Eye Surgery Stories Directly from Chief Director Choi Dong-il
Useful Information Before Surgery, Principles of Revision Surgery, and Honest Stories About the Recovery Process.
Taken from the blog personally run by Chief Director Choi Dong-il of Gangnam Seoyeon Plastic Surgery.
Today's topic is treating a hollowed upper eyelid, fat grafting to the lid, and upper-lid volume loss. Part of what I presented at the 17th Academic Symposium of the Oculoplastic Research Society, KSPRS, on July 5, 2026.
Dark circles or hollow under-eyes that won't fade despite sleep are usually caused by under-eye fat. Here's how fat repositioning works, plus care and risks.
Eyelid retraction — eyes opening too wide after ptosis correction — explained: causes, symptoms, and when and how to get revision surgery.
A guide to double-line revision (dual-line technique) scars — prevention, an aftercare timeline, and how this technique differs from skin excision.
This is the lecture I gave at the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS) Spring Meeting on April 12, 2026. The Korean title translates to "Revisio
When to Revise Multiple Folds After Double Eyelid Surgery This patient came to us with multiple folds that developed after eyelid surgery at another clinic. She
Eyelid Asymmetry Correction · Ptosis Repair On the photo, the left eye looks sleepier than the other side. The crease line also sits noticeably higher. She had
Today's topic: Early Revision of Ptosis Correction (with Upper-Lid Fat Grafting) This patient had ptosis correction and fat grafting at another clinic. On the p
It's been a busy stretch and posts have been sparse, so I'd like to share a few cases from this past winter and others that have stayed with me. Before surgery.
Lowering the Crease — Single-Line Technique with Skin Excision Why lower the crease? First, when the patient wants a smaller, less prominent crease. Second, whe
Releasing Over-Correction in Ptosis Surgery When ptosis correction is taken too far, the eyes can take on a startled, wide-open look. The lids no longer close f
Male Single-Eyelid Ptosis Correction · Hidden-Fold Surgery for Men It's been a while since I posted on male single-eyelid ptosis correction. When I first presen
Suture Extrusion After Incisional Eyelid Surgery (and After Medial Epicanthoplasty Reversal) Some patients seem to misunderstand what's happening when a suture
Today's post: how we remove buried sutures, and the misconceptions that surround the procedure. Buried-suture removal targets the sutures along the existing cre
I've written before about the hollowed look that develops above the eye, and want to revisit it here. Upper-Lid Fat Grafting · Restoring a Hollowed Lid with Nan
A note on eyelid retraction repair. An eye that opens this widely — exposing the iris fully — is in eyelid retraction. https://blog.naver.com/medicdoctor/223968
This patient presented with bilateral lid ptosis, a slightly sleepy look, and asymmetric creases. In older patients with sleepy-looking eyes, we generally avoid
She came to us in the following condition. About two weeks post-op from her original surgery, with prominent multiple folds in both eyes. Her right eye showed t
The right eye required retraction repair; the left eye showed severe multiple folds, with the lateral aperture also opening too widely. Closed-eye view of the s
Swelling After Double-Line Excision (and Fine Wrinkles from Swelling) A note on a patient who had surgery over the recent Chuseok holiday and is now just past t
Early Revision for Multiple Folds (Severe Case: Resolving Multiple Folds and Hollowed Lids After Two Failed Early Revisions Elsewhere) Photo at first consultati
When Is the Right Time for Early Revision? (with Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty Revisions) When is the right time for an early eyelid revision? It's a question
Nanofat Graft Retention Rates Hollowing above or below the eye, especially with volume loss, is often addressed with fat grafting. Standard fat grafting, microf
Eyelid Retraction Repair (with Double-Line Excision) A walkthrough on eyelid retraction repair. First, what is eyelid retraction? It helps to start with what a
Some patients who had a buried-suture procedure (sometimes marketed as "natural-adhesion" surgery) come to us wanting their multi-knot sutures removed. Most bur
Lower-Lid Fat Repositioning Lecture · EZ-Tcon Webinar (Sponsored by Hans Biomed): Dark Circles, Lower-Lid Fat, Lower Blepharoplasty Lecture given on May 29, 202
It's been a while since my last post. Improving a Severely Asymmetric Eye (with Pronounced Mucosal Show and Crease Asymmetry) A note on severely asymmetric eyes
Eyelid Scar Revision — Can You Really Quantify the Improvement? <Eyelid scar at six months post-op> In recent consultations, I've been seeing patients who are d
"Avoid Double-Line Excision" — Is It Really a Surgery to Skip? A patient came in for a revision consultation and told me that a surgeon at another clinic had in
Early Revision of Ptosis Correction (Retraction and Multiple Folds After a Failed Double-Line Excision) Pre-op view. On one side, the crease shows a clear set o
Resolving Multiple Folds (and the Multiple Folds That Develop After Revision) This patient was referred to us by the surgeon at another clinic. He referred her
Severe Ptosis · Conjoint Fascia Sheath (CFS) Surgery Some patients have congenitally heavy, sleepy-looking lids that simply don't open well. In these cases, con
Ptosis Correction Complications · A Long-Term Follow-Up with CFS Surgery https://blog.naver.com/medicdoctor/221881089627 A long-term follow-up on a patient I po
Managing Complications of Ptosis Correction — July 2024 Symposium Lecture From a lecture I gave at the Eye Plastic Surgery Symposium on July 14, 2024. When ptos
Converting an Outer Fold to a Semi-Outer Fold (with Double-Line Excision) Today's case: converting an outer fold to a semi-outer fold. She had her original surg
Wrinkles Around the Crease in Patients Over 40 (Aging Lines vs. Multiple Folds) Some patients tell us they developed wrinkles they never had before the surgery.
Reversing a Lateral Canthoplasty — A Case Study Today's post is about reversing a lateral canthoplasty. When a lateral canthoplasty is taken too far in pursuit
Multiple Folds After Double Eyelid Surgery — A Case with Upper-Lid Fat Grafting She had been operated on multiple times at other clinics. Her crease had come un
Lowering a Heavy (Sausage-Lid) Crease, Subtly Her eyes are bright and her face is lovely — the one drawback was that the crease was sitting heavily, with a saus
Lowering the Medial Crease — Reshaping the Look with Targeted Ptosis Correction A heavy medial crease can throw off the look of the entire eye. The medial porti
Early Revision for Multiple Folds — A Case Study She came to us with bilateral multiple folds following her original double eyelid surgery. After multiple folds
Removing Natural-Adhesion Sutures (Buried-Suture Reversal) Some patients who had a buried-suture procedure (often marketed as "natural-adhesion" surgery) want t
Correcting Asymmetric Creases for a Natural Result One side of her crease was low, the other was high. These cases require redrawing the crease line to bring th
Unilateral Eyelid Retraction Repair — One-Week Follow-Up As a rule, both retraction repair and ptosis correction are best performed bilaterally — symmetry is fa
Scar Course After a Double-Line Excision — One Year On It's been a while since my last post. Posts have been sparse lately, but I want to start sharing some of
It's been a while since my last post. I've been seeing more patients lately wanting their buried sutures removed, so this post is for them. Reversing a Buried-S
From the lecture I'll be giving at this spring's conference. I'll be presenting on a way to enlarge the eye without ptosis correction. Title: "Reducing the Volu
Today's post: Revising Multiple Folds (Triple-Fold Cases) On her two eyes, one side shows a high crease and the other shows multiple folds. The iris exposure is
It's been a while since my last post. Today's topic: Releasing Eyelid Tightness After Ptosis Correction Here's the case. She came to us after incisional ptosis
Today's topic: Mucosal Show, Lash Lift, and Upper-Lid Ectropion After Double Eyelid Surgery When eyelid surgery does not go well, the conjunctival mucosa can be
Today's post: Reversing Incisional Ptosis Correction · Early Revision for Side Effects The patient came in for consultation. When she first consulted with me, I
