What we treat

Under-eye hollows and dark circles

You look tired when you are not. Hollowing under the eye, a dark half-moon that concealer does not fix, or fine crepey skin on the lower lid. The under-eye is the most unforgiving area to treat, which is why we are conservative here.

Why it happens

Dark circles have three different causes and they need different treatments. Thin skin lets the vessels and muscle underneath show through as blue or purple. Volume loss leaves a groove, and the shadow it casts reads as darkness. Pigment is actual brown color in the skin, more common in olive and darker skin tones. Dr. Donlan sorts out which one you have before recommending anything.

What we recommend

PRP under eye, our first choice

Your own platelet-rich plasma injected into the thin lower-lid skin. Over three sessions it thickens the tissue, so the vessels show through less and the skin looks less crepey. No risk of the puffiness or blue tint that filler can cause here.

Filler, only when the problem is a hollow

A small amount of hyaluronic acid in the tear trough fills the groove and removes the shadow. It works well in the right person and poorly in the wrong one. Dr. Donlan places it himself, conservatively, and will decline if your anatomy is not suited to it.

PicoSure for true pigment

If the darkness is brown pigment rather than shadow or vessels, the laser is the tool. Gentle settings, several sessions.

Fractional laser for crepey lower-lid skin

Tightens and smooths the fine lines directly under the eye that nothing injectable can reach.

What we would tell you honestly

Under-eye filler is the treatment people most often regret from other providers. Lumps, puffiness and a blue tinge are common when it is placed in the wrong candidate. We say no more often than yes here. Also: sleep, allergies and salt intake move this area more than anything we do.

Want to know what kind of dark circles you have?

Book a consultation. Dr. Donlan will examine your skin, listen to what is bothering you, and recommend a plan. Sometimes that plan is one treatment. Sometimes it is no treatment yet.

Schedule a consultation

Results vary from person to person. A consultation is where we figure out what makes sense for you.