Dr Eithne Brenner

06/04/2026

Why are most people not suitable for under eye (tear trough) dermal filler?

I’ve been an aesthetic medicine doctor for 18 years and I’m definitely doing less tear trough filler work than I used to. We have lots more treatment options than in past years which is great.
The area around the eyes is really delicate; the skin is thinning, it’s picking up sun damage and there are a lot of lymph vessels in the area so we’ve got to be extremely cautious.
If somebody has got puffiness or swelling or eye bags or thin crepy skin, they’re not going to be suitable for dermal filler as it will draw in moisture and could make the situation worse.
Sometimes I see people who have under eye dark circles and the issue is skin quality and pigment rather than volume loss so they’re not going to be a good candidate for filler.
I want to do a full facial assessment and not just focus on the tear troughs because overtime people are losing volume in their mid face and the fat pads are repositioning and sliding down, so yes dermal fillers are part of a toolbox that we have, and I’ll do it in a small number of people who’ve got true volume loss or hollowing in that area, but only after we’ve looked at the whole face and made a plan.
I’m 60 and I’ve got some lax skin around my eyes and I would be prone to puffiness if I had dermal filler here ( I have some elsewhere in my face) so we’re always looking at skin care, we’re trying to improve skin quality and strength. We look at things like SkinPen micro needling, and devices, and there are injectables other than dermal fillers that can give a good improvement in this area like some of the biostimulators or the polynucleotides, or Sunekos, so we won’t always go straight for filler, but it’s a useful option in a small select number of people. Take care, Eithne
filler

01/04/2026

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month - let’s chat through screening and symptoms- it’s a long video!
Bowel cancer is the second commonest cancer in men in Ireland and the third commonest in women. About 2500-2800 new cases are diagnosed each year and there are about 1000 deaths. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome. Any one of any age with symptoms or a strong family history of bowel cancer should see their GP and for those aged between 58-69 who have no symptoms, the HSE offers free home tests. You can register online at bowelscreen.ie or freephone 1809 45 45 55.
You get a kit sent to your home, you collect a tiny sample of poo, send it back and if the test shows hidden blood, you’ll be invited for a colonoscopy. Most people with a positive home test don’t have bowel cancer on colonoscopy.
Symptoms that need investigation include:
unexplained weight loss, iron-deficiency anaemia ( low blood count), fatigue, bloating or abdominal pain, passing blood through the back passage/anus, or a change in your usual bowel pattern for over a month.
The colonoscopy is simple and straightforward: I had one yesterday. At 60, I had a colonoscopy yesterday; I had some recent weight loss and tiredness ( likely due to the flu over Christmas),and I had a positive home test showing a trace of blood, so colonoscopy was recommended.
The prep or bowel emptying is the least pleasant part, but it’s pain free and you take two sachets of strong laxative over several hours, and you HAVE to stay near a toilet! You can’t eat or drink for several hours and then you check in for the test. It’s done in hospital under sedation via a drip in your hand. You don’t need a general anaesthetic or airway. The test should be easy and pain free; you come around soon afterwards. The doctor is looking for growths called polyps which start off harmless and can very slowly become suspicious over many years. Biopsies can be taken or polyps removed if needed. Your results may be available straight away and if biopsies were taken, your full results will take a few weeks. You need someone to drive you home.
If concerned, do ask your GP for advice. Eithne

31/03/2026

25/03/2026

Nobody wants downtime from aesthetic medicine treatments, but because we’re using needles and devices like lasers, there is often some social downtime.
I had a SkinPen micro needling treatment to my face, neck, décolletage and hands. My skin tends to be quite reactive so my downtime may be more than other people experience.
With the SkinPen we’re causing a very clean and controlled micro injury to the skin making millions of microscopic channels, from 0.25 to 2.5 mm deep in order to stimulate collagen and elastin, improve fine lines, improve texture and help reduce pigmentation. We use strong numbing cream so it’s not painful at all.
Afterwards I have lots of tiny blood spots called petechiae which are a sign that I’ve got through the epidermis into the dermis where the collagen is built, so I know I’ll get a good result. These blood spots can take 2-3 days to clear. They’re more likely if you’re older or smoke ( I don’t ) or if we go deeper for scars or areas of particular concern.
Always ask lots of questions to see if you’re suitable for treatment and I recommend only seeing medical professionals for these type of treatments. This post isn’t sponsored. Eithne

21/03/2026

Let’s look at different forms of hyaluronic acid (HA).
In a serum applied to the skin, it acts as a humectant, drawing water into the skin, and helping to plump fine lines for about 6-8 hours.
When processed in a lab, HA injectables can last many months, up to several years-the key is to use quality products, in small amounts, in the correct places and depths and with careful planning and expertise. They’re not permanent, the body gradually breaks them down over time, and they can be dissolved with a prescription only injectable medicine called hyaluronidase.

We’ve all seen bad lip filler which can result from too much filler, too thick a product, poorly placed and repeated too often, and the lips can look fake and unnatural- not attractive or subtle! 🤦🏼‍♀️
HA fillers vary in strength and consistency; soft runny products can help hydrate the skin and improve texture and stronger ones can help replace lost volume or disguise facial sagging.
The most important thing before considering any treatment is to have a detailed consultation with a medical practitioner, ask about their training and experience and aftercare and see if the treatment might be suitable and effective for you. All medical treatments carry risks and benefits and you need a detailed, personalised consultation. Eithne

20/03/2026

Ursula rated us 5 out of 5!

I had a lovely appointment with Dr Eithne today. From the moment I went in I felt relaxed and welcomed . A very informative and detailed visit which gave me the information I need going forward for my next appointment.

