Surgical specialty

Eyelid surgery.

The eyelid is a dynamic structure — you blink roughly 14,000–17,000 times a day. A successful eyelid procedure is therefore not merely a matter of appearance in a mirror; it is a question of function maintained across millions of motion cycles in the years that follow.

Eyelid surgery is not just cosmetic.

Eyelid surgery involves the levator muscle, tarsal plate, glandular structures, and the thinnest skin on the body. Surgery at the wrong depth can produce dry eye, lagophthalmos (incomplete closure during sleep), or persistent asymmetry. This is why eyelid surgery requires periocular-specific training, not a generic "cosmetic" technique applied across regions.

At The Gioi Dep, eyelid patients are evaluated for levator strength, the desired crease height relative to facial proportion, and the factors that influence long-term result stability.

Procedures.

Upper eyelid surgery (double-eyelid creation)

Creation of an upper-eyelid crease through either a suture technique or an incisional technique. The choice depends on skin character, fat thickness, and prior surgical history. This is not simply "making a crease" — it is structural surgery that considers levator function and overall ocular proportion.

Suitable for

  • A single eyelid or asymmetric creases
  • A preference for a stable long-term crease (incisional technique)
  • Revision of an unsatisfactory prior suture procedure

Technique

Suture techniques suit thin skin with minimal fat and no skin laxity. Incisional techniques are preferred when excess fat or skin must be addressed, or when long-term stability is the priority.

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia with sedation

Inpatient stay

Day case

Expected recovery

Swelling and bruising 7–10 days; sutures removed at day 5–7; crease stabilizes by 3–6 months

Ptosis correction

Correction of an upper eyelid that does not open adequately — a condition that may be congenital, age-related, or post-traumatic. This is functional surgery requiring careful pre-operative assessment of levator strength.

Suitable for

  • Unilateral or bilateral upper-eyelid ptosis
  • Heaviness or difficulty opening the eyes by the end of the day
  • The upper eyelid covering part of the pupil

Technique

Approached through the eyelid crease; the levator muscle is shortened or advanced depending on the degree of ptosis. In cases of severe levator weakness, a frontalis sling may be required.

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia

Inpatient stay

Day case

Expected recovery

Swelling and bruising 7–14 days; temporary asymmetry during the first month as healing progresses

Lower blepharoplasty

Surgery to address lower-eyelid fat herniation ("bags"), skin laxity, and the dark circles produced by hollowing. Performed via a transconjunctival approach (no external scar) or through a subciliary incision, depending on the clinical findings.

Suitable for

  • Lower-eyelid fat herniation
  • Tear-trough hollowing producing dark circles from volume loss
  • Lower-eyelid skin laxity in older patients

Technique

Transconjunctival approach for younger patients with good skin elasticity; subciliary approach when skin excess must be addressed. Fat repositioning is often preferred over complete excision.

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia with sedation

Inpatient stay

Day case

Expected recovery

Significant swelling and bruising for 10–14 days; light sensitivity for several weeks

Medial epicanthoplasty

Modification of the medial canthal fold (epicanthal fold) — a feature commonly seen in East Asian eyelid anatomy. Often performed in combination with upper blepharoplasty to widen the horizontal aperture.

Suitable for

  • A prominent epicanthal fold partially covering the inner eye
  • A perception of the eye appearing short horizontally
  • Combined surgery with upper-eyelid procedures

Technique

A small incision at the inner canthus; controlled release of the fold and closure with specialized techniques (Z-plasty, V-Y advancement).

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia with sedation

Inpatient stay

Day case

Expected recovery

Swelling 7 days; scars require 6–12 months to fade fully

Risks and what to understand in advance.

Eyelid surgery — although often described as a "small" procedure — carries a set of complications that should be discussed openly before surgery:

  • Transient or persistent asymmetry. The two eyelids do not heal in perfectly mirrored fashion. Mild differences are normal; pronounced asymmetry may warrant revision after six months.
  • Dry eye. Can occur in the early post-operative phase. Usually self-resolves; persistent cases require ophthalmologic evaluation.
  • Scarring. Incisions placed within the natural crease usually fade well, but individuals with a tendency toward hypertrophic or keloid scarring need pre-operative assessment.
  • Under- or over-correction. The crease may end up higher, lower, or otherwise different from the intended result. Some cases require a refinement procedure.

Before you book.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery is generally not appropriate in the presence of: active blepharitis, severe dry-eye syndrome, uncontrolled thyroid disease, or coagulation disorders. Contact lens wear should be discontinued for at least one week before surgery.

If you have had prior eyelid surgery — even a simple suture crease — please bring records or recall the technique and timing precisely. This information is important when planning revision.

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