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Restylane
Got Restylane for under eye hollows - is this Tyndall effect?
Bluish discoloration under the eyes after Restylane can be either bruising or true Tyndall effect, and the two look different once you know what to check. Tyndall effect happens when filler is placed too superficially: light scatters through the thin skin and hyaluronic acid gel, producing a blue-gray tint that doesn't fade and isn't tender. Bruising, on the other hand, is caused by needle trauma to small vessels, tends to be tender or discolored with a purple-yellow bruising pattern, and resolves over one to two weeks with cool compresses.
If the discoloration is limited to one side only, bruising is more likely than Tyndall effect, since Tyndall is usually a technique issue that can affect either or both sides depending on injection depth. True Tyndall effect doesn't resolve on its own and typically requires dissolving the filler with hyaluronidase. Since periorbital skin is thin and unforgiving, an in-person exam by your injector is the best way to sort out which one you're dealing with.
Clinical Context
Under-eye skin is thin, with minimal dermis and almost no fat cushion, so anything placed just beneath it shows through easily. This is why superficial filler can create a blue-gray tint rather than blending in — the same light-scattering effect that makes veins look blue through skin. Because there's so little tissue to camouflage a misplaced product here, injectors typically place filler deeper and more conservatively in this area than they would on cheeks or lips.
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