In 2019, I went to a medspa with my heart set on gettingundereye filler.
Did I need it?
In hindsight, probably not.
Courtesy of subject
Theres a term for this: malar edema.
The name explains the condition: malar refers to the cheek region of the face and edema means swelling.
It can also be simply hereditary, or the result of allergies or sinus inflammation.
I decided to leave well enough alone.
Meet the experts:
What is malar edema?
Malar edema is the accumulation of [lymphatic] fluid just above the cheekbones.
What causes malar edema?
External factors such as smoking or unprotected sun exposure can also exacerbate the issue, he says.
In reality, only 10-percent of people are true candidates for tear-trough filler.
The frustrating thing, Dr. Parsa adds, is that the swelling or fluid build up can fluctuate.
One day the swelling may be there, one day it may not.
How do you know if you may be a candidate for undereye filler?
Lower eyelid or tear trough filler can be a wonderful procedure if done on the right candidate.
The problem lies in correctly defining the best candidate, says Dr. Schwarcz.
What are the treatment options for malar edema after filler?
In an ideal scenario, simply dissolving existing filler can make a big difference.
In Dr. Parsas practice, he utilizes ultrasound technology to pinpoint exactly where the filler is located.
We typically wait two to four weeks between dissolving appointments.
He notes that this option is only safe for lighter skin types due to the strength of the laser.
If none of these treatment options yield satisfactory results for the patient, they may consider surgery.
Of course, theres also the route I took: I allowed my undereye filler to dissolve naturally.
And every patient is different.
How to help avoid getting malar edema
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
You and your doctor can also discuss injecting a hyaluronic acid-based filler like Voluma along the cheekbones.
Read more about aesthetic procedures:
Watch the history of plastic surgery:
