What Should Be Considered First Before Adding Volume with Fat Grafting for Sunken Eyes

Hello, I’m Ahn Byung-jun, the chief director of Ahn Byung Jun Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Some people visit us with concerns such as, "I’m told my eyes look sunken, so I look older."

This usually refers to cases where the eyelids appear hollow above the double eyelid line, or the area around the eyes gives an overall dark impression.

This condition is sometimes called sunken eyes, and fat grafting for sunken eyes is a method of improving the impression by filling the hollow area with your own fat.

However, there is something that should be checked first when planning fat grafting for sunken eyes.

It is important to first determine whether anything besides fat also needs to be improved.

Why do the eyelids look sunken?

There is not just one reason why the eyelids appear hollow.

As people age, the fat around the eyes may naturally decrease.

In some cases, too much fat was removed during a previous double eyelid surgery.

Or, due to a congenital structure in which the eyeball sits deeper inward, the eyelids may sag and give a sunken appearance.

Because the approach differs depending on the cause, it is important to look at the degree of hollowness together with the overall structure of the eyes.

If you focus only on filling the hollow area, you may not get the change you were aiming for.

Why is it important to use less fat?

One of the principles I consider most important in fat grafting for sunken eyes is using less fat.

Unlike other parts of the body, the eyelids are very thin and delicate tissue.

If too much fat is grafted, the eyelids may feel heavy or the volume may become overly prominent, leaving an unnatural impression.

If the sunken area can be improved without using fat, or with only a very small amount, that leads to a more natural result.

That is why, when planning fat grafting for sunken eyes, I first think about how to create the desired change with no fat or with as little fat as possible.

Why is it worth considering eye-opening correction at the same time?

If the muscle that opens the eyes is weak in cases of sunken eyes, filling the area with fat alone may not produce the desired result.

If the eyelids do not open sufficiently, the eyes will not look clear even after fat is grafted.

In such cases, it may be worth considering performing eye-opening correction at the same time.

By strengthening the muscle that opens the eyes while also filling the hollow area with fat, the eyes can open more naturally and volume can be restored at the same time.

How these two are combined is decided after directly checking the degree of eye hollowness and the condition of the muscles.

About 3 months after surgery, the grafted fat stabilizes and the eye shape gradually settles.

Not all of the grafted fat survives

One of the questions often asked after fat grafting for sunken eyes is how long the fat will remain.

The grafted fat survives as it becomes connected to new blood vessels, and some of it is absorbed during that process.

The survival rate varies from person to person, and even in the same person it can differ by area.

Therefore, the final result should be checked after 3 months rather than immediately after surgery.

Because the appearance when swelling is present at the beginning is different from the appearance after things have stabilized, it is important to allow enough time during recovery and observe the changes.

Fat grafting for sunken eyes is a method of adding volume to hollow eyelids.

The muscle condition and the structure of the eyes should be examined first in advance for natural-looking results.

Rather than focusing only on the amount of fat being injected, the overall design is also important.

If you are concerned that your impression has changed because of eyelid hollowness, I recommend starting by carefully checking the condition of your eyes.

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