Tear Trough Deformity
A hollowing or groove along the junction of the lower eyelid and cheek, creating a tired appearance, typically treated with hyaluronic acid filler or fat transfer in cosmetic dermatology.
Full Definition
The tear trough deformity, also called the nasojugal groove, refers to a depression that forms at the medial junction of the lower eyelid and the cheek as a result of fat compartment descent, ligamentous tethering, and skin laxity. It is one of the most technically demanding areas for filler injection due to proximity to the orbit and risk of vascular complications including visual loss. Editors should hyphenate 'tear trough' only when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'tear-trough filler'), but leave unhyphenated when used as a standalone noun phrase. 'Deformity' in this context is a clinical descriptor and carries no pejorative connotation.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as 'tear-trough filler' (compound modifier before noun) but not as 'tear trough deformity' (noun phrase). Do not confuse with periorbital melanosis or malar festoons.
In Context
- "Treatment of the tear trough deformity requires precise cannula placement to minimise bruising and avoid vascular compromise." — Procedural training document
- "The editor queried whether 'tear-trough deformity' required a hyphen; per house style, no hyphen is used when the term functions as a noun phrase." — Copy-editing note