By Park Seong-ha
Published February 6, 2026

The Lunar New Year holiday is a time when more people consider eye plastic surgery, as it provides a relatively extended period of rest compared with the usual schedule. However, for middle-aged patients, achieving satisfactory results requires more than simply creating a double eyelid crease. Changes associated with aging, such as under-eye hollows, under-eye wrinkles, and drooping eyelid skin, should be comprehensively assessed when planning eye surgery.

For example, when eyelid drooping occurs due to aging, simply creating a double eyelid crease may not adequately address the issue. The first step is to remove or lift excess, sagging eyelid skin to improve the visual field, followed by creating a double eyelid crease. If upper blepharoplasty is performed without adequately addressing the visual field, it may result in an unnatural-looking eye shape or make the eyes appear older, making careful planning important.

Dr. Lee Jun-hee of Realee Plastic Surgery

When eyelid drooping is more pronounced, a sub-brow lift may also be performed. A sub-brow lift involves making an incision directly beneath the eyebrow to lift sagging upper eyelid and surrounding skin. This can help improve eyelid drooping and create a more defined eye shape. Depending on the individual's eye and forehead structure, it may also be performed as part of a combination procedure with upper blepharoplasty or ptosis correction.

Lower blepharoplasty can help improve a tired-looking appearance by addressing loose skin and excess fat when under-eye hollows or sagging are significant. It may be particularly effective for individuals with prominent under-eye fat or pronounced under-eye wrinkles, and can also help create a brighter overall appearance.

To minimize visible scarring, a precise incision along the area just beneath the eyelashes is important. Lower blepharoplasty is often performed together with lower eyelid fat treatment. By combining the removal of prominent under-eye fat with lower eyelid fat repositioning when appropriate, the procedure can help restore a smoother and more balanced appearance around the eyes.

Dr. Lee Jun-hee of Realee Plastic Surgery in Gangnam explained, “Middle-aged eye plastic surgery should address not only aesthetic concerns but also functional issues such as the visual field and eye fatigue. Therefore, it is necessary to consider how to restore the eye structures that have changed with age. Since concerns can vary depending on age and individual condition, it is advisable to apply appropriate procedures such as upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, and lower eyelid fat repositioning accordingly.”

He added, “To achieve satisfactory results, patients should develop a surgical plan through a thorough consultation with a plastic surgeon specializing in eye surgery before undergoing middle-aged eye surgery. When choosing a clinic, rather than being influenced solely by online reviews of lower eyelid fat repositioning or focusing only on the cost of upper or lower blepharoplasty, it is advisable to consider the surgeon's experience and expertise, the clinic's medical system, and post-operative care as a whole.”

Original article: link