Sunekos vs Tear Trough Filler: Which Is Best for Tired Under-Eyes?
The under-eye area is one of the most common concerns we see at Revital Lab. Patients often tell us that they look tired even when they feel well rested, or that the area beneath their eyes has started to look darker, thinner or more hollow over time.
When researching treatment, two options you may come across are Sunekos and tear trough filler. Both can help improve tired-looking eyes, but they are very different treatments.
Sunekos focuses on improving the quality of the delicate skin around the eyes. Tear trough filler is used to replace lost volume and soften a visible hollow beneath the lower eyelid.
Choosing between them depends on what is causing the tired appearance in the first place. For some people, the main issue is thinning or crepey skin. For others, it is a deeper hollow that creates a shadow. Some patients have a combination of both.
Why Do My Under-Eyes Look Tired?
There is not one single cause of tired-looking eyes.
The skin around the eyes is naturally much thinner than the skin on many other areas of the face. As collagen and elastin levels reduce with age, this skin can become finer, drier and less firm. Fine lines may become more noticeable and the area can start to look crepey.
Loss of volume and support beneath the eyes can also create a visible groove known as the tear trough. Light falls differently across this hollow, creating a shadow that can look like a dark circle.
Genetics play a part too. Some people naturally have deeper-set eyes or visible tear troughs from a younger age. Lifestyle, allergies, pigmentation, dehydration and lack of sleep may also affect how the area looks.
This is why the right assessment matters. Treating every under-eye concern with filler will not always produce the best result, particularly when skin quality is the main problem.
What Is Sunekos?
Sunekos is an injectable treatment containing hyaluronic acid and a specific combination of amino acids.
It is designed to support the production of collagen and elastin while improving hydration within the skin. It does not work in the same way as a traditional dermal filler and is not intended to reshape the face or create noticeable volume.
Around the eyes, Sunekos may be recommended when the skin has become thin, dry or crepey. It can also help soften fine lines and improve the general texture and elasticity of the area.
The results are gradual. Rather than walking out with a dramatically different under-eye shape, patients usually begin to notice that the skin looks smoother, healthier and better hydrated as the treatment course progresses.
Sunekos may be suitable for concerns including:
- Fine lines around the eyes
- Thin or crepey under-eye skin
- Dehydration
- Reduced elasticity
- Early signs of ageing
- Mild under-eye hollowness
- A tired or dull appearance
At Revital Lab, Sunekos Eyes can be used across both the lower and upper eyelid areas where clinically appropriate.
You can read more about Sunekos treatment at Revital Lab.
What Is Tear Trough Filler?
Tear trough filler is a treatment used to reduce hollowness beneath the eyes.
A carefully selected hyaluronic acid dermal filler is placed into the tear trough to restore support and soften the transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek. This can reduce the shadow caused by the hollow and help the face look fresher and more rested.
Unlike Sunekos, the purpose of tear trough filler is to replace volume. The improvement can usually be seen soon after treatment, although there may be some swelling and the final result is assessed once the area has settled.
Tear trough filler may be suitable when there is:
- A clear hollow beneath the eyes
- Shadowing caused by volume loss
- A noticeable groove between the lower eyelid and cheek
- Good skin quality over the area
- No significant puffiness or under-eye bags
It is important to understand that tear trough filler is not suitable for everyone. If the area is puffy, the skin is very loose or there is fluid retention beneath the eyes, filler may not be the best option. Adding volume to the wrong patient can make heaviness or puffiness more noticeable.
Careful patient selection is particularly important in this delicate area.
You can read more about tear trough filler at Revital Lab.
Sunekos or Tear Trough Filler: Which Do I Need?
A simple way to understand the difference is to look at whether the concern is mainly related to the skin or the structure beneath it.
Sunekos is generally chosen to improve skin quality. Tear trough filler is chosen to restore missing volume.
If you gently stretch the under-eye skin and the fine lines or crepey texture improve, skin quality may be contributing to the concern. Sunekos may therefore be more appropriate.
If there is a clear dip beneath the eye that creates a shadow, even when the skin itself is reasonably smooth, tear trough filler may offer a more noticeable improvement.
This is only a general guide. An in-person assessment is needed because under-eye concerns can look similar while having very different causes.
Sunekos may be better when:
Your main concern is thin, lined or crepey skin. You want gradual improvement and do not want to add volume or alter the shape of the under-eye area.
Tear trough filler may be better when:
Your main concern is a distinct hollow beneath the eye. The skin is in relatively good condition, but the loss of support is creating a shadow and making you look tired.
Can Sunekos and Tear Trough Filler Be Used Together?
Yes. In some cases, a combination of the two treatments can provide the most balanced improvement.
A patient may have both volume loss and poor skin quality. Tear trough filler can restore support beneath the eye, while Sunekos can improve the condition of the skin over the top.
However, this does not mean that both treatments are always required. More treatment is not automatically better. The aim should be to identify what is actually contributing to the concern and use the least invasive approach needed to produce a natural result.
Treatments may also be carried out in stages. This allows the area to settle and gives the practitioner time to assess whether any further treatment would be beneficial.
Which Treatment Looks More Natural?
Both treatments can look very natural when they are recommended for the right person and carried out carefully.
Sunekos produces a subtle change because it supports the skin rather than creating volume. Friends or family may notice that you look fresher without being able to identify that you have had anything done.
Tear trough filler can also look very natural. The aim is not to completely flatten the area or create an overfilled appearance. It is to soften the hollow and improve the transition between the eye and cheek.
Problems tend to occur when filler is used in someone who is not a suitable candidate, too much product is added or the treatment is repeated without reviewing how much filler remains in the area.
This is one reason Revital Lab takes a conservative, doctor-led approach to under-eye treatment.
How Quickly Will I See Results?
Tear trough filler usually creates an immediate visible improvement, although the area may need time to settle before the final result can be judged.
Sunekos works more gradually. A course of treatment is normally recommended because the aim is to improve hydration, collagen production and elasticity over time.
The right option therefore depends partly on the concern being treated, not simply on which treatment works fastest.
If the problem is a structural hollow, improving skin quality alone may not correct it. Equally, adding filler will not directly treat thin or crepey skin.
Choosing the Right Under-Eye Treatment
It can be difficult to decide which treatment you need from photographs or social media posts. Two patients may both describe themselves as having dark circles, but one may have pigmentation while the other has shadowing caused by a tear trough.
At Revital Lab in Esher, the under-eye area is assessed as part of the face as a whole. Skin quality, facial anatomy, volume loss, puffiness and the relationship between the lower eyelid and cheek are all considered.
You may be advised that Sunekos is the most suitable option, that tear trough filler would provide the greatest benefit, or that neither treatment is appropriate for your particular concern.
The purpose of the consultation is to give you an honest assessment and create a treatment plan that is suited to your face rather than following a standard approach.
Book a Complimentary Consultation
If you are unsure whether Sunekos or tear trough filler would be right for your under-eyes, you can book a complimentary consultation with Revital Lab.
Consultations are available virtually or in person at the clinic in Esher, Surrey. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your concerns, understand what is causing the tired appearance and receive a personalised treatment recommendation.
