✨Why Upper Eyelid Hollowness Should Be Considered Not Only a Cosmetic Issue, but Also a Functional One✨

Hello, this is Dr. Shin Duhan from Duhan Plastic Surgery.

The eyes are the first area people notice on the face. Among them, the volume of the upper eyelids is a very important factor that affects not only the size of the eyes, but also the overall impression and even how old someone looks.

Today, I’d like to explain in detail about upper eyelid fat grafting, which many people ask about during consultations.

❓ What Is Upper Eyelid Fat Grafting?

Upper eyelid fat grafting is a procedure suitable for people whose eyelids look sunken or lack volume, making them look tired or older.

In most cases, this hollowness is not simply caused by thinner skin, but is actually a depression that occurs because the amount of fat has decreased.

Therefore, to address the problem at its root, replenishing the lost volume with autologous fat is the most natural approach.

⚠️ When Upper Eyelid Fat Grafting May Be Needed

Upper eyelid fat grafting can be considered in the following cases.

• When aging causes the upper eyelids to become hollow, creating shadows and making the face look tired and older

• When opening the eyes becomes more difficult by evening, and the eyes feel sunken, dry, and uncomfortable

• When the double eyelid line looks too deep after double eyelid surgery

• When the upper eyelids look hollow, making the double eyelids stand out unnaturally

• When you want to soften the appearance of the eyes without undergoing double eyelid revision surgery

In these cases, rather than incision-based or fixation-based surgery, volume restoration using autologous fat may be a more natural option.

✨ Effects You Can Expect from Upper Eyelid Fat Grafting

Upper eyelid fat grafting is not simply a procedure that fills in volume.

✔ Aesthetic effects

• Corrects hollow areas to restore a softer, younger-looking eye shape

• Softens double eyelid lines that appear too deep

• Creates a clearer and more comfortable-looking impression around the eyes

✔ Functional effects

It gently supports the movement of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, which opens the eyes, helping to relieve eyelid fatigue and discomfort.

👉 Therefore, the goal of upper eyelid fat grafting is to satisfy both aesthetic and functional effects at the same time.

To achieve this, transplanting the right amount of fat to the correct location is the most important factor.

🔬 The Exact Procedure

👉 The most important factor in upper eyelid fat grafting: the ‘location’

At Duhan Plastic Surgery, we perform upper eyelid fat grafting very carefully, based on precise anatomical knowledge.

In upper eyelid fat grafting, the most ideal place for fat transfer is the orbital fat layer, where orbital fat naturally exists.

When the grafted fat blends naturally with the existing fat in this area, it produces the best results both aesthetically and functionally.

On the other hand, if the fat is incorrectly injected into the orbicularis oculi muscle layer,

• the eyelids may look bumpy,

• the eyelids may feel heavier,

• and opening the eyes may become even more uncomfortable.

Therefore, upper eyelid fat grafting is a procedure that absolutely requires accurate anatomical understanding and refined technique.

Upper eyelid fat grafting should not be performed by simply placing volume on top from above, but rather through a two-dimensional planar fat grafting approach.

If fat is grafted directly beneath the skin into the orbicularis oculi muscle layer,

• the eyelids may become heavy,

• and the surface may become uneven.

To avoid these side effects, 👉 the fat must be placed precisely between the orbicularis oculi muscle and the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, that is, into the orbital fat layer. For this, extensive experience and anatomical understanding are essential.

When the fat is accurately grafted into the orbital fat layer, you can expect highly refined results both functionally and aesthetically.

📌 Step-by-Step Procedure

1️⃣ Fat harvesting A small amount of fat is mainly harvested from the lower abdomen under local anesthesia.

2️⃣ Centrifugation and purification Impurities are removed from the harvested fat and it is concentrated to extract only pure fat.

3️⃣ Preparation in 1cc syringes The purified fat is placed into 1cc syringes for preparation.

4️⃣ Micro fat grafting Using the micro needle (micro cannula) developed in our clinic, the fat is precisely grafted into the orbital fat layer.

🩺 Recovery After the Procedure and Its Characteristics

You can return to daily life immediately after the procedure, and face washing and makeup are possible from the next day.

Swelling and bruising are usually mild and can typically be covered sufficiently with makeup.

Because the eye area has good blood circulation, it is a region with a high fat graft survival rate, and in most cases, satisfactory results can be achieved with just one procedure.

(In some cases, a second procedure may be needed depending on the individual.)

The grafted fat remains as autologous tissue, maintaining a soft and natural volume.

❗ Problems That Can Occur with Incorrect Fat Grafting

The following problems are mostly caused by incorrect graft placement or excessive injection.

• If the fat is grafted into the orbicularis oculi muscle layer, the eyelids may become heavy and the shape may look bumpy

• If too much is injected, the eyelids may swell severely, making daily life difficult

• Excessive fat injection may cause ptosis, making it difficult to open the eyes properly

• If too much fat is absorbed, the effect may be minimal or barely noticeable

Upper eyelid fat grafting is a procedure in which the outcome can vary significantly depending on the experience and understanding of the medical team performing it.

Therefore, it is important to carefully determine whether the surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon with sufficient experience in fat grafting.

🙌 In Closing 🙌

Upper eyelid fat grafting is not simply a cosmetic procedure.

It is an anatomically precise procedure that improves a tired-looking appearance, sunken eyes, and even functional discomfort when opening the eyes.

Duhan Plastic Surgery performs fat grafting procedures based on refined technique and extensive experience.

We always do our best so that even a single procedure can restore a natural and comfortable eye shape.