Infraorbital fat compartment: anatomy
Quick facts
- Definition
- Superficial fat of the lower eyelid and of the transition to the cheek, beneath the orbicularis muscle.
- Neighboring structures
- Orbital septum, orbicularis retaining ligament and SOOF.
- Relationship with dark circles
- Loss of volume and descent of tissue accentuate the groove and the shadow.
- Risk
- High vascular risk area due to the proximity of vessels and the eye.
The infraorbital compartment is the superficial fat of the lower eyelid and of the transition to the cheek. It sits beneath the orbicularis oculi muscle and above the SOOF, the deep fat of the cheek. Its borders are defined by ligaments, especially the orbicularis retaining ligament.
How does this form the tear trough?
In the lower eye area, three layers add up: the very thin skin, the infraorbital fat and the eyelid fat pads, held back by the orbital septum. With age, there is volume loss in the cheek, descent of tissue and weakening of the septum. The result is a more marked groove, the tear trough and, further down, the palpebromalar groove and the mid-cheek groove.
| Concern | What may contribute |
|---|---|
| Deep groove beside the nose | Loss of volume and retaining ligament |
| Bags | Herniated fat, through a weakened septum |
| Bluish shadow | Visible vessels under thin skin |
| Brownish shadow | Pigmentation |
What changes in planning?
Separating the cause of the dark circle avoids treating what will not respond: a groove from volume loss is assessed with tear trough filler, a bag from herniation usually has a different approach, and pigmentation calls for skin treatment. In some cases, smoothing the lower eyelid depends on support from the midface, and a joint assessment is part of the plan.
In Harmy
Harmy's Tear Trough point lets you simulate the area with a conservative volume, choosing the ml. The projection shows the appearance and does not distinguish the compartments or the cause of the dark circle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the infraorbital compartment?
It is the superficial fat of the lower eyelid, between the skin and the muscle. It continues into the cheek compartments and is bounded by ligaments.
Why do under-eye circles appear with age?
Loss of volume, descent of fat and thinning of the skin make the groove more evident and the shadow stronger. The cause can also be pigmentation or vascular.