Asymmetric Eyes · Ptosis Correction Case Study Today I want to walk through a case of asymmetric eyes corrected with ptosis surgery. There is an earlier post on
Lower Eyelid Fat Repositioning · Improving Lower-Lid Bulges and Dark Circles It has been a while since my last post. Today I will summarize a lecture I gave on
A patient came in for a follow-up today, so I will do a quick post with their photos. Sausage Eyes · Three Months After Double-Line Revision She came to us to a
A patient came back for a one-year follow-up today, so I will write up the case. Multiple Folds After Failed Revisional Eyelid Surgery Let me define what I mean
A patient came back six months out, so I will walk through her case of asymmetric-eye correction. Asymmetric Eyes · A Real Case (with Facial Asymmetry) When we
It has been a while since my last post. A Double-Line Revision Case for Sausage Eyelids Here we go. Even when the crease itself is not particularly high, an eye
It has been a while since my last post. Raising a Double-Eyelid Crease: Converting an In-Fold to an In-Out Fold (tapered fold to neutral fold) After a primary d
I want to walk through the scar-related issues that come up when lowering a double-eyelid crease. I had this exact conversation with a recent post-op patient, a
Eyelid Retraction Repair: Revising an Over-Corrected Ptosis Surgery That is the topic for today. Over the past decade, ptosis correction has become a far more c
Lower Eyelid Fat Repositioning Lecture, May 22, 2022 — Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons Continuing Education Course The lecture title was as follows. Roug
Multiple Folds, Mucosal Show Repair, Lash Lifting Correction, Ectropion, Asymmetric Ptosis — Converting an Out-Fold to an In-Out Fold A patient I operated on re
Misconceptions About Scars in Double-Line Revisions and Low-Crease Eyelids — and About Incisional-Eyelid Scars in General (deep fixation in double-line revision
Ptosis Correction for Asymmetric Eyes — A Case Study Long time no post. Occasionally, when there is facial asymmetry or one eye is genuinely smaller, we use pto
Long time no post. Early Revision After Double-Eyelid Surgery — A Case Study Today's topic. Early revision means re-operating soon after a primary double-eyelid
Starting December 2021, I was appointed Academic Chair of the Eyelid Surgery Study Group of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS). O
Early Revision After a Failed Double-Line Revision (Triple Folds and Multiple Folds) A few notes on this topic. For the double-line technique itself, please see
Male Monolid Ptosis Correction and Crease-Removal Surgery — Minimizing Post-Op Swelling. An earlier post on this topic. Crease-Removal Surgery for Men — A Case
Lecture in Indonesia — Natural Upper Blepharoplasty with Minimal Swelling, and Lower Blepharoplasty That Preserves the Aegyo-sal It has been a while since I pos
KAPS 2021 Spring Continuing Education Course — Designing a Beautiful Crease in Incisional Ptosis Correction That was the title. And the title slide. Delivered t
Triple Folds After Crease Loss — Consolidating Multiple Lines into a Single Crease Topic for today. An example case. This patient had had an incisional ptosis c
Lateral Epicanthoplasty Reconstruction · One Week Post-Op Between conference prep, textbook chapters, and writing papers, my blog has admittedly been quiet late
Removing a Deep-Fixation Buried Suture A few thoughts on this today. Honestly, it is rare for a buried-suture double eyelid to end up with a deep, pinched fixat
KSPRS 2020 Fall Meeting · Lagophthalmos Repair After Male Non-Crease Ptosis Correction This is the talk I gave at last year's fall meeting. The year was eventfu
Removing Buried Sutures After Non-Incisional Ptosis Correction It looks like it has been about five months since my last post. Between international meetings, l
Upper Blepharoplasty · Swelling at One Month (with Small Eyes) I want to walk through how swelling typically progresses after upper blepharoplasty. Upper blepha
Choosing Between Two-Line and Single-Line Revision · An Early Adjustment Case The title sounds heavy, but this case sits close to my surgical philosophy and I w
Lowering an Over-Corrected Ptosis Repair · Reversing a Ptosis Correction A few notes on this topic. On the patient's right eye (the left side of the photo), sub
