The appearance of the eyes is influenced by several structures—not only the amount of eyelid skin, but also the position of the eyelid, surrounding muscles, the inner eye fold, and the distribution of fat beneath the eyes.
At Merry Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sungtaek Hong evaluates these anatomical factors individually when considering procedures such as Upper Blepharoplasty, Ptosis Correction, Upper Epicanthoplasty, and Under-Eye Fat Repositioning.
What do these procedures address?
1. Upper Blepharoplasty Upper blepharoplasty generally involves removing or repositioning appropriate amounts of excess skin and, when necessary, underlying tissue. The goal is not simply to remove as much skin as possible, but to maintain adequate eyelid function and a natural contour.
2. Ptosis Correction Ptosis refers to drooping of the upper eyelid, which can sometimes affect the visible height of the eye opening and, in certain cases, the visual field. Ptosis correction focuses on improving the position and function of the eyelid-lifting mechanism. Proper evaluation is important because eyelid drooping can have different causes.
3. Upper Epicanthoplasty The epicanthal fold is the fold of skin near the inner corner of the eye. Upper epicanthoplasty modifies this area to alter the appearance of the medial eye region. Because the inner corner contains delicate anatomical structures, conservative planning is important to avoid an overly exposed or unnatural appearance.
4. Under-Eye Fat Repositioning Under-eye fullness or a prominent tear trough can result from the way orbital fat is distributed beneath the eyes. Rather than simply removing fat, fat repositioning can redistribute existing fat to help create a smoother transition between the lower eyelid and cheek area when appropriate.
Why might these procedures be considered together?
These structures are closely related. For some patients, addressing only one area may not fully address the overall eyelid anatomy. A combination of procedures may therefore be considered when there are multiple contributing factors.
However, not every patient needs every procedure. The appropriate approach depends on factors such as eyelid position, skin and tissue characteristics, orbital anatomy, asymmetry, and whether there are functional concerns.
About the example image
The accompanying before-and-after image represents one clinical case and is provided for educational purposes. It demonstrates how the appearance of the upper and lower eyelid region can change following surgical treatment.
Individual anatomy and surgical plans vary considerably, so results shown in one case should not be considered a prediction of another patient’s outcome.
Dr. Sungtaek Hong Merry Plastic Surgery