Upper Eyelid Surgery Price? Side Effects? Click If You’re Worried

Hello.

I’m Lim Jin-young, the chief director of Piap Clinic.

As we go through life, there are times when we all have thoughts like this.

‘My eyes aren’t the way they used to be...’

Especially as we get older, heaviness in the eyelids is a natural change.

However, when the eyelids start to droop, it does not only affect appearance.

It can also block your field of vision.

Because of this, your eyes may feel easily fatigued.

For these reasons, many people consider upper eyelid surgery.

But once you decide to have surgery, the biggest concern begins.

‘If upper eyelid surgery is expensive, is it safer?’

‘If it’s cheap, is something missing?’

Worrying about this is probably not just because of the price.

It is likely because of concerns about side effects.

So today, I’d like to spend some time resolving these concerns together.

I want to explain the ‘common side effects and how to address them.’

I hope this helps ease some of your worries.

What side effects are there?

Before learning about the price and side effects of upper eyelid surgery,

it seems necessary to first look more closely at what the procedure is.

Simply put, it is a surgery that lifts drooping eyelids.

As we age, our skin gradually loses elasticity.

At the same time, the muscles that support the eyelids also weaken.

The position and amount of fat can also change.

Because of this, the eyes gradually begin to droop.

In severe cases, the field of vision can even be blocked.

At times like this, removing the excess skin and tightening the muscles is what upper eyelid surgery is.

Some people ask, “What is different from double eyelid surgery?”

Double eyelid surgery generally aims to create a clear crease.

On the other hand, this procedure also provides functional improvement, such as correcting drooping eyelids.

But no matter how good a surgery is, it can never be entirely free of side effects.

One of the common side effects is ‘eyelid retraction.’

Simply put, the eyelid is pulled upward and cannot close properly.

If too much skin or muscle is removed, it can become difficult to close the eyes.

This is because the eyelid becomes too short, leaving it without enough elasticity to close well.

What happens if the eyes are not fully closed, especially during sleep?

Dry eye symptoms may become more severe.

Another possible side effect is ‘left-right asymmetry.’

In fact, the human face is not perfectly symmetrical to begin with.

But if this is not carefully considered during surgery,

one eye may appear larger, or the height may differ.

As a result, the face as a whole may give an impression of imbalance.

Lastly, there is the issue of ‘scarring.’

In most cases, the incision line blends with the eyelid crease and settles in naturally.

But what if the skin is thin, or you are prone to scars?

The incision area may remain red.

Sometimes unnatural creases can also form.

Looking at these side effects,

you may think,

‘Oh? Then maybe it’s better not to do it.’

But there is no need to worry too much.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce side effects.

I’ll explain the details in the next part.

How can you avoid side effects?

To get straight to the point, ‘proper adjustment’ is the most important thing.

One common mistake people make when looking only at the price of upper eyelid surgery is overcorrection.

This means removing more skin or muscle than necessary.

It usually happens because of a desire for a definite change.

However, this approach can actually lead to side effects.

Let me give an example.

Think about shortening pants.

If you cut them too short, you can’t lengthen them again, right?

But if you shorten them too little, they are still inconvenient.

The same goes for the eyelids.

Eyelid skin generally has good regenerative ability, but

once tissue has been cut away, it does not return to its original state.

That is why only the amount that is truly needed should be removed.

The most important thing in this process is ‘accurate diagnosis.’

In particular, it is essential to understand your own eyelid characteristics precisely.

For example, the eyelids have a muscle called the ‘levator palpebrae superioris.’

This muscle is responsible for lifting the eyelids.

It can weaken as you age.

If this muscle is in a significantly weakened state,

simply removing the skin is not enough.

In that case, the eyes may look even heavier.

So there may be a need to adjust the muscle as well.

On the other hand, if people with thin eyelids have too much skin removed,

they may develop symptoms of being unable to close their eyes properly.

In severe cases, eyelid retraction can make the eyes look unnaturally large.

As such, the necessary adjustment can differ depending on the condition of the eyes.

That is why an accurate diagnosis before surgery is important.

To do this, the eyelid skin thickness, muscle strength, and fat distribution all need to be considered together.

In the end, please remember that only a careful diagnosis and proper adjustment can reduce side effects.

It is natural to worry about the price or side effects of upper eyelid surgery.

In particular, when you hear related stories online, it is hard not to feel anxious.

But what matters is not whether it is ‘expensive or cheap.’

What matters is how to achieve the most natural result for your face.

No matter how low the price is, if the result is unsatisfactory...

You may eventually need revision surgery.

So if you are worried about the price or side effects of upper eyelid surgery,

please first have a thorough consultation with the medical staff.

Then you will be able to find the most comfortable and natural approach.

This was Lim Jin-young, Chief Director of Piap Clinic.

Thank you.

Other columns you may find useful

Piap Clinic
Main number: 02-420-8883