Upper Blepharoplasty at Newday Plastic Surgery
Restore a Clearer, Lighter, and More Natural-Looking Eye Expression
As we age, the delicate skin of the upper eyelids gradually loses elasticity. The eyelid may begin to droop over the natural crease, making the eyes appear smaller, heavier, or more tired than they actually feel. In some cases, sagging upper-eyelid skin can also narrow the visual field or cause patients to raise their eyebrows and forehead when opening their eyes.
At Newday Plastic Surgery, we approach upper blepharoplasty as more than simply removing excess skin. Our goal is to understand why the upper eyelid has become heavy and determine how much correction is appropriate while preserving the patient’s natural expression.
Rather than creating an excessively high or artificial-looking eyelid crease, we focus on achieving a balanced result that harmonizes with the patient’s eye shape, eyebrow position, skin thickness, and overall facial proportions.
What Is Upper Blepharoplasty?
Upper blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to improve sagging or wrinkled upper eyelids. An incision is generally placed along the planned eyelid crease, allowing us to carefully address redundant skin. Depending on the patient’s anatomy, we may also evaluate the condition of the underlying muscle, fat, eyelid crease, and eyelid-opening function.
When necessary, the eyelid crease may be refined or recreated as part of the procedure. However, the surgical plan is not determined by age alone. Two patients of the same age may require completely different approaches because the degree of skin laxity, fat distribution, eyebrow descent, and eyelid structure can vary considerably.
Newday Plastic Surgery’s official guidance describes upper blepharoplasty as a procedure that removes sagging skin through an eyelid-crease incision and may create or refine a crease when appropriate. The procedure may help uncover the visual field hidden by drooping skin and create a clearer eye contour.
When Should You Consider Upper Blepharoplasty?
A consultation may be helpful when you experience concerns such as:
- Upper-eyelid skin covering the natural eyelid crease
- Eyes that appear smaller, sleepy, or constantly tired
- Heaviness around the upper eyelids
- Skin sagging that partially obstructs the visual field
- Frequent use of the forehead or eyebrows to open the eyes
- Deepening forehead wrinkles caused by repeatedly raising the eyebrows
- Irritation or discomfort where folded eyelid skin touches
- An uneven or poorly defined eyelid crease
- Changes in eye shape associated with aging
These symptoms do not automatically mean that upper blepharoplasty is required. During the consultation, we examine whether the main concern comes from excess eyelid skin, eyebrow descent, eyelid-opening weakness, changes in fat volume, or a combination of several factors.
For example, when the eyebrow itself has descended significantly, an upper blepharoplasty alone may not be the most suitable solution. In such cases, we may discuss whether another procedure, such as a sub-brow lift or forehead-related approach, should be considered. Choosing the correct procedure begins with identifying the actual anatomical cause of the heaviness.
Our Approach to Natural Upper-Eyelid Rejuvenation
The amount of skin removed is an important part of upper blepharoplasty. Removing too little may leave significant heaviness, while removing too much may create an unnatural appearance, difficulty closing the eyes, dryness, or excessive tension.
For this reason, we carefully assess the eyelids both at rest and while the patient opens and closes the eyes. We consider the relationship between the eyelid crease and the eyebrows, as well as the patient’s existing expression.
Our objective is not to make every patient’s eyes look the same. We aim to preserve individual characteristics while improving the features that make the eyes appear heavy or aged.
We also discuss the patient’s preferences before surgery. Some patients wish to maintain their existing eyelid crease, while others prefer a slightly clearer line. Some want a subtle change that is difficult for others to notice, while others would like a more visible improvement. Understanding these expectations helps us establish a realistic and individualized surgical plan.
Upper Blepharoplasty Is Not Only About Appearance
Drooping upper eyelids may affect more than facial appearance. When patients constantly raise their eyebrows to compensate for heavy eyelids, the forehead muscles remain active throughout the day. This habit can contribute to forehead tension and increasingly visible horizontal forehead lines.
In patients whose upper-eyelid skin interferes with vision, the heaviness may also become noticeable during reading, driving, computer work, or other daily activities.
Upper blepharoplasty may help reduce these concerns by removing an appropriate amount of redundant skin. However, the degree of functional and aesthetic improvement depends on each patient’s anatomy, the cause of the eyelid drooping, and the selected surgical method.
