Under-Eye Glow-Up: How Deusaderm Targets Dark Circles Like Never Before
- Dr. Ho Shuyan
- Jun 7
- 6 min read
What are dark eye circles?
Dark circles and tear troughs are common concerns that affect individuals across various age groups, often giving the appearance of tiredness and an aged look. While the term "dark circles" generally refers to the darkened appearance around or beneath the eyes, their underlying causes can vary significantly. These causes include structural factors, pigmentary changes, vascular factors, or a combination of these factors.
Structural Causes:
Tear trough and eyebags can create shadows, making the under-eye area appear darker.
Pigmentary Causes:
Excess melanin deposition in the skin causes hyperpigmentation, resulting in a darker appearance.
Vascular Causes:
Thin skin, visible blood vessels or poor blood circulation can contribute to a bluish, purplish or reddish tint under the eyes.
Mixed Causes:
Often, a combination of the above factors contributes to the appearance of dark circles.
Since the underlying causes vary, treatment strategies are different. For example, hyaluronic acid filler is one of the most commonly used treatments for tear trough deformities. The filler adds volume and smooths out hollows, thereby reducing the shadowing effect. However, because hyaluronic acid is a water-attracting substance, it can sometimes lead to temporary puffiness or swelling, especially when it is used in areas with poor lymphatic drainage leading to water retention, or the body's water retention response is heightened.
Many people dealing with under-eye hollowness often request for fat grafting and consider it a more appealing option because it’s natural and tends to last longer than dermal fillers. Fat grafting involves removing fat from areas like the abdomen using liposuction, then injecting it into another area to restore volume. While fat grafting can be very effective in areas like the breasts, buttocks, and certain parts of the face, it's not always ideal for the delicate under-eye area. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the body, and this makes fat grafting particularly challenging in that region.
Unlike cosmetic fillers, fat grafts rely on the surrounding tissue to provide a blood supply in order to survive. If the transplanted fat does not receive enough blood flow, it can break down. When only some of the fat survives, it may lead to lumps or uneven texture. Any unevenness or asymmetry is more visible due to the lack of soft tissue and thin skin.
So, what other options are out there?
👉 Curious if Deusaderm is right for you? Book a consultation or WhatsApp us now to chat with our team.
Deusaderm
Deusaderm is a filler made from highly purified Type I collagen, developed by Sunmax Biotechnology in Taiwan. It is injected to restore lost volume and give a natural, refreshed look. Sunmax Deusaderm is available in several countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and China.
Unlike biostimulators like Radiesse, Ellanse, or Sculptra that work by stimulation of collagen production over time, Deusaderm is already collagen. Additionally, Radiesse, Ellansé, and Sculptra are not suitable for use in the under-eye area, so they won’t be the focus of this blog.
📌 How Long Does Deusaderm Last?
The effects of Deusaderm typically last 4 months. Though shorter than HA fillers, many patients find the natural skin enhancement and lightening effects worth the additional touch-ups.
📌 Is Deusaderm a Filler?
Yes, Deusaderm is a collagen-based dermal filler, unlike hyaluronic acid (HA) or biostimulating fillers. It offers immediate volume correction and long-term skin quality improvements without causing water retention, making it suitable for sensitive areas like under the eyes.
Why Deusaderm?
No Water Retention = Predictable Volume
Because collagen does not attract or retain water like hyaluronic acid does, there's minimal risk of post-treatment swelling. This means that what you see immediately after the injection is generally very close to your final result. This is especially beneficial for delicate areas like the under-eye, where even slight swelling can affect the overall appearance. Unless bruising occurs—which can happen with any injection—the outcome remains quite predictable and natural-looking from the start.
Lower Risk of Product Migration
Due to its high viscosity, Deusaderm stays in place after injection. This stability helps prevent the product from migrating into unwanted areas—another contributor to an overfilled or distorted appearance.
Improvement of Contours
Due to its high elasticity, it can provide strong structural support, making it effective in treating facial depressions, which helps create a smoother, more youthful contour.
Improvement of Skin Tone and Quality
As Deusaderm naturally breaks down in the skin, it releases peptides, including arginine, phenylalanine, valine, alanine, and leucine. These peptides have been shown to inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin (pigment) production. As a result, the skin may appear brighter, adding a subtle radiance along with volume correction.