Appointment verified by Phorest Salon Software.

16/03/2026

Frankie rated us 5 out of 5!

Appointment verified by Phorest Salon Software.

14/03/2026

What can you do when the skin on the neck gets crepy and loose and a bit saggy?
It’s one of the commonest things people mention in the clinic (especially my age group over 60) and there are lots of treatment options.
Most of the neck ageing comes from sun exposure over time, and a broad spectrum SPF 30+ every single day is the most effective thing you can do to help prevent further damage.
Add your active ingredients like vitamin C ( at least 10 % L-ascorbic acid) every morning after cleansing and before your SPF.
Retinol ( vitamin A) products are helpful but you have to add them in very gradually as the neck skin is thinner, has fewer sebaceous glands and is more sensitive. Injectable Profhilo can give a boost of hydration for some months and prescription only muscle relaxation medication is an option (if medically suitable) to reduce some of the downward pull of the lower face, jawline and neck muscles if they are very active.
SkinPen micro-needling can be used to boost collagen and we have bio stimulator injectables like Juläine and dilute Radiesse.
BBL ( broadband light) is very effective for pigment and the common neck redness that occur from sun damage. Prevention is key at all ages, and there are repair options if some damage is already done. Eithne

10/03/2026

We had a follow-up question from the recent SkinPen video asking if we use SkinPen micro needling for rosacea? The answer is in very select rosacea patients, we do use it for its collagen stimulation, skin strengthening and rejuvenation effect, but we only do it if the skin is really calm and quiet and the skin barrier is strong and intact.
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition and if there’s a flare up the skin is inflamed, tender, red, bumpy and irritated and this would not be a time to add more trauma from the SkinPen.
SkinPen causes controlled micro injuries to the skin in order to trigger a wound healing cascade or repair process where the fibroblast cells are triggered to produce more collagen and elastin to strengthen the skin, reduce fine lines and it can also have a mild benefit for pigmentation. The priority for rosacea treatment is going to be calming skincare to repair the skin barrier. We often use BBL broadband light (IPL technology) to reduce the background redness, inflammation and to treat the little broken blood vessels on the cheeks chin and nose ( telangiectasiae) that some people with rosacea have. We also use topical medications or occasionally small doses of oral medications, so SkinPen would not be a first line treatment, but it can be part of an overall collagen boosting plan when the skin is quiet and calm.

02/03/2026

Hi to all our new patients- thanks for your patience as we have opened up the waiting list again.
I took some time off in January with the flu and then had a lovely break in Thailand with friends, to recharge and shake off the tiredness with lots of hiking, kickboxing and yoga.
It’s great to be back, full of energy and looking forward to seeing some new faces along with our lovely regulars.
Our new patient appointment is 90 minutes with me, to discuss concerns and goals in detail, do an Observ skin analysis and make a plan for your aesthetic journey. We love to build relationships as we want to maintain long term skin health and results and not just quick fixes or trends. For an appointment, call us on 01 960 2277 or book online via the bio or at dreithnebrenner.ie
We look forward to seeing you! Eithne

21/01/2026

When is it too young to consider cosmetic injectables?
An article published this week quotes a friend of mine, Adrian Epstein from Changes Clinic in Tallaght. He has seen a worrying trend of people as young as 16 seeking cosmetic injectables. Reputable clinics like Adrian’s and mine and those of our medical colleagues won’t offer treatments to minors.
England has the Botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers (Children’s) Act from 2021 which makes it illegal to offer these treatments for cosmetic reasons to anyone under 18, but we don’t have any similar legislation in Ireland and we really need a lot more regulation to protect minors.
Dermal fillers are classified as medical devices and the HPRA who regulate them in Ireland and the manufacturers and EU guidance recommends these are not used for cosmetic reasons under 18 years of age.
Botulinum toxin is a prescription only medicine in Ireland and you need a face-to-face consultation with a medical doctor or dentist and they will assess you individually for suitability. I’m not a fan of preventative Botox as I don’t think it’s necessary and my key advice for anyone considering any cosmetic injectables is to have a detailed consultation with an experienced and reputable medical practitioner to discuss the risk risks and benefits and to decide if the treatment is appropriate.
Minors are very susceptible to social media pressure. Their faces are still developing and evolving and these treatments are really not necessary or recommended. Unfortunately they are tempted by bargain treatments in non-medical settings and risk complications and poor results. Eithne

16/01/2026

Belated Happy New Year!

I’m delighted to be back in action after a nasty flu, like so many people had!
At this time every year, I like to plan what treatments to consider for the year ahead, for both myself and for the people I see in clinic.
I don’t want to make a knee-jerk response to the latest trends or ‘must-have’ products or injectables; I want to carefully and thoughtfully look at what I think would be useful and effective and as safe as possible.

Unregulated and medically unsupervised injectables like peptides make me super nervous. I’ve been a qualified doctor for over 36 years and I’ve seen fads come and go. There are no very quick fixes when it comes to protecting the skin and repairing the inevitable changes that happen over time.
The basics are so important- simple SPF every day of the year ( face, neck and hands especially) vitamin C serum and vitamin A products and sun protection measures like sunglasses, shade, etc.
For me, after my skincare, I have treatment to reduce the frown lines between my brows and forehead 3 times a year, I use LED in the clinic and I alternate between SkinPen microneedling, light peels and some BBL for pigmentation, redness and texture. About every 2-3 years, I might have a collagen stimulation injectable like HArmonyCa or some very subtle soft dermal filler in my lips and for fine lines around the lips. The key is always subtlety and a natural result.
If you’d like a personalised consultation to assess you and make a plan, our phone number is 01 960 2277 or email info@dreithnebrenner.ie