Dark Circle Treatment in Beverly Hills & Greater Los Angeles
Under-eye dark circles are one of the most common reasons patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Brentwood seek aesthetic care. They can make you look tired or older than you feel, even when you are well rested. Dark circles are not a single problem. They may come from hollowing that casts a shadow, pigment in the skin, thin skin that shows the blood vessels beneath it, or a combination, and each cause responds to different treatment. Dr. Kami Parsa offers surgical and non-surgical options matched to the specific cause of each patient’s dark circles.
Dr. Parsa’s approach to the under-eye area draws on his work with regenerative treatments. He lectures on the use of platelet-rich fibrin gel in periocular rejuvenation, a treatment prepared from the patient’s own blood, and on facial fat grafting and nanofat, which use a patient’s own tissue to restore volume and skin quality. As a fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon who completed his training at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, he can also address the structural causes of dark circles, such as bulging fat or a deep tear trough, that skin treatments alone cannot correct.
“Most dark circles have more than one cause. If you only treat the shadow and ignore the pigment, or the other way around, the patient still looks tired.” — Dr. Kami Parsa
What Causes Dark Circles Under the Eyes?
Dark circles usually result from one or more of the following:
- Hollowing and shadowing: Loss of fat and volume beneath the eyes deepens the tear trough, which casts a shadow that reads as darkness.
- Pigmentation: Brown discoloration from genetics, sun exposure, or inflammation is especially common in medium and darker skin tones.
- Thin skin and visible vessels: Thin under-eye skin can let the blue or purple color of underlying blood vessels and muscle show through.
- Under-eye bags: Bulging fat creates a shadow beneath it, making the area below look darker.
- Contributing factors: Allergies, eye rubbing, sun exposure, and lack of sleep can make existing dark circles more noticeable.
Many patients first seek treatment in their 30s to 50s, when these changes become more persistent. Identifying which factors are involved is the first step in choosing treatment.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Dark Circles
After a detailed evaluation, Dr. Parsa may recommend one or more of the following:
- Tear trough filler: Under-eye filler restores lost volume beneath the eyes and softens the shadow of a deep tear trough. It works best for hollowing and is less helpful for pigment.
- Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-rich fibrin: These treatments use concentrated growth factors from your own blood with the goal of improving skin quality. Their use under the eyes is considered investigational, the evidence for dark circles is still limited, and results vary.
- Laser and microneedling treatments: Laser rejuvenation and microneedling can improve skin texture, fine lines, and some types of discoloration. Learn more about laser skin resurfacing.
- Chemical peels: Carefully selected chemical peels can help lighten pigment-related dark circles.
- Medical-grade skincare: Targeted topical products and daily sun protection help maintain results and reduce pigment over time.
Combining treatments that address different causes often produces the most noticeable improvement. Results from non-surgical treatments are gradual and require maintenance.
When Eyelid Surgery Is the Right Choice
When dark circles are caused mainly by bulging under-eye fat, loose skin, or lower eyelid laxity, surgery may be the most effective solution. Lower eyelid bag surgery can reduce bulging fat, and Dr. Parsa often uses fat preservation and repositioning techniques to fill the hollow beneath rather than simply removing fat, which helps avoid a sunken look. For patients who also have midface descent, the Trifecta Lift™ & Quadfecta Lift® may be discussed.
Risks and When to Seek Urgent Care
Each treatment carries its own risks, which Dr. Parsa reviews at your consultation. Filler can cause swelling, bruising, lumps, or a bluish tint, and rarely a blood vessel blockage that can damage the skin or affect vision. Call the office immediately and seek emergency care if you notice sudden vision changes, severe pain, or skin that turns pale, dusky, or mottled after filler. Lasers, peels, and microneedling can cause temporary redness and, particularly in darker skin tones, changes in pigment.
Why Choose Dr. Parsa for Dark Circle Treatment
Effective dark circle treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis of the cause. Patients choose Dr. Parsa for his ability to offer the full range of solutions, from skin treatments to surgery.
- Exclusive Focus on the Eyelids and Face: His practice is devoted to reconstructive, revisional, and cosmetic treatment of the eyelids and surrounding structures, with no general plastic surgery.
- Filler Complication Research: He coauthored a 2023 paper in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum on recurrent eyelid swelling after hyaluronic acid filler and lectures on avoiding periocular filler complications.
- Revision as a Clinical Focus: Revisional eyelid surgery is central to his practice, including patients who need correction after previous under-eye treatment.
- Academic Appointment: He is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
- Humanitarian Reconstructive Care: He founded the Surgical Friends Foundation, which provides reconstructive surgery to patients without access to quality medical care.
Schedule a Dark Circle Consultation in Beverly Hills
If dark circles are affecting your confidence, a consultation with Dr. Kami Parsa can identify what is causing them and which treatments are most likely to help. He sees patients from Beverly Hills, Century City, and throughout Los Angeles at 465 N Roxbury Dr, Suite 1011. Schedule a consultation to begin your personalized plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Eye Circles
Medically reviewed by Kambiz K. Parsa, M.D. on
- What are the most common causes of dark circles in Beverly Hills patients?
- Is tear trough filler safe under the eyes?
- How long do non-surgical results last?
- Can I combine filler with other treatments?
- Is surgery ever necessary for dark circles?
Most patients have a combination of tear trough hollowing, inherited pigmentation, thin skin, and sun-related changes. Allergies, eye rubbing, and sleep patterns can also contribute.
Go To TopUnder-eye filler can be very effective, but it carries real risks, including swelling, lumps, and rare blood vessel complications. Careful patient selection and technique reduce these risks. Learn more about under-eye fillers.
Go To TopUnder-eye filler commonly lasts about 12 to 18 months, varying by product and individual. Results from lasers, peels, and regenerative treatments depend on your skin, age, and maintenance, and Dr. Parsa will recommend a schedule tailored to you.
Go To TopAbsolutely. Many of our Beverly Hills patients combine filler with PRP or microneedling for enhanced results.
Go To TopYes, particularly when prominent under-eye bags or loose skin are the main cause. Lower eyelid bag surgery can provide long-lasting improvement when non-surgical options are not enough.
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