Right after the injection, you will see an immediate improvement in the undereye area, and about a week later, the collagen starts to integrate with your own skin, forming a soft, supportive structure that helps smooth wrinkles and enhance contours. As the collagen gradually breaks down into amino acids, you’ll also notice improvements in overall skin quality, firmness and brightness, along with a boost in your skin’s natural collagen regeneration—rather than simply adding volume. This approach helps enhance the face subtly, avoiding the "stuffed" or "inflated" look sometimes seen with repeated HA filler use.
How Deusaderm treat different types of dark circles?
Structural type: Deusaderm adds support and volume to the tear trough area, filling in the hollow and reducing the shadow that causes the tired appearance.
Vascular type: Deusaderm can thicken and strengthen the under-eye skin over time. As it breaks down, it releases amino acids that stimulate natural collagen production, improving skin density and reducing the visibility of underlying veins. Thicker, healthier skin reflects more light and helps conceal the bluish tint beneath.
Pigment type: While pigment-related dark circles are harder to treat with HA fillers alone, Deusaderm offers an added benefit. As mentioned, as it degrades, it releases peptides that can inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production. This helps to gradually brighten and even out skin tone in the area.
Can Deusaderm replace HA filler?
The answer is not a simple yes or no. Whether Deusaderm can replace hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers depends on several factors: the specific treatment area, your aesthetic goals,
and individual skin concerns.
In certain areas—particularly the under-eye region—Deusaderm may actually be the preferable option. In addition to restoring volume, Deusaderm gradually improves skin tone and texture.
One important consideration is how long the effects last. Generally, the volumising effect lasts for around 3-6 months. However, the degrading period may vary depending on individual physical and daily routine differences. The injection area and volume will also affect how long the effect lasts. Since it lasts shorter than most HA fillers, if your goal is to maintain consistent volume, you may need to return for more frequent treatments with Deusaderm compared to HA fillers. So, if you're comfortable with more frequent injections, Deusaderm can be a great alternative to HA filler.
Deusaderm is not here to completely replace HA fillers—but it offers a powerful alternative for the right patient and the right area.
Can Deusaderm replace botulinum toxin (commonly known by brands like Xeomin, Botox, or Dysport)?
Since Deusaderm not only restores volume but also improves skin quality over time, is it time to ditch the wrinkle-relaxing injections?
The short answer: No, Deusaderm doesn’t replace botulinum toxin—but it can complement it beautifully.
Let’s break down the differences so you understand how each works, and why they often serve different (yet equally important) purposes in aesthetic treatments.
What Does Botulinum Toxin Actually Do?
Botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxant. It works by temporarily blocking nerve signals to certain facial muscles, which softens dynamic wrinkles—the lines that form due to repetitive expressions like frowning, squinting, or raising your eyebrows. These include frown lines (glabellar lines), forehead lines and crow’s feet (lines around the eyes).
By reducing the movement of overactive muscles, botulinum toxin prevents wrinkles from deepening over time, and gives the skin a smoother, more rested appearance.
📌 Deusaderm vs Rejuran: What’s the Difference?
Feature | Deusaderm | Rejuran |
Type | Type I Collagen Filler | Polynucleotide (PN) Skin Booster |
Main Function | Volume + Skin Brightening | Skin Healing + Collagen Regeneration |
Texture | Thick, provides structure | Watery, injects superficially |
Downtime | Low | Mild redness or swelling possible |
Ideal Area | Undereyes, hollows | Full face, fine lines, enlarged pores |
✅ Use Deusaderm when you need volume + contouring.✅ Use Rejuran when you want skin texture and repair.In some cases, both can complement each other.
Why One Can’t Replace the Other?
Although both are injectable treatments, they work in completely different ways and target different concerns.
If your fine lines are primarily caused by muscle movement, like smiling or frowning, no filler—Deusaderm included—can stop that movement. In these cases, botulinum toxin is still essential to soften and prevent those expression lines.
However, if you’ve already treated the muscles with botulinum toxin but still notice issues like hollowness, dull skin, or fine lines at rest, Deusaderm can step in to restore lost structure and improve skin quality.
In modern aesthetic medicine, the best results often come from combining treatments, not choosing one over the other.
Think of it like this:
Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles, preventing dynamic wrinkles and giving a smoother canvas.
Deusaderm supports the skin from underneath, adding subtle volume and encouraging natural regeneration over time.
Together, they address the full spectrum of aging—from movement-related wrinkles to volume loss and skin thinning.
RJ Clinic is one of the first clinics in Malaysia offering Deusaderm for undereye hollowness. Find out more or make an appointment today.
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