Under Eye Filler & Tear Trough Treatment in Newport Beach
The under-eye area is one of the most requested and most misunderstood areas for filler. Not everyone is a candidate. Not every concern can be improved with filler. The consultation matters more here than almost anywhere else on the face.
Under eye filler — also called tear trough filler — uses hyaluronic acid to address the hollow groove between the lower eyelid and the upper cheek that creates a tired, sunken, or shadowed appearance. When the right patient is treated with the right technique, the result is transformative. When filler is placed in the wrong patient or in the wrong way, the under-eye is one of the most difficult areas to correct.
At Plump Medical Spa in Newport Beach, Dr. Amir Mortazavi, MD approaches tear trough treatment with more caution than almost any other area he treats. He uses cannula technique for safety, treats conservatively and in stages, and is direct about what filler can and cannot achieve for each patient’s specific under-eye anatomy.
Not every under-eye concern is a filler problem. Dark circles caused by pigmentation, prominent blood vessels, or thin skin will not improve with filler — and may worsen. Significant eyelid laxity or excess skin is a surgical concern. Dr. Mortazavi will tell you honestly which category your concern falls into before any treatment is recommended.
What under eye filler can and cannot fix
Filler can help: Hollowing in the tear trough groove caused by volume loss — the shadow and sunken appearance from the lack of tissue between the lower eyelid and the cheek. This is a structural issue where filler adds what is missing and improves the shadow. Results can be significant and patients often look noticeably more rested.
Filler cannot fix: Dark circles caused by pigmentation, prominent veins or vascularity visible through thin skin, or excess eyelid skin. These are not volume problems and filler will not improve them — and in patients with very thin under-eye skin, HA filler can cause a bluish discoloration called the Tyndall effect if placed too superficially. This is one reason Dr. Mortazavi uses cannula technique at the appropriate tissue depth.
Filler should not be used for: Patients with significant lower eyelid laxity, puffiness from fat herniation, or pronounced festoons. These are surgical concerns and Dr. Mortazavi will refer appropriately rather than attempt filler in a situation where it is not the right tool.
Dr. Mortazavi’s approach
Candidacy assessment first
Before recommending under-eye filler, Dr. Mortazavi evaluates the cause of the concern — whether hollowing, pigmentation, vascularity, skin laxity, or fat herniation is the primary driver. Only patients with genuine volume-related hollowing are appropriate candidates for filler. This assessment protects patients from a treatment that won’t help their specific situation.
Cannula technique for safety
Dr. Mortazavi uses cannula technique for tear trough filler. Cannulas are blunt-tipped and less likely to pierce blood vessels than needles, significantly reducing the risk of bruising, vascular injury, and the Tyndall effect from superficial placement. In an area as delicate and vascular as the under-eye, this is not a stylistic preference — it is a safety decision.
Conservative, staged treatment
Dr. Mortazavi treats the tear trough in stages rather than placing maximum volume in a single session. He uses no more than one syringe per treatment, allows the filler to settle, and reassesses in a few weeks before determining whether additional volume is needed. This approach prevents overfilling — one of the most common sources of unnatural under-eye results.
Cheek relationship assessment
The under-eye and the cheek are anatomically connected. In many patients, addressing midface volume loss with cheek filler improves the under-eye appearance without directly injecting the tear trough. Dr. Mortazavi evaluates both regions together and recommends the approach that will produce the most natural result — which is sometimes cheek filler, sometimes tear trough filler, and sometimes both.
What to expect
Consultation
Dr. Mortazavi evaluates the cause of your under-eye concern, assesses candidacy for filler, and discusses what a realistic result looks like for your anatomy. If filler is not the right approach for your specific situation, he will tell you and explain why. If you are a good candidate, he will outline the treatment plan including product selection, expected volume, and the staged approach.
Treatment
Topical numbing is applied before treatment. A cannula is introduced through a single entry point and filler is deposited along the tear trough in small increments. The blunt cannula reduces bruising and allows precise placement at the correct tissue depth. The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes including numbing time.
