In eye plastic surgery, individual aesthetic and functional improvement is more important than simply making the eyes look bigger.
Date posted
Plastic surgery specialist at JAYJUN Plastic Surgery & Dermatology Clinic Dr. Kang Hyungjoo, Director
Recently, the trend of plastic surgery to improve the upper eye area (upper face) is changing. In the past, the focus was simply on making the eyes bigger, but recently, there has been development in the direction of considering the overall look, including the forehead, eyebrows, upper eyelids, and temple area. This change is occurring as interest expands not only among the middle-aged but also among the younger generation who want a clear and natural impression. Surgical approaches are also becoming more sophisticated as more and more cases are considered that go beyond simple cosmetic purposes and include functional improvements such as improving the field of vision, reducing eye fatigue, and easing the use of forehead muscles.
In middle-aged plastic surgery, since the aging pattern above the eyes varies from person to person, accurate cause analysis should be prioritized over uniform surgery. Even if it looks like simple eyelid drooping on the outside, there are many cases of ptosis in reality, and in some cases, the eyebrows droop downward and the skin appears more covered.
Depending on the cause, the surgical method applied may also vary. Representative surgeries include endoscopic forehead lift, upper blepharoplasty, and sub-brow lift. Endoscopic forehead lift is a method of making a minimal incision inside the scalp and then pulling and fixing the eyebrow and forehead tissue upward using endoscopic equipment. It can be applied when the eyebrows droop downward and the eyelids look thick and heavy, and it can be considered for patients who use excessive forehead force when opening their eyes or who have deep forehead wrinkles.
Especially when the eyelids are sagging and there is also drooping of the eyebrows, performing only upper eyelid blepharoplasty can lead to the return of eyelid drooping over time or an unnatural appearance. Accordingly, recently, the movement of the eyelids, eyebrows, and forehead is analyzed together, and a sub-brow lift is sometimes performed simultaneously.
Upper blepharoplasty is a surgery to make the eyelids lighter by removing sagging upper eyelid skin and some unnecessary fat and muscle. It is performed more frequently in middle-aged and older adults whose visual field is obstructed or whose eyelashes irritate their eyes. This surgery is effective in improving sagging skin itself, but if the skin is excised excessively, it may cause discomfort when closing the eyes or make the facial expression look harsher, so individual skin elasticity and tissue volume must be comprehensively considered.
Subbrow lift surgery is a method of removing sagging skin by making an incision along the line below the eyebrow. It is applied to patients who want to improve their natural impression without changing the existing double eyelid line. It is especially popular among men and middle-aged people who do not prefer deeply defined double-eyelid creases.
In addition, ptosis correction is also considered an important axis of upper eye improvement surgery. Ptosis is a condition in which the eye exposure is reduced due to weakness in the muscles that open the eyes, and is a different concept from simple skin sagging. If you appear sleepy or repeatedly use your forehead muscles when opening your eyes, functional correction may be necessary.
Kang Hyungjoo, director of JAYJUN Plastic Surgery (board-certified plastic surgeon), said, "The recent trend in eye surgery is shifting from simply creating 'big, clear eyes' toward harmony with the entire face. Accordingly, rather than enlarging the eyes by creating double eyelids alone, more cases are pursuing more natural and functional improvement by considering eyebrow position, forehead movement, skin elasticity, and functional discomfort together," adding, "Upper facial surgery is not simply a concept of enlarging the eyes, but a field that must consider the eye-opening function and the balance of the overall facial impression. It is important to accurately diagnose each individual's degree of aging, muscle usage patterns, and degree of skin sagging, and then choose an appropriate surgical method."