qd upper blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess upper-eyelid skin that can hood the eye and create a heavy, tired look. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a fine incision is placed within the natural upper-lid crease so it is hidden when the eyes are open; excess skin, and where needed a thin strip of muscle or a small amount of fat, is removed. It is performed under local anesthesia. This differs from double eyelid surgery, which is chosen mainly to form or define a crease. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- 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, double eyelid surgery may suit better; the right plan is decided at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
Drooping upper eyelid skin, fat and the ability to open the eye
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all in one plan.
the
principle
Alongside shape, we examine how the eye opens and closes, the ocular surface, the fat, skin and adhesions, then set the incision and the extent of correction.
With age or heavy lids, the upper-eyelid skin can stretch and sag over the lash line. The surgeon marks the natural crease, then removes the measured strip of excess skin through an incision placed in that crease; a thin strip of orbicularis muscle or a small amount of fat may also be removed to lighten the lid. The incision is closed within the crease so the healing line is hidden when the eyes are open. For patients who also want a defined double-eyelid line, that can be planned together, decided at consultation.
How it works
01
A 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.
02
The incision hides in the crease
Because the incision sits within the natural upper-lid fold, the healing line is intended to be hidden when the eyes are open.
03
Muscle 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.
04
Local 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.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess upper-eyelid skin that can hood the eye and create a heavy, tired look. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a fine incision is placed within the natural upper-lid crease so it is hidden when the eyes are open; excess skin, and where needed a thin strip of muscle or a small amount of fat, is removed. It is performed under local anesthesia. This differs from double eyelid surgery, which is chosen mainly to form or define a crease. (Results vary by individual.)
Anatomy and function exam
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
Comparing scope and method
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
Surgery and recovery plan
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all set out in one plan.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation, eye assessment and design of the crease line
- Local anesthesia (with optional light sedation)
- Incision within the natural upper-lid crease
- Removal of the measured excess skin, with muscle or fat adjusted as needed
- Suture closure within the crease, recovery and aftercare guidance
Time: The procedure takes about 40–60 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- 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.
- Expect temporary swelling and possible bruising, with much of it easing within about 1–2 weeks; cold compresses and head elevation help.
- Side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, tightness or temporary dryness may occur and are explained at consultation.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary swelling and bruising around the upper lids
- Asymmetry between the two sides, or an uneven crease height
- Tightness or brief difficulty closing the eyes fully early on
- Temporary dryness or irritation
- 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
what to expect
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. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
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.
| Upper Blepharoplasty | Double Eyelid Surgery | Brow lift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Removes excess hooding skin via a crease incision | Forms or defines a crease (buried or incision) | Repositions a descended brow to lift the upper eye |
| Best for | Excess, sagging upper-lid skin | A monolid or a faint, uneven crease | Heaviness from a low or dropped brow |
| Anesthesia | Local, sometimes with light sedation | Local, sometimes with light sedation | Local with sedation, depending on method |
| Recovery | Sutures ~5–7 days; swelling ~1–2 weeks | Faster for non-incision; ~5–7 days for incision | Varies by method |
| Longevity | Long-lasting; aging continues | Long-lasting for incision; buried can loosen | Long-lasting; aging continues |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
A crease often appears on its own as the excess skin is trimmed away, but the approach is not the same as surgery whose whole purpose is to create a double eyelid. We need to settle beforehand whether you want a visible crease at all and, if you do, how high it should sit. During the consultation we work out the look you have in mind in concrete terms.
An eye that will not open because skin is hanging over it is a different problem from an eye that will not open because the muscle that lifts the lid is weak. In the second case, tidying the skin alone is not enough and the surgery has to address the muscle as well. Separating these two causes during the examination is where the plan begins.
Removing too much skin can make the eyes harder to close or change your expression, so we decide carefully how much to leave. Taking too little can be refined later, but skin that has already been taken is difficult to put back. That is why we work conservatively as a matter of principle.
The early swelling subsides considerably over one to two weeks, but looking natural takes several months. The height of the crease in particular keeps settling as time passes, so please do not judge the result by how it looks in the first weeks. We tell you in advance that in the days right after surgery the line normally looks higher and thicker than it really is.
Your general health and the condition of your eyelids matter more than your age. When the skin hangs far enough to block your field of vision, the aim of the surgery becomes reducing an everyday inconvenience. We check for high blood pressure, diabetes, the medicines you take and any underlying conditions before deciding whether to operate and by what method.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now