Better Ageing Review – Perfect Eyes – We Check in With Dr Sabrina Shah-Desai

Dark circles, puffiness and under-eye hollows are among the most stubborn concerns as we age. As collagen and volume diminish — particularly around the delicate eye area — the result is often a tired, shadowed appearance, exacerbated by modern-day stressors: poor sleep, dehydration and relentless screen time.

At 53, and having exhausted an arsenal of eye creams (alongside near-heroic hydration efforts), I was still being told I looked tired. It was enough to prompt a shift towards something more results-driven. A trusted recommendation from Alice Hart-Davis of The Tweakments Guide pointed me firmly in one direction: “You need to see Dr Shah-Desai — she’s the best.”

Two months later — such is the demand — I arrived at her Harley Street clinic. The walls, lined with industry accolades and glowing press coverage, speak to Dr Sabrina’s reputation. With over 20 years of experience, she has been recognised in Tatler’s Top Doctors guide and named among the Global 100 Most Influential Aesthetic Practitioners by the My Face My Body Awards.

Yet it is her manner — calm, warm and quietly authoritative — that immediately distinguishes her. Our consultation begins not with clinical detachment, but conversation: from menopause to travel, she takes time to understand the broader picture. It’s a reassuringly holistic approach that puts you entirely at ease.

When we turn to the clinical assessment, it becomes clear that a tailored plan is essential. While tear trough filler is often the default solution for under-eye hollows — restoring lost volume between the lower eyelid and cheek — Dr Sabrina advises against it in my case. The skin beneath my eyes is too delicate.

Instead, she recommends a more nuanced approach: 0.6ml of mid-face filler to support the underlying structures and subtly improve the appearance of eye bags, paired with a light application of Baby Botox to the forehead to gently lift the brow.

The procedure itself is swift and surprisingly comfortable. A topical anaesthetic is applied, and both treatments are delivered with precision and minimal discomfort. Immediately afterwards, there is mild redness and slight swelling — entirely expected — which subsides within hours.

Fast forward a week and the difference in my eye bags was significant. Gone were the puffy dark shadows and I looked extraordinary well rested. I was also thrilled that the filler had slightly lifted my cheekbones. The baby botox had created a natural look lift to my brow and banished the fine lines on my forehead. Friends remarked I looked ‘really well’ and there was absolutely no sign of that dreaded ‘overfilled’ look.

Filler can last between 12 months to two years and three months on I’m still thrilled with the results. I look in the mirror each morning looking fresh, bright and well-rested.

The Results

Within a week, the transformation is quietly remarkable. The telltale shadows and puffiness have softened significantly, replaced by a fresher, more rested appearance. There is an added benefit, too: a subtle lift through the cheekbones, lending overall structure to the face.

The Baby Botox works in harmony, smoothing fine lines while creating a natural, almost imperceptible lift to the brow. Crucially, the results are refined rather than obvious — no heaviness, no overfilled look, just a well-rested version of oneself.
Three months on, the results remain beautifully intact. With dermal filler lasting anywhere from 12 months to two years, it’s a long-term investment in looking — and feeling — revitalised. Each morning, the mirror reflects brighter, fresher skin, and the persistent question of “You look tired?” has quietly disappeared.