Skin Pigmentation Treatment
Laser and medical management of melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Under Eye Dark Circles Treatment
Overview
Dark circles have three distinct causes and each needs a different treatment: excess pigment, visible blood vessels beneath thin skin, and shadow cast by hollowing of the tear trough. Many are a combination. Identifying which applies to you is the whole of the treatment decision — the wrong approach produces no change at all.
Benefits of this treatment
Cause-matched treatment
Pigmented, vascular and hollow-related causes are treated differently — the plan follows your actual diagnosis.
Improves how rested you look
Reducing shadowing and discolouration often has an outsized effect on overall facial freshness.
Mostly non-invasive options
Laser, topical and filler-based approaches are all considered before anything more invasive.
Short sessions
Most treatments are completed in well under an hour with little to no downtime.
How the procedure is performed
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1
15–20 minutes
Diagnosis
The area is examined under good lighting, sometimes stretching the skin, to identify whether pigment, vessels or hollowing is the dominant cause.
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2
10 minutes
Treatment selection
A laser, topical, or volume-based approach is chosen to match the diagnosis — not a single default protocol for everyone.
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3
20–40 minutes
Treatment
The chosen treatment (often a pigment or vascular laser) is applied to the under-eye area with appropriate eye protection.
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4
5 minutes
Aftercare
A cooling gel or specific skincare instructions are given depending on the treatment used.
Recovery and aftercare
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Immediately after
Mild redness or swelling
Similar to mild sun exposure, typically settling within hours.
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Days 1–3
Settling down
Any temporary darkening or puffiness resolves.
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Weeks 2–6
Gradual improvement
Pigment and vascular causes both show gradual, session-by-session improvement.
Risks and side effects
Temporary darkening or lightening
Pigment-based causes can temporarily worsen before improving — a normal, expected part of the process.
Incomplete improvement
Hollowing-related shadow does not respond to laser treatment at all and needs a different approach entirely.
Bruising
A risk specifically where the approach involves any injection component.
Rarer complications
- Under-eye skin is thin and sensitive — Overly aggressive treatment in this area carries a higher risk of visible marks than thicker facial skin elsewhere — a reason conservative, cause-matched treatment matters here more than in most areas.
What it costs
What affects the price
Underlying cause
Pigment and vascular causes are usually priced per laser session; hollowing-related shadow (if filler-based) is priced differently.
Number of sessions
Course-based pricing (3–6 sessions) is typical.
Frequently asked questions
Topical products can help mild pigment-related darkening, but they do nothing for visible blood vessels or shadow from hollowing — which is why an accurate diagnosis matters more than the product itself.
No — filler addresses hollowing and volume loss specifically. Pigment and vascular causes need laser or topical treatment instead, which is why diagnosis comes first.
Typically 3–6 sessions, though this depends entirely on which cause (or combination) applies to you.
Yes, with settings and technique specifically adjusted for this thinner, more sensitive area — which is different from how the rest of the face is treated.
Related
Treatments patients also consider
Laser Hair Regrowth
Low-level laser therapy to stimulate weakened hair follicles in early-stage hair loss.
Pigmentation Treatment
Comprehensive assessment and treatment planning for all forms of facial and body pigmentation.
Laser Hair Removal
Long-term reduction of unwanted hair using medical-grade laser energy.
Google Reviews
Rated by our patients
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Next step
Considering Under Eye Dark Circles Treatment?
Book a consultation and get a straight answer on whether this is right for you, what it involves, and what it will cost. No obligation to proceed.
- A private, unhurried assessment with the surgeon
- An honest view of what is realistically achievable
- A written quote with no hidden costs
- Complete confidentiality