Upper blepharoplasty is surgery that cuts away the skin of the upper eyelid that has drooped and covers the eye.
Upper blepharoplasty is surgery that cuts away, along the eyelid crease, the upper eyelid skin that has stretched and covers the eye.
With age, the skin of the upper eyelid stretches. When the stretched skin comes down toward the eyelashes, it covers the eye.
Upper blepharoplasty cuts away this excess skin. In medical terms, it is called upper eyelid plasty (upper blepharoplasty).
A Word from the Doctor
"There are various considerations, such as whether to create a double eyelid and where to make the skin incision, but what does not change in principle is removing the skin of the drooping eyelid."
With age, the upper eyelid droops and may block the field of vision, or the skin where the drooping skin overlaps may become macerated and ooze fluid. People whose double eyelid was originally high find that the line becomes lower and their eyes feel smaller. In particular, if the outer skin droops a lot, the impression can look gloomier, or the outer part of the double eyelid line looks especially lower.
Face Plus Plastic Surgery's midlife eye surgery addresses the underlying cause. The plastic surgery specialist who performs the surgery personally handles everything from the consultation to the operation.
Creates a double eyelid while removing sagging skin
Removes sagging skin without creating a separate double eyelid
In this way, the method differs depending on the shape you want and each person's condition. From the patient's side, deciding in advance whether you want a double eyelid you did not have before, or whether you do not want a change in your impression, makes the decision somewhat easier. After sagging eyelid skin is removed with middle-aged eye surgery, opening the eyes becomes much easier and the impression looks much brighter.
It is done when excess upper eyelid skin remains and covers the eye.
Read the list below and picture your own eyes in the mirror. If any of these apply, we will check at the consultation whether upper blepharoplasty is right for you.
When your eyes feel uncomfortable
When you are concerned about how your eyes look
Before the consultation, a single mirror can give you a rough idea of the direction.
Steps 3 and 4 are the same as what the doctor checks directly in the exam room. A mirror can only give a rough idea of the direction. The actual distinction is made at the examination.
Yes. If the muscle that opens the eye is weak or the eyebrow has dropped, cutting away skin alone will not resolve it.
The reason the eyes look heavy is not always the same. There are three main causes for the upper eyelid covering the eye. Using a curtain as an analogy, they are as follows.
| Cause | Using a curtain as an analogy | Suitable surgery |
|---|---|---|
| The eyelid skin stretches | The curtain fabric has stretched | Upper blepharoplasty, information on under-brow incision (sub-brow lift) surgery |
| The force of the muscle that opens the eye weakens. The medical term is blepharoptosis | The cord that draws up the curtain has gone slack | Information on blepharoptosis correction surgery |
| The eyebrow drops | The curtain rod itself has come down | Surgery to raise the forehead or eyebrows is discussed together |
If only the outer corner of the eye is covered, both upper blepharoplasty and under-brow incision are possible. Under-brow incision is not an operation that raises the eyebrow; it cuts away the skin just below the eyebrow.
It is different when the drooping also extends to the inner (nasal) side. An approach from beneath the eyebrow alone leaves the sagging on the nasal side. In this case, upper blepharoplasty is considered.
The criteria for choosing between the two operations are laid out in Causes of Eye Drooping and Criteria for Choosing Surgery.
The surgery is done under local anesthesia and takes 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. You go home the same day without being hospitalized.
The area to be removed is marked while you are sitting up, because the position of the skin differs between lying down and sitting
Local anesthesia is standard
The excess skin is cut away along the eyelid crease
During surgery you are asked to open your eyes so that the balance between the two sides can be checked. The incision is closed with fine sutures
You go home the same day
Swelling is worst on day 3, and by about 2 weeks it does not interfere with daily life. It takes about 6 months to settle completely.
If you have work or an important appointment coming up, this is probably what you most want to know. We have written it by time point.
Swelling is worst on day 3, not right after surgery. Even if you look more swollen on day 2 than the day before, that is within this course.
Swelling gradually increases. It is worst on day 3
The stitches are removed
Swelling is still noticeable
Daily life is not disrupted
Fully settled
| Activity | Time point |
|---|---|
| Light daily activities | From right after surgery |
| Going to work | About 3 days later |
| Washing your face | After stitch removal |
| Makeup that avoids the eye area | After stitch removal |
| Eye makeup and contact lenses | After about 2 weeks |
The speed of recovery differs from person to person. If you have an important event coming up, please tell us in advance at the consultation.
Cold compresses, sleeping position, and when to resume exercise, alcohol, and contact lenses:
If something feels wrong after surgery, do not put up with it on your own.
Symptoms to check promptly:
So that you do not have to get through recovery alone, Dr. Park Jung Keun and the nursing team check on swelling, pain, and how you are feeling together.
A scar remains. However, because the incision line is placed along the eyelid crease, it folds into the crease when you open your eyes.
It is natural to worry about leaving a mark on your face. For that reason, we will tell you honestly where and how the scar remains.
