Choosing an under-eye treatment
Under-eye hollows, shadows and puffiness need different conversations. Prepare for an assessment before deciding whether filler or another option is suitable.
Charis Aesthetics · Consultation planning guide · Published . This guide has not been clinically reviewed by Ashleigh.
An under-eye concern is not automatically a filler appointment. Describe what you see and when it is noticeable, rather than deciding on a product first. The purpose of an assessment is to understand the concern, discuss realistic options and establish whether cosmetic treatment is appropriate at all.
Describe the change you want assessed
Is the concern a hollow, a dark-looking area, puffiness, fine lines or a combination? Does it vary through the day, or appear different in particular lighting? Bring photographs that show the concern without filters and explain when you first noticed it.
Tell the practitioner about previous under-eye treatment, including the product and date if you know them. A photograph or an online description is not enough to determine suitability. New or unexplained symptoms belong in a medical assessment rather than an online cosmetic treatment choice.
A closer look
A shadow is not always a hollow
Contour
A hollow can create a shadow beneath the eye.
Skin and colour
Thin skin and pigmentation can also change the appearance.
Nearby tissue
Puffiness and cheek support need to be considered before choosing treatment.
Schematic landmarks only. This drawing cannot establish suitability for tear trough filler.
Questions about filler and alternatives
- What do you think is causing the appearance I am concerned about?
- Would adding volume address it, or could it be unsuitable?
- What are the limits and risks of the proposed treatment in this area?
- Is an alternative, no treatment or another professional assessment more appropriate?
- How would any previous filler affect the plan?
Charis has separate pages for tear-trough assessment, polynucleotides and Sunekos. Their presence in the treatment menu does not mean each is suitable for every under-eye concern. Ask why an option is being recommended for your assessment and what evidence supports the expected change.
Read results photographs carefully
Look for comparable lighting, expression and camera angle. Ask how long after treatment the photograph was taken and whether the person had other procedures. An immediate photograph may show a different stage from a settled result.
Use examples to discuss the kind of change you would find worthwhile, not as a prediction of your own outcome. Ask the practitioner to explain differences between your situation and the example.
Plan the appointment and follow-up
Before booking, confirm the consultation fee, treatment cost, review arrangements and how to contact the clinic afterwards. Explain any important dates and the distance you will travel. Do not assume that assessment and treatment will happen on the same day.
Keep the personalised instructions given by your practitioner. The general information on a website does not replace an examination or a treatment-specific aftercare plan.
Sources and further reading
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Every treatment needs an individual assessment, and what is right for someone else may not be right for you.
Treatments this relates to
- Tear Trough Treatment£350
Treatment of the under-eye hollow — where correct assessment matters more than any product choice.
- PolynucleotidesFrom £195
Regenerative injectable treatment that works on skin quality — hydration, elasticity and firmness — rather than adding volume.
- Sunekos£200
An amino acid and hyaluronic acid injectable that supports the skin's extracellular matrix — used where skin has lost density.
Read next
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One changes the quality of the skin, the other changes the shape of the face. They are not alternatives, and picking the wrong one is the most common reason a treatment disappoints.
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The UK aesthetics industry is barely regulated. Here is exactly what to check, wherever you go.
Get in touch
Book a consultation
Consultations are £30, and that comes off the cost of your treatment if you go ahead. No pressure to book anything on the day — if you are not sure whether you want treatment at all, that is still a good reason to come and talk.
