outcomes come from treating the entire midface—not just the hollow

What are these lumps under my eyes and will under eye filler help? (Photos)

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