At first the incision line is red. It fades over time.
How to care for the scar (ointment, sun protection, tape):
Upper blepharoplasty is probably the most commonly performed operation for anti-aging.
— Dr. Park Jung Keun, Plastic Surgery Specialist · Face Plus Talk
Upper blepharoplasty is performed very often, especially in older patients. It is probably the most frequently performed operation for anti-aging. There are several things that people often wonder about, and that must be considered, when performing upper blepharoplasty.
First, you need to decide whether or not to create a double eyelid. The usual method of upper blepharoplasty creates a double eyelid at the same time. For women, the double eyelid is made visible, and for men it is made natural and almost invisible, like a hidden (inner) double eyelid. The double eyelid lines of women and men naturally differ. However, when someone who had no double eyelid at all ends up with even a thin one, many people worry that their impression may change.
And if the amount of drooping skin is large and a lot has to be corrected, a harsh-looking impression may persist for a while.
Because the biggest worry when considering upper blepharoplasty is that the impression will change a lot and look harsh, many people are reluctant about creating a double eyelid. This is especially true of men. So in such cases, a method that does not create a double eyelid should be considered.
As a method that removes drooping eyelid skin without creating a double eyelid, there is the sub-brow lift performed through an under-brow incision. Also, if the eyebrows have dropped a lot, a forehead lift that raises the eyebrows may be needed. If the distance between the eyebrow and the eye is narrow and close, creating a double eyelid can emphasize a harsh-looking impression. So in such cases, it is better to raise the eyebrows with a forehead lift and then perform upper blepharoplasty.
Therefore, it is important to decide on the specific method of correction through sufficient consultation and examination before surgery. Sufficient experience that allows the results after surgery to be predicted to some degree is also important.
Local anesthesia is standard, and sedation can be added if you wish. Deep sedation, in which you fall completely asleep, is not performed.
We fully understand wanting everything to be over while you are fast asleep. Even so, there are two reasons we do not use deep sedation.
The first is safety.
The second is that you need to open your eyes during surgery. Only by actually opening your eyes can the balance between the two sides be checked. If you are deeply asleep, this check cannot be done.
After surgery, temporary swelling, bruising, tightness or dryness may appear, and most of these gradually improve during recovery. Depending on the person, scarring, left–right asymmetry or eyes that do not close completely may occur, so it is important to check the condition of the eyes thoroughly before surgery and to plan a surgery suited to you. The likelihood of side effects and the course of recovery may vary depending on your condition and the surgical method.
As the eyelid skin is tightened, the habit of raising the eyebrows to open the eyes before surgery eases, so the eyebrows may look lower. It is therefore important to assess the eyebrow position and eye-opening strength accurately before surgery and to plan a surgery suited to your eyes.
Typically, if the eye-opening muscle is weak or ptosis is the cause, ptosis correction surgery also needs to be considered. Another case is when less than 6 months have passed since a previous eye surgery. Revision is decided at least 6 months after the first surgery.
It takes 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Local anesthesia is standard, and sedation can be added if you wish. There is no hospital stay, and you go home the same day.
You can return to work after about 3 days. Stitches are removed on day 7 after surgery, and you can wash your face after the stitches are removed. Eye makeup is possible after about 2 weeks.
After upper blepharoplasty, your eyes may temporarily feel stiff or dry, or you may feel as if something is in your eye. These symptoms can appear because of swelling after surgery or temporary changes in the eyelids, and they vary depending on your eye condition and the extent of the surgery.
In most cases, these symptoms can improve during recovery. However, they may become worse if you already have dry eye syndrome or if your eyes do not close completely after surgery.
After surgery, please care for your eyes as instructed by the medical team, and contact us if the discomfort continues or gets worse.
There are broadly two ways to correct a drooping upper eyelid.
Published 2021-06-22 · Updated 2026-09-23Read Eye SurgeryWhat Happens When Too Much Upper Eyelid Skin Is RemovedIt is far harder to reverse an excess than to correct a shortfall further.
Published 2020-07-09 · Updated 2026-10-01Read
This links to a video on the Face Plus Plastic Surgery YouTube channel. View All FacePlus TV
These are surgeries and procedures often discussed together with this surgery during consultations. Whether to have them together is decided after an examination.
He personally consults on and performs facial aging treatments such as facelift, droopy eyelid surgery, and thread lift. The doctor personally sees you from consultation through recovery.
About the DoctorThe content of this page is general medical information provided in accordance with the Medical Service Act, and the effects and recovery time of surgeries and procedures may vary by individual. All surgeries and procedures can cause side effects, so please make your decision only after a thorough consultation with a plastic surgery specialist.
Facelift, droopy eyelid surgery, and thread lift: Dr. Park Jung Keun personally checks every stage, from consultation to recovery. Please schedule by phone or KakaoTalk, or leave a consultation request form.
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Lower Blepharoplasty
Fat Grafting
Refill (Lifting + Filler)