2026-06-07
Subbrow Lift and Upper Blepharoplasty
Learn how combining a subbrow lift with upper blepharoplasty can prevent the ‘angry’ or ‘swollen’ look often associated with senior eyelid surgery for a more natural result.
Subbrow Lift and Upper Blepharoplasty
This content was presented at the Korean Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS) held at COEX on April 7-8, 2018.
It is often said that when older patients undergo surgery, their upper eyelids can look thick and give off a fierce or ‘angry’ impression.
Like ‘Angry Birds’ or ‘dumplings’...
Is it possible to achieve a natural look?
The skin layers consist of thin areas and thick areas as shown below.
As seen in the diagram on the top left, thick skin should be excised from under the eyebrow, and then the double eyelid is created.
If only the thin skin is removed, as shown in the right diagram, the remaining thick skin can make the result look awkward and heavy.
However, if the skin itself is naturally very thin, the method in the right diagram may suffice.
When performed correctly, the result is natural, as shown in the image below.
This content is based on the presentation given at the 2018 April Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do eyes look fierce after middle-aged upper blepharoplasty?
This is because only the thin skin is removed, and the thick skin mainly remains. If the surgery is performed without considering the skin layers, the area above the eyes can become thick, resulting in a fierce and awkward impression, like an 'Angry Bird'.
How should surgery be performed for thick eyelid skin to look natural?
It is necessary to combine it with a sub-brow lift, which involves removing the thick skin from under the eyebrows and creating a double eyelid. Appropriately excising this thick skin ensures that the eye shape remains natural and not awkward after surgery.
Should people with thin eyelid skin also undergo a sub-brow lift?
No, if the skin itself is very thin, upper blepharoplasty, which only removes the thin skin, is sufficient. The most natural results can be achieved by applying different surgical methods depending on the patient's original skin thickness and condition.
Is this upper blepharoplasty method medically proven?
Yes, it is based on academic content directly presented by Director Choi Yeop of Gangnam Seoyeon Plastic Surgery at the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery hosted at COEX in April 2018. It is a surgical principle shared through professional academic presentations.