Understanding Gangnam Under-Eye Fat Repositioning, Causes of Hollow Under Eyes, and How the Structure Around the Eyes Changes with Age

Hello.

I’m Dr. Lee Seong-joon, Director of Ritting Plastic Surgery Seoul.

When you take photos under indoor lighting,

your under-eyes can look unusually dark,

or you may feel that your face looks tired.

Smartphone screens and bright lighting make shadows and contour changes around the eyes stand out more clearly.

Many people think,

“It must be because I didn’t sleep enough,”

but in reality, the cause is often subtle changes in the under-eye fat, skin, muscles, and fat layers.

As time passes, these structures slowly shift position,

and as a result, the under-eye area can begin to look more prominent or hollow.

The year-end is a time when there are especially many photo opportunities and many chances to meet people.

Naturally, interest in looking bright and refreshed also increases.

So today, let’s take a structural look at the causes of hollow under eyes and the much-discussed

Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning used to improve them.

📂 Table of Contents 📂
1. The role of under-eye fat (a structure that changes with age)
2. Causes of hollow under eyes? (Why it is difficult to explain with just one factor)
3. What is Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning? (An approach that corrects the position of fat)
4. What is lower blepharoplasty? (When skin sagging is also present)
5. Changes in under-eye fat begin with understanding

1. The role of under-eye fat

(a structure that changes with age)

Under-eye fat is cushioning tissue that exists to protect the eyes.

This fat is held in place by a thin membrane (the orbital septum and orbicularis oculi muscle),

and as we age, the elasticity of this membrane gradually weakens.

As a result, the fat can be pushed forward from the inside or shift downward,

which appears as puffiness under the eyes or the formation of shadows.

This process is a natural change that happens to everyone,

and when combined with reduced skin elasticity,

it creates subtle differences in appearance.

When the under-eye area looks saggy or hollow,

structural changes due to aging have a greater influence than fatigue or sleep problems.

2. Causes of hollow under eyes?

(Why is it difficult to explain with just one factor?)

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The causes of hollow under eyes cannot be attributed to just one factor.

The area around the eyes is made up of multiple layers, including bone, muscle, fat, and skin,

and if even one of these changes,

the contour of the eye area can change.

Below are the main structural factors.

① Changes in the orbit (the bones around the eyes)

As we age,

the rim of the orbit gradually becomes broader,

and the boundary supporting the fat becomes gentler.

This makes it easier for the fat to move forward,

and the bulge under the eyes becomes more noticeable over time.

② Weakening of the thin membrane that holds the fat in place (the orbital septum)

When the elasticity of the membrane that fixes the fat weakens,

the fat is pushed forward,

and a raised shape appears under the skin.

③ Decreased skin elasticity

As collagen and elastin decrease,

the skin under the eyes becomes thinner and loses elasticity. This slight sagging creates shadows, which makes the tear trough look deeper.

④ Reduced muscle strength

When the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes weakens,

the force supporting the fat decreases.

The bulging may become more noticeable when you smile or make facial expressions.

These four factors act together and change the appearance of the under-eye area.

Therefore, the cause of hollow under eyes is not a problem of just one layer of skin,

but rather a process in which the entire structure around the eyes changes gradually.

3. What is Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning?

(An approach that corrects the position of fat)

Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning

is one of the methods used to anatomically adjust these structural changes.

The basic concept of this method is not to remove the fat, but to reposition it where it is needed in order to relieve uneven volume.

The protruding part of the under-eye fat is reduced,

and the same fat is used in hollow areas to create a natural curve.

A method that accesses the area through the conjunctiva (the inside) without making a large external skin incision is often discussed,

and this approach is known to place relatively less burden on external scarring.

However, the approach may vary depending on an individual’s skin thickness, fat distribution, and muscle condition.

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In particular, when skin laxity or wrinkles around the eyes are also present,

adjusting the position of the fat alone may not adequately address reduced skin elasticity.

In such cases, lower blepharoplasty, which directly trims loose skin and muscle, should also be considered.

4. What is lower blepharoplasty?

(When skin sagging is also present)

As people age,

under-eye fat bulging is often accompanied by skin sagging.

In these cases, under-eye fat repositioning alone may have limitations,

so lower blepharoplasty may be considered together with it.

Lower blepharoplasty can be broadly divided into two approaches.

TYPE 1. Lower blepharoplasty alone

This is considered when skin sagging is prominent,

and the main issue is not protruding fat but rather looseness and wrinkles in the skin itself.

A tiny incision is made along the area just below the eyelashes,

and the loose skin and muscle are refined, while some of the bulging fat is adjusted if needed.

The focus is on naturally refining the under-eye line,

and this is mainly discussed for middle-aged and older adults with noticeable loss of skin elasticity.

This approach is suitable when skin wrinkles and sagging are the main causes,

and the incision range and degree of correction may vary depending on the amount of extra skin and the condition of the muscle. TYPE 2. Combined lower blepharoplasty + under-eye fat repositioning

When under-eye fat bulging and hollowness are both present,

a combined lower blepharoplasty and under-eye fat repositioning approach is considered.

This approach adjusts the position of the fat to fill hollow areas,

and at the same time refines skin sagging, addressing the under-eye contours and changes in skin elasticity together.

In such cases, because both fat and skin issues can be addressed together,

it is described as a structural approach that can help soften changes in the overall appearance of the eye area.

However, the surgical plan may vary depending on the individual’s skin thickness, fat distribution, and muscle condition.

Which of the two types is appropriate

is determined after evaluating each person’s tissue condition,

such as skin elasticity, degree of fat bulging, depth of the tear trough, and muscle strength.

Because age-related changes in the under-eye area do not follow a fixed pattern,

whether lower blepharoplasty alone or combined lower blepharoplasty + under-eye fat repositioning is needed

is determined based on the diagnostic findings.

5. Changes in under-eye fat,

begin with understanding

As the year-end approaches,

there are times when my reflection in the mirror feels unusually dark.

The shadows under the eyes or the tired appearance can look even more pronounced.

But that is simply a trace of time passing,

not a wrong change.

The shape and position of under-eye fat vary from person to person,

so first and foremost, it is important to understand your own condition accurately.

Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning and various other approaches

may be options for addressing these changes in a natural way.

Even if your face looks a little heavier this year,

your eyes still hold warmth.

I hope this year-end is a little more comfortable as you look at yourself.

I hope you become more naturally youthful, from yesterday to today, and from today to tomorrow.

This was Dr. Lee Seong-joon of Seoul Ritting Plastic Surgery.

This article is

content intended to provide general information about Gangnam under-eye fat repositioning surgery.

Whether surgery is actually performed should be determined according to the individual’s health condition and purpose,

and should be decided through consultation with a medical professional.

If you would like more details,

please check the YouTube link below for more detailed information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDbi1aWg1o8