Upper Blepharoplastyin Gangnam, Seoul
Upper blepharoplasty adjusts excess upper-eyelid skin to address a heavy appearance. Brow descent and eyelid-opening strength are assessed separately; skin removal alone does not correct ptosis. The natural crease guides incision planning. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, we examine you first and then decide with you on the approach that suits your concerns.
Who it’s for
- Excess or hooding upper-eyelid skin that rests on the lashes
- A heavy, tired upper-eye look, often with age
- Skin that can interfere with the line of the eye or with eye makeup
If your main goal is to create or reshape a crease, other approaches are compared at consultation, and the right plan is decided after examination.
How it works
The incision is placed within the natural upper-lid crease. A red line or firmness may remain initially and can fade as healing progresses, but a scar-free result cannot be promised. This differs from the transconjunctival approach used for some lower-lid procedures.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01A measured strip of skin is removed
The surgeon marks the natural crease and removes a measured strip of hooding upper-lid skin through an incision placed in that fold.
02The incision hides in the crease
The incision is placed within the natural upper-lid crease. A red line or firmness may remain initially and can fade as healing progresses, but a scar-free result cannot be promised. This differs from the transconjunctival approach used for some lower-lid procedures.
03Muscle or fat lightened if needed
A thin strip of orbicularis muscle or a small amount of puffy fat may also be reduced to lighten a heavy lid.
04Local anesthesia, fine closure
It is performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation, and closed with fine sutures within the crease. This differs from double eyelid surgery, which is chosen mainly to form a crease.
Treatment areas
- Hooding upper-lid skin
- Excess skin resting over the lash line, measured and removed.
- Heavy lid muscle
- A thin strip of muscle may be adjusted to lighten the lid.
- Upper-lid fat
- A small amount of puffy fat may be reduced where needed.
What the procedure is like
- 1Consultation, eye assessment and design of the crease line
- 2Local anesthesia (with optional light sedation)
- 3Incision within the natural upper-lid crease
- 4Removal of the measured excess skin, with muscle or fat adjusted as needed
- 5Suture closure within the crease, recovery and aftercare guidance
Time: The procedure takes about 40–60 minutes.
Recovery & aftercare
- Performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation; you can usually go home the same day.
- Fine sutures in the crease are typically removed at about 5–7 days, unless dissolvable sutures are used.
- Swelling and bruising may occur, and most of it settles within about 1–2 weeks; cold compresses and head elevation help.
- Side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, tightness or dryness that usually settles may occur and are explained at consultation.
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0 Surgery day
Performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation; you usually go home the same day with mild tightness across the upper lids.
DAY 1-3 Swelling & bruising
Swelling and possible bruising are usually most noticeable now; cold compresses and keeping the head elevated help.
DAY 5-7 Suture removal
Fine sutures in the crease are typically removed at about 5–7 days, unless dissolvable sutures are used.
WEEK 1-2 Settling
Much of the visible swelling and bruising eases over one to two weeks, though the lid can feel tight for a while.
1-3 MONTHS Crease settles
The healing line continues to soften and settle over a few months. (Results vary by individual.)
Sessions & results
This is usually a single procedure. Early swelling settles over about 1–2 weeks and the crease line continues to soften and settle over a few months.
How it compares
These procedures address the upper eye differently, so the right one depends on your goal — removing skin, forming a crease, or lifting the brow. This is not a ranking.
| Comparison | Upper Blepharoplasty | Brow lift |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Removes excess hooding skin via a crease incision | Repositions a descended brow to lift the upper eye |
| Best for | Excess, sagging upper-lid skin | Heaviness from a low or dropped brow |
| Anesthesia | Local, sometimes with light sedation | Local with sedation, depending on method |
| Recovery | Sutures ~5–7 days; swelling ~1–2 weeks | Varies by method |
| Longevity | Long-lasting; aging continues | Long-lasting; aging continues |
They work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after examination.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Swelling and bruising around the upper lids (settle over about 1–2 weeks)
- Asymmetry between the two sides, or an uneven crease height
- Tightness or brief difficulty closing the eyes fully early on
- Dryness or irritation (settles over time)
- Scarring; the incision is placed within the crease to be discreet
When to take extra care
- Bleeding disorders or blood-thinning medication — tell your doctor
- A history of significant dry eye or thyroid eye disease
- A tendency to keloid or difficulty with wound healing
- Smoking, which can affect healing
- If your main goal is a defined crease, or a revision after previous eyelid surgery
Risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, difficulty closing the eyes, dry eyes, changes in upper-lid height or crease and possible revision. Sudden visual change, severe eye pain or rapidly increasing swelling require urgent medical care.
