Tear trough implants, also called subcapsular subcutaneous liposuction, are used in an invasive procedure usually performed to correct a medical condition known as Tears Trough Deformation and/or for removal of dark under eye circles. In most cases, older patients have excessive skin and fat around the lower eyelid area and under the eye creases that cause shadows to form beneath their eyes. This can be particularly embarrassing when the patient is out and about and is unable to change the situation. In addition, dark under eye circles may appear more obvious if the eye makeup is not appropriate for this age group, for example, powder or gel eyes rather than water-based.

Why Get A Tear Trough?

The problem occurs because the skin underneath the eye becomes thinner with age. While it is possible to reverse this process, surgery is often the only option for these patients. Tear trough augmentation is a cosmetic procedure performed to improve the appearance and minimize the shadows and puffiness. Patients should be aware, however, that there may be a small scarring along the tear trough.

In this procedure, a small implant is placed into the skin under the upper eyelid, and a small incision is made on the patient’s upper eyelid. Then the implants are inserted through the incision and inserted into the fatty layers of the skin. An incision is made in front of and behind the lower part of the eye to help make the implant insertion easier.

The Procedure

During this procedure, a thin layer of saline is injected into the fatty tissues around the eye and beneath the tears in order to replace the patient’s tears and keep the area clean and moist. The saline is then removed and the muscles and tissues surrounding the area are then pored over a special heat-activated machine. After a few hours, this area will then become swollen and darkens.

Tears trough augmentation is performed under general anesthesia, but a patient can experience some minor pain during and after the procedure. If the patient has any doubts about the surgery, he or she should always discuss these concerns with his or her plastic surgeon before having the procedure. The surgical wound is also cleaned and the incision is sealed using stitches in order to reduce the risk of infection. If complications occur, the patient should always call the plastic surgeon as soon as possible.

Once the surgery is completed, the patient should expect to return to his or her normal activities within a few days. Some patients may feel some soreness or tenderness around the eye, but this should clear up in time. The patient’s eyes will usually appear much brighter than they did prior to the operation, which should last from two to six weeks.