Facial Ageing
Hollowing or darkness beneath the eyes from shadowing, pigment, visible vessels, thin skin, or volume loss.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Under-Eye Hollows and Dark Circles
You've had a good night's sleep, and still someone asks if you're tired. Or you reach for concealer every morning and the shadows peek through by lunchtime. Under-eye darkness is one of the most common things people bring to us, and once we know what's behind it, there's often a lot we can do.
Dark circles can come from a few different places that look alike in the mirror: a shadow cast by a hollow, a bluish tint from vessels showing through thin skin, brown pigment, or puffiness from fluid. Many people have more than one at the same time. Each one responds to its own kind of care, so filler might be perfect for a hollow, while pigment or puffiness need something different. Working out which is leading for you is the first and most useful step.
Related Presentations
These focused pages explain different patterns within this concern.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The under-eye area is complex, and dark or hollow appearances usually reflect a mix of factors. Age-related loss of fat, bone, and skin support can create a groove that casts a shadow. The skin here is naturally thin, so underlying blood vessels can show through as a bluish or purple tint, and this is often more prominent in some individuals and skin types. Pigmentation, whether genetic, sun-related, or following inflammation, can create brown discolouration, and is more common in deeper skin tones. Allergies, nasal congestion, fatigue, dehydration, and fluid retention can worsen the appearance temporarily. Genetics strongly influence baseline anatomy and pigment.
Signs and Symptoms
Depending on the cause, under-eye concerns may show up as:
Assessment
At your consultation, our team looks at your under-eyes in different lighting and positions, checking the depth of any hollow, how thin the skin is, whether vessels or pigment show, and how much puffiness there is. A gentle stretch of the skin helps show how much of the darkness is pigment and how much is shadow or vessels. We also ask about allergies, sleep, family history and any recent changes, then build an under-eye plan around what's really causing your shadows, your timing and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Daily sun protection keeps pigment from deepening and protects the results of any pigment-focused treatment. A gentle, hydrating eye-area routine supports thin, crepey skin, and the right ingredients can help fade some pigmentation over time. Good sleep and managing allergies help on days when puffiness makes shadows look deeper. Our team can recommend products from our online shop that suit your skin.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
At our clinic, under-eye darkness is treated by matching care to the cause, often combining a few steps.
Uses selected laser and light-based wavelengths, guided by assessment, to help address excess pigment, sun damage and uneven skin tone.
Uses injectable fillers to restore or reshape facial volume and contour, selected for the structure and balance each area needs.
Places small amounts of injectable hydrating or regenerative product within the skin to improve its quality, hydration and smoothness.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
Medical assessment is worthwhile if under-eye puffiness is persistent, worsening, or accompanied by facial or leg swelling, or symptoms such as fatigue, weight change, or feeling unusually cold, which can suggest a thyroid, kidney, or other medical condition. Sudden swelling with itching or difficulty breathing needs urgent care as it may indicate an allergic reaction. Any new, one-sided, firm, growing, or bleeding lump or discolouration around the eye should also be assessed by a physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dark circles often come from anatomy, not tiredness: thin skin that lets vessels show through, pigmentation, or a hollow that casts a shadow. These respond best to targeted care. At your consultation we'll pin down which factors are involved for you and which approaches will help.
Filler works well when the darkness comes mainly from a hollow that casts a shadow. When pigment, vessels or puffiness lead, other treatments suit better. Our experienced physicians identify the main cause first, so your plan is aimed at the right one.
A good eye cream is great for hydrating dry or crepey under-eye skin, and the right ingredients can help fade some pigmentation over time. Hollows and vessels showing through thin skin respond better to in-clinic care, so we'll suggest the combination that suits the cause of your circles.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