Your care at QD Clinic
Individualized surgical planning
How much skin to remove, and whether to adjust muscle or fat or add a defined crease, is planned around your eyelid and goals.
Care in your language
Consultation in English, with 中文 and 日本語 support arranged on request — including questions before you travel.
A 4-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon and Nonhyeon stations
Central Seoul location with guidance from the airport and nearby hotels, and hours shown in KST.
Frequently asked questions
Upper blepharoplasty removes a measured amount of the upper-eyelid skin that covers the eye, and when needed, a thin strip of the orbicularis muscle or a small amount of bulging fat may also be reduced to lighten a heavy eyelid. How much fat to address is decided at the examination, after telling apart skin laxity, fat and eye-opening function. It is a different operation from under-eye fat repositioning, which is approached from the inside of the eyelid (the conjunctiva).
Upper blepharoplasty mainly removes excess, hooding skin that rests on the lashes, to lighten a heavy upper eye. Double eyelid surgery is chosen mainly to form or define a crease. Because the blepharoplasty incision also follows the natural crease, the crease line is sometimes refined at the same time. We look at both the hooding skin and the crease you want, and decide at the examination whether to combine the two.
The incision is placed within the natural upper-lid crease. A red line or firmness may remain initially and can fade as healing progresses, but a scar-free result cannot be promised. This differs from the transconjunctival approach used for some lower-lid procedures.
It is usually done under local anesthesia, with light sedation if needed. If your main goal is to create a new double-eyelid crease, double eyelid surgery may suit you better, so the anesthesia plan is finalized once the surgical method is decided. If you take any medicines or have a medical condition, please tell us at the examination.
The fine sutures in the crease are usually removed at about five to seven days, and dissolvable sutures are sometimes used. Until the stitches are removed, avoid rubbing or scrubbing the incision. If you are traveling from abroad, check in advance that you can stay in Seoul until the removal date.
The fine sutures in the crease are usually removed at about five to seven days, and dissolvable sutures are sometimes used. Swelling and bruising may occur, and most of it settles within about one to two weeks; cold compresses and keeping your head elevated help. Side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, tightness, or dryness that improves over time can occur, and we explain these at consultation. Bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, difficulty closing the eyes, changes in lid height or crease, and the possibility of revision surgery exist. Sudden visual change, severe eye pain or rapidly increasing swelling needs immediate medical care.
Yes. When you book, tell us you would like English, and we will prepare for it. At the consultation the doctor measures how much hooding skin rests on the lashes and designs the incision within your natural crease. If what you mainly want is a new or more defined crease, double eyelid surgery may suit better, and we explain the difference there.
Preoperative assessment and in-person recovery visits need to be planned before travel is finalised. Tell us how long you can stay. A plan combining surgery and another procedure needs recovery and review arrangements for both. This is usually a single procedure. Early swelling settles over about 1–2 weeks and the crease line continues to soften and settle over a few months. Fine sutures in the crease are typically removed at about 5–7 days, unless dissolvable sutures are used. Depending on the examination, same-day treatment may not be possible or additional visits may be needed. Please also confirm in advance how to reach us after you return home and any in-person care you may need. What the doctor looks at first for this treatment: “Drooping upper eyelid skin, fat and the ability to open the eye”.
Often considered together
Treatments that are sometimes planned alongside this one, decided at consultation.
+Erbium Lower Blepharoplasty
Addressing the lower lids at the same time can balance the whole eye; sequencing is decided by your surgeon.
For international patients
Consultation in English / 中文 / 日本語 · WhatsApp · WeChat · KakaoTalk · a 4-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon / Nonhyeon Station (hours in KST).
How many days should I stay?
Surgery and course-based treatments need a check-up. We tell you before you book whether that means staying longer or coming back another time.
For International Patients