Consultation and Surgical Planning
Before recommending surgery, we evaluate several factors:
- The amount and location of excess upper-eyelid skin
- The height and shape of the existing eyelid crease
- The position and symmetry of the eyebrows
- The amount of upper-eyelid fat or hollowing
- The strength of the eyelid-opening muscles
- Differences between the right and left eyes
- Previous eyelid surgery or scar tissue
- Dry-eye symptoms and general eye health
- Medications, medical conditions, and previous surgical history
- The patient’s preferred level of change
Patients who take anticoagulants, antiplatelet medication, or other medications that may affect bleeding should inform us during the consultation. Medication should never be stopped without discussion with the prescribing physician.
A detailed consultation is particularly important for revision surgery. Previous removal of skin, fat, or muscle may change the internal anatomy of the eyelid, and scar tissue can affect both the surgical plan and the recovery process.
Procedure and General Recovery Guide
According to our current clinic guidance, upper blepharoplasty generally takes less than one hour and may be performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or a combination selected according to the patient’s condition. Hospital admission is generally not required. Stitches are usually removed approximately one week after surgery, and the clinic lists two postoperative visits as its general follow-up guide.
Swelling, bruising, tightness, asymmetry, and temporary changes in the eyelid crease can occur during the early recovery period. These changes usually improve gradually, but the pace of recovery differs from patient to patient.
The eyelid line may look higher or more prominent immediately after surgery because of swelling. It takes time for the tissues to soften and settle. Patients should therefore avoid judging the final appearance too early.
Our website provides approximately one week as a general initial recovery reference, but the actual period may vary depending on the amount of correction, surgical method, individual healing response, and whether additional procedures were performed.
Postoperative Care
After surgery, patients should follow the individualized instructions provided by our medical team. General precautions may include keeping the incision clean, using prescribed medication as directed, avoiding rubbing or pressing the eyes, and limiting intense exercise during the early recovery period.
Patients should also avoid alcohol and smoking because these can interfere with wound healing. Contact lenses, eye makeup, saunas, swimming, and strenuous physical activity should be resumed only after receiving appropriate postoperative guidance.
If unusual bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, vision changes, breathing difficulty, fever, or signs of infection occur, patients should contact the clinic promptly or seek appropriate medical attention.
Possible Risks and Limitations
Every surgical procedure involves potential risks. Upper blepharoplasty may be associated with bleeding, bruising, infection, inflammation, scarring, prolonged swelling, temporary numbness, dry-eye symptoms, asymmetry, an uneven eyelid crease, difficulty closing the eyes, undercorrection, overcorrection, or the need for additional treatment.
The severity and duration of these issues can differ between individuals. Newday Plastic Surgery also states that common postoperative complications, including bleeding, infection, and inflammation, may occur to varying degrees depending on the patient.
A consultation does not obligate a patient to undergo surgery. We believe that patients should receive sufficient information about the expected changes, limitations, recovery process, and possible complications before making a decision.
Begin Your New Day with a More Comfortable Eye Expression
Upper blepharoplasty should not erase the individuality of your eyes. A well-considered plan begins by identifying what has changed with age and determining how those changes can be addressed without creating an unfamiliar expression.
At Newday Plastic Surgery, we examine the eyelids, eyebrows, surrounding tissues, and overall facial balance before establishing a surgical plan. We listen carefully to what feels uncomfortable, what kind of change you hope to achieve, and how much of your original eye shape you would like to preserve.
Our goal is to help you pursue a clearer and more comfortable eye expression through an individualized consultation and a carefully planned approach.
Newday Plastic Surgery Clinic Information
Clinic Name
Newday Plastic Surgery Clinic
뉴데이성형외과의원
Medical Director
Kim Hyung Rok, M.D.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Main Areas of Consultation
Upper Blepharoplasty
Lower Blepharoplasty
Sub-Brow Lift
Midlife Eye Rejuvenation
Facial and Neck Lifting
Forehead Procedures
Primary and Revision Eye Surgery
Primary and Revision Rhinoplasty
Address
11th Floor, Seonghan Building
557 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Subway Access
Exit 8, Nonhyeon Station
Seoul Subway Line 7 and Shinbundang Line
Telephone
+82-2-541-5577
Fax
+82-2-541-5578
Clinic Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday and Public Holidays: Closed
The address, telephone number, operating hours, subway access, and medical director information above were verified through Newday Plastic Surgery’s official website.
Consultations and appointments are recommended in advance. Clinic hours may change, so please confirm the schedule before visiting.
This content provides general information and does not replace an in-person medical consultation. Surgical suitability, methods, recovery, and outcomes may vary according to each patient’s anatomy and medical condition.