Tear trough filler — what it is, why it scares people, and what it costs

If you have ever looked in the mirror and thought "I look tired" — even after a full night's sleep — the chances are the mirror is pointing at your tear troughs.

Those shallow creases under the eyes are the single most common reason people come through our door with a filler question they are almost embarrassed to ask. Half the fear is about the needle being near the eye. Half is about looking overdone — the puffy, waxy look that bad under-eye work is famous for.

So let's deal with both halves honestly.

What exactly is the tear trough?

The tear trough is the crease that runs from the inner corner of the eye diagonally down and out across the top of the cheek. It isn't a flaw — everyone has the crease. What changes with age (and sometimes with weight loss or genetics) is how deep it gets. As the hollow deepens, it catches shadow, and shadow under the eye reads as tired, gaunt or older than you are.

The fix isn't more concealer. It's addressing the hollow itself — and that is where filler comes in.

Why the fear is fair — and what makes it safe

The eye area is the part of injectable treatment where the difference between a good practitioner and a great one shows up fastest. It is a small, delicate zone with thin skin, a network of tiny blood vessels, and — right behind it — the eye itself. Sloppy technique, too much product, or product placed too superficially is exactly how the horror stories happen.

That is also why the "how much" answer is not a number you can Google. It is a clinical decision made after looking at your eye: how deep the hollow is, how much tissue is sitting above it, and what would look natural rather than filled.

At LUMOS, tear trough filling is carried out by Georgie, an Independent Nurse Prescriber. That means she prescribes and administers the product herself, carries appropriate insurance, and works to the aftercare standards a clinic should. The consultation is free, and she will tell you honestly if filler is not the right answer for your eye — sometimes the honest answer is polynucleotides, or nothing at all.

What it costs in Basingstoke

Tear trough filler starts from £340 at LUMOS Clinic — a single treatment for both under-eye hollows, with a free consultation first. The exact figure depends on the volume the hollow needs; you get an itemised price before you book anything. There are no hidden extras: no added "consultation fee", no surprise top-up charge on the day.

Results typically last between 12 and 18 months before a light top-up is considered.

Filler or polynucleotides — what's the difference?

This is the question we answer most in consultation, because the two treatments sound similar and do different jobs.

• Filler restores lost volume underneath a defined hollow. It is the right tool when the trough is a clear groove and the skin above it is still in good condition.
• Polynucleotides improve the quality of the skin itself — hydration, bounce, crepey texture. They are often the better choice when the issue is thin, tired-looking skin rather than a deep hollow. Read our full comparison: under-eye polynucleotides — can they really help hollows, fine lines and tired eyes?

The wrong one used in the wrong eye is how people end up looking overdone. The right one — or the honest recommendation to wait — is what a proper consultation is for.

Is it right for me?

Tear trough filler is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it is not a fix for bags caused by fat herniation (that is a different conversation). The consultation screens for all of it. If you have a defined hollow casting a shadow, and you want the tired look gone without the tell-tale puffy result, it is a conversation worth having.

See the treatment page for the full detail: tear trough filler in Basingstoke — from £340.