Eyelid Ptosis Surgery: Is Upper Blepharoplasty the Answer? <Dr. Kim Hyun-jo’s Response>

Eyelid ptosis surgery: Is upper blepharoplasty the answer?

<Dr. Kim Hyun-jo’s Response>

Hello, this is Objet Plastic Surgery.

When you look in the mirror and feel that your eyes look heavy or constricted, many people think of upper blepharoplasty.

This is because they expect that if the drooping eyelids are corrected,

the eyes will look clearer,

and the heavy impression will also improve naturally.

In fact, upper blepharoplasty is one of the methods frequently chosen among eyelid ptosis surgeries.

However, there is one important point that must be mentioned here.

Although upper blepharoplasty is a representative method, it is not the correct answer that can be applied the same way to every eye.

The reason an eye looks heavy differs slightly from person to person,

and depending on the cause, another method may be more natural and appropriate than upper blepharoplasty.

For example, a method such as brow lift under the eyebrow, which corrects only the drooping skin without affecting the double-eyelid line, can sometimes be the better choice.

So today, I’ll explain step by step the difference between upper blepharoplasty and brow lift under the eyebrow,

as well as how to determine which option is right for you.

If you read this post to the end, it should help you figure out which method is more suitable for your eye shape.

Eyelid ptosis surgery: Is upper blepharoplasty the only answer?

“Can’t you just lift drooping eyelids back up?”

Many people think this way, but in reality, the approach changes depending on why the eyelids have drooped.

Cases where the eyes look heavy can be broadly divided into two types.

When there is no double eyelid or it is very low, and the skin covers the pupil even when the eyes are open,

and when a double eyelid originally existed but becomes covered because the upper skin sags with age.

For people with no double eyelid or a very low one, the skin does not fold even when the eyes are open, so the eyes can look heavy and constricted.

In such cases, upper blepharoplasty is needed to create a new double eyelid while also correcting the drooping skin.

On the other hand, if a double eyelid definitely existed but became hidden because of sagging skin, there is no need to recreate the double eyelid.

In that case, brow lift under the eyebrow, which leaves the double-eyelid line as it is and only corrects the sagging skin, becomes the more natural choice.

Even if it looks like the same eyelid ptosis, the required surgery differs depending on the cause.

Then can you decide based only on whether there is a double eyelid?

Of course, when choosing eyelid ptosis surgery, there are criteria to consider besides whether or not there is a double eyelid.

Among them, one especially important factor is the thickness of the skin.

If the skin is relatively thick, after upper blepharoplasty the area above the double eyelid may look puffy, or the impression may appear heavy.

For these patients, brow lift under the eyebrow, which does not create a double-eyelid line, can ultimately look more natural.

Conversely, for people with thin skin, even if a double eyelid is created through upper blepharoplasty, the line tends to come out relatively neat.

In this way, even with the same “eyelid ptosis,” the appearance after surgery can vary quite a bit depending on the skin condition.

Another criterion is how much change you want in your eye shape, or the degree of improvement you are hoping for.

If you want a heavy-looking eye shape to become clearer, or if you want to change from a monolid to a double eyelid, upper blepharoplasty is appropriate.

On the other hand, if you think, “I like my current eye shape, I just want to improve the heavy feeling,” then brow lift under the eyebrow can be the more satisfying choice.

In the end, the first priority is to understand exactly what structure your eyes have and how much change you want.

When you approach the procedure based on these criteria, you can achieve a satisfying result without excessive change.

Will the scar stand out?

When deciding on eyelid ptosis surgery, the location of the scar is also an important consideration.

Upper blepharoplasty involves an incision along the double-eyelid line, so even if a scar forms, it is hidden within the eyelid crease.

When the eyes are open, it is almost invisible, and it is only slightly visible when the eyes are closed or when looking upward.

During the early recovery period, the double-eyelid line may look slightly high, but over time it settles naturally.

Brow lift under the eyebrow involves an incision just below the eyebrow, so a scar may form along the lower edge of the eyebrow.

A red line may be visible at first, but it fades over time and becomes naturally covered as the eyebrow grows.

In the end, when you are considering surgery for eyelid ptosis, it is a good idea to think about where a scar may remain as well.

If you choose with these differences in mind, your satisfaction after surgery can change a great deal.

Ultimately, what matters most in eyelid ptosis surgery is the condition of your own eyes.

The presence or absence of a double eyelid, skin thickness, the degree of change you want in your eye shape, and even the location where scarring may be a concern— all of these criteria need to be considered together.

Even if eyes look similar from the outside, the appropriate method differs depending on these conditions,

and that difference affects not only the impression right after surgery but also your satisfaction over time.

At Objet Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kim Hyun-jo carefully analyzes anatomical structures such as whether a patient has a double eyelid, skin thickness, and the strength used to open the eyes,

and focuses on suggesting the direction that best fits the eyes.

Rather than looking only at the drooping eyelids, we first examine each person’s eye structure and skin condition.

As such, it is most important to calmly compare options based on the question of, “What would be the more natural choice for my eyes right now?”

I hope this post was of some small help to those who are 고민ing about their eye shape.

This has been Objet Plastic Surgery. Thank you.

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• This post is medical information prepared by Objet Plastic Surgery Clinic in compliance with the Medical Advertising Act.

• The effects of the procedure may vary depending on the individual, and side effects may occur. It is recommended that you receive sufficient consultation with medical staff in advance before deciding on the procedure.