Both refresh the eye area, yet they treat different things. Botox softens the movement lines that fan out from the eyes. Tear trough filler fills a hollow beneath them. One quietens crow's feet, the other lifts a tired shadow. Here is the honest difference, who each suits, what it costs and when the answer is neither.
A muscle relaxing protein that softens the lines made by repeated expression.
A soft hyaluronic acid placed under the eye to fill a hollow and lift the shadow it casts.
Costs are indicative ranges and vary by city, clinic and practitioner. Confirm current prices with the provider.
Botox relaxes muscle. Around the eyes it softens crow's feet, the fine lines that crease when you smile or squint, by gently easing the muscle that causes them. It works on movement, so it is ideal for those dynamic lines, but it does nothing for a hollow, a shadow or the volume that the under eye loses with time. It is a quick treatment with little downtime and a result that builds over a couple of weeks.
Tear trough filler adds volume. When the dark circle is really a dip where the cheek meets the eye socket, a small amount of soft hyaluronic acid can fill it so the area looks rested rather than sunken. The change is immediate, but this is a delicate, technically demanding area, and in the wrong skin or wrong hands filler can puff or look bluish. The reassurance is that it can be dissolved if needed.
Because one treats lines and the other treats a hollow, they are not really rivals. A common, balanced plan is Botox to soften crow's feet at the outer eye and a conservative touch of tear trough filler only where a genuine hollow remains. A good practitioner will tell you which of your concerns each one can and cannot address.
Your concern is crow's feet or movement lines at the outer eye, and you want them softened rather than a hollow filled.
Your dark circle is mainly a genuine hollow and you want it lifted, and you are suitable for filler in this delicate area.
They address different concerns, so a balanced plan often uses Botox for crow's feet and a little filler only where a hollow remains.
If your tired look comes from thin, crepey under eye skin rather than a hollow or movement lines, a regenerative injectable such as polynucleotides may suit better than either of these. If the darkness is true pigmentation, topical care or lasers are the honest route. If puffy bags from forward fat or clearly loose skin are the issue, lower eyelid surgery may be the only real fix, and a careful practitioner will say so rather than masking it with filler. Tiredness, dehydration and genetics also play a part. A proper assessment of what is actually driving your concern is worth more than reaching for the most familiar treatment.
Medical disclaimer
Both are medical aesthetic injectables that should be carried out by a qualified, regulated practitioner after an in person assessment, with extra care around the eyes. This page is general information, not medical advice. Possible effects include bruising, swelling, lumps, prolonged puffiness and, rarely with any injection, a serious vascular complication that can affect vision. Results vary and are not guaranteed. Always confirm your suitability with a qualified practitioner.
Tell us your city and your goal. We will introduce you to vetted, qualified injectors who treat the eye area honestly.
Considered guidance on treatments and what they cost. No noise, unsubscribe anytime.