Immediately after
Some swelling is expected, particularly in the first 24 to 48 hours. The under-eye is a sensitive area and swelling may make the result look uneven initially — this resolves as the product settles. Bruising is significantly reduced with cannula technique but remains possible. Cold compresses help. Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours.
Staged approach and reassessment
Dr. Mortazavi does not exceed one syringe per session for the under-eye area. After 2 to 4 weeks, when the filler has settled and any residual swelling has resolved, he reassesses whether additional volume is needed. This staged approach is the safest and most reliable way to build a natural under-eye result — it is better to add than to have too much and need to dissolve.
Duration
Under-eye filler typically lasts 12 months or longer. The tear trough is a relatively immobile area and filler breaks down more slowly here than in areas of significant movement like the lips. Some patients find their results last 18 months or more with the right product and placement depth.
The under-eye is the area where I am most likely to tell a patient that filler is not the right treatment for what they are concerned about. Not every dark circle is a volume problem. Not every tired-looking eye needs filler. The consultation exists precisely to make that distinction — so that patients are treated with something that will actually help them, not something that addresses a different problem than the one they have. All treatments performed personally.
Frequently asked questions
What is tear trough filler?
Tear trough filler is hyaluronic acid injected into the groove between the lower eyelid and the upper cheek — the tear trough — to fill a hollow that creates a tired, sunken, or shadowed under-eye appearance. It is placed using cannula technique at the appropriate tissue depth to minimize risks and produce a natural result.
Will under eye filler fix my dark circles?
It depends on what is causing them. Dark circles from hollowing and shadow — where the tear trough creates a dark shadow under the eye — can improve significantly with filler because the hollow causing the shadow is filled. Dark circles from pigmentation, prominent blood vessels visible through thin skin, or skin discoloration will not improve with filler and may worsen. Dr. Mortazavi assesses which is driving your concern at consultation before recommending treatment.
Why do you use cannula instead of needle for under eye filler?
Cannulas are blunt-tipped, which makes them significantly less likely to pierce blood vessels than needles. In the under-eye region — which is both vascular and has very thin, delicate skin — this reduces the risk of bruising, vascular injury, and the Tyndall effect (a bluish discoloration from filler placed too superficially). Cannula technique requires a specific skill set and is not universally offered, but it is Dr. Mortazavi’s standard for this area.
Why do you only do one syringe at a time?
The tear trough is one of the most difficult areas to correct if overfilled. Too much volume in the under-eye creates puffiness, an unnatural appearance, and can be difficult to dissolve completely without affecting the surrounding tissue. By limiting treatment to one syringe per session and reassessing after the filler settles, Dr. Mortazavi ensures the result builds naturally and conservatively — it is always easier to add than to remove.
Am I a good candidate for under eye filler?
You are likely a good candidate if your primary concern is a hollow groove or shadow under the eye caused by volume loss, and your skin quality and lower eyelid tone are reasonable. You are likely not a good candidate if dark circles are driven by pigmentation, if you have significant lower eyelid laxity or puffiness from fat herniation, or if your under-eye skin is very thin. Dr. Mortazavi will assess this clearly at consultation.
How long does under eye filler last?
Typically 12 months or longer. The tear trough is a relatively immobile area and filler breaks down more slowly here than in areas of significant movement. Some patients find results lasting 18 months or more with the right product and placement depth.
Can under eye filler be dissolved if needed?
Yes. All hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Dr. Mortazavi offers ultrasound-guided filler dissolving for patients who need precise reversal of under-eye filler — whether placed at Plump or elsewhere. The under-eye is one of the most common areas where patients seek dissolving after unsatisfactory treatment at other practices.
How much does under eye filler cost at Plump?
Under eye filler at Plump Medical Spa in Newport Beach is $799 per syringe. Dr. Mortazavi treats with a maximum of one syringe per session and reassesses at 2 to 4 weeks before determining whether additional volume is needed.
Related treatments
The under-eye area is closely related to the midface. These treatments are often considered together.
Schedule a consultation
Under eye filler and tear trough treatment is available at Plump Medical Spa in Newport Beach, serving patients throughout Orange County and Southern California.
4667 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 310 — Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 568-7544 — info@plumpmedicalspa.com
Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm — By Appointment Only