Hello, this is Ribbon Plastic Surgery, located near Sinsa Station.

What are some of the most commonly performed plastic surgeries in Korea? A representative one is double eyelid surgery. However, because so many of these procedures are performed, there are also many cases of dissatisfaction and side effects, so we often receive inquiries related to this.

At Ribbon Plastic Surgery, we also receive countless questions such as, "Doctor, I had double eyelid surgery at another plastic surgery clinic before, but I seem to look sleepier. Why is that?"

Because the structure of the eyes differs from person to person and the condition of the skin can also vary, it is difficult to make an accurate judgment from photos alone. In such cases, patients visit the clinic in person and identify the cause through a consultation with the director.

In many cases, a diagnosis of ptosis is made at a fairly high rate, so today I would like to talk about this.

"Even when I try to open my eyes wide, they still look sleepy. What could be the reason?"

If you look more closely at the cause of this concern, you will find that it is a muscle issue, not a skin issue.

The reason we can open and close our eyelids is that if there were only skin, this function could never be performed properly. Muscles are located underneath, and they receive instructions through neurotransmitters secreted from the brain, allowing us to open and close our eyes.

This muscle is called the levator palpebrae superioris, and it can also loosen for various reasons.

In general, it becomes saggy with aging, but some people are born with weaker levator muscles, and in some cases, problems are caused by trauma. In such cases, even if you try to open your eyes wide, the muscle strength is weak, making it difficult to secure a normal field of vision.

This is commonly referred to as ptosis. Ptosis can occur in both eyes or in just one eye.

In particular, if ptosis appears only on one side, it can create asymmetry and give a negative impression, so it is important to correct it through eye shape correction and secure a wider field of vision.

"Why is it difficult to improve with double eyelid surgery alone?"

Many people think that double eyelid surgery would be a good solution when the eyelids are drooping. Of course, if sagging skin is the problem, that may be possible. However, if the problem is muscular, then even if a double eyelid line is created, improvement is difficult because the position of the sagging muscle remains the same.

Most people who say, "I had double eyelid surgery, but I look too sleepy," are having problems because of exactly this. In such cases, double eyelid surgery and ptosis correction need to be performed together so that muscle strength can also be reinforced, allowing a much clearer and larger-eyed appearance.

Non-incisional ptosis correction and incisional ptosis correction

Depending on the degree of ptosis, the surgical methods can be divided into non-incisional ptosis correction and incisional ptosis correction.

1. Non-incisional ptosis correction

This method is suitable for cases where the eyelids are thin, there is a difference in size between the two eyes (asymmetry), or the eyes look sleepy even with double eyelids, or for mild ptosis.

If ptosis is severe, correction is difficult, and fat removal can only be performed partially, so it should only be applied to those who truly need it after a thorough diagnosis.

Since it is non-incisional, there is the advantage that the scar is so small it is barely noticeable, but please keep in mind that you should not choose this method lightly simply because of that.

2. Incisional ptosis correction

Incisional ptosis correction can be performed in all cases. Even for those who are suitable for non-incisional ptosis correction, incisional ptosis correction may be a more appropriate option depending on the condition of the eyes.

It is suitable for severe ptosis, excessively drooping eyelids, and cases where the eyebrows and forehead are used to open the eyes, and it also allows sufficient fat removal, giving it the advantage of a wider range of adjustments.

However, because scars can occur, it is important to take enough time for recovery and proper care after surgery.

Ptosis correction is a procedure that can provide stable correction only when the degree of ptosis is carefully diagnosed and surgery suited to the condition of the eyes is performed.

If overcorrection occurs, where the levator muscle is shortened too much, the eyes may appear wide open even when only moderate force is used to open them, and symptoms of lagophthalmos may even appear, so special caution is required.

In addition, matching the size of both eyes is also a very difficult issue, so there are many cases in which correction results in asymmetry. Since there are right and left eyes, it is important to carry out ptosis correction while balancing the two as much as possible.

At Ribbon Plastic Surgery, we assess various factors such as eyelid skin thickness, the degree of ptosis, the amount of fat, and muscle movement to plan a customized surgery accordingly.

All surgeries are performed directly by the director, and we provide ample consultation time and thorough diagnosis. If you have any questions related to this, you are welcome to visit Ribbon Plastic Surgery.

We will do our best. Thank you.