When a patient is considering an incisional double eyelid with ptosis correction, the question they worry about most is how long the swelling will last. What do
Today's topic. Medial Epicanthoplasty Reversal · One-Week Swelling Update A few notes on this case. He was a male patient who had a medial epicanthoplasty (Asia
I settled on this title for the post. Two-Line Revision for Multiple Folds · Pre-Op, Immediate Post-Op, and One Week She found us through an online search. Most
Today's topic. Removing a Male Patient's Double-Eyelid Crease Let me get into it. Removing a man's double-eyelid crease. Many men dislike a deep, prominent fold
When I operate on male patients, I see asymmetric eyes more often than people might expect. It is usually driven by underlying bony asymmetry between the two si
Today's topic. Two-Line Revision for a Sausage-Roll Fold · Three-Month Scar Pre-op view. With the eyes open, the crease reads thick and slightly sausage-like. R
A case from a few days ago, where we performed both procedures together. Her crease sits high and reads as a classic sausage fold. The crease looks high, the fi
Looking at this patient's eyes, the left looks acceptable, but the right looks startled — wide open in a way that does not match the other side. The contrast is
She had a buried-suture (natural-adhesion) double eyelid done elsewhere and came in less than a week post-op. I might have asked her to wait longer, but she fel
I have been seeing more patients lately who come in already worried. Especially those who have spent time on Korean YouTube, online cafes, and the like. Some ar
A patient who returned recently — a two-line revision (crease-thinning that preserves the existing scar) performed about two years ago. Pre-op, her crease had b
A patient I operated on yesterday. Keep in mind he is still swollen. I will keep updating this post as the recovery progresses. Pre-op, he had pronounced inferi
Photos from today's two-line revision patients (July 27, 2020) — both at suture removal. All photos used with patient consent. Pre-op: an out-fold to begin with
Most male patients I operate on receive an incisional ptosis correction; only a minority are good candidates for the non-incisional version. Men in whom the non
A post on single-line and two-line crease-lowering revisions. I wrote on the two-line revision (두줄따기) about two years ago. Quick refresher. Imagine the existing
A note on lateral epicanthoplasty reversal. The previous version of this post had an error, so I am reposting. When a lateral canthoplasty is overdone, the late
Buried-Suture Removal · Post-Op Swelling A few notes on both topics. Today, what the swelling looks like after a buried-suture removal. A patient asked recently
A post on the scar after an incisional double-eyelid procedure. Anyone considering an incisional double-eyelid surgery worries about the scar. #IncisionalDouble
I want to walk through how I correct asymmetric eyes when one side looks heavier or sleepier, using incisional ptosis repair. This patient had been operated on
I want to walk through a case of lateral canthoplasty reconstruction — pre-op, immediately post-op, and one week out. When a lateral canthoplasty is pushed too
Forehead-lifting to open the eyes — and how I correct it with male no-crease ptosis surgery. When a patient cannot fully open the eyes, the frontalis often gets
Understanding the principle behind asymmetric-eye correction. It has been a while since I posted. I want to emphasize one thing: you have to understand the unde
It has been a while since I posted. Today's topic: Resolving complications after ptosis correction — interview with Health Kyunghyang. Health Kyunghyang reached
I want to walk through how we remove buried sutures — specifically clear sutures — to reverse a buried-suture double eyelid. Removing buried sutures through a t
I want to walk through how we reverse buried-suture double eyelid surgery — locating and removing the buried sutures, including those placed by a natural-adhesi
I want to share a case I found difficult to put down — a revision after a ptosis correction that did not go as planned at another clinic. Let me walk through th
I want to walk through how I approach small, short eyes — the so-called 'cockle-shell' eye — and how I make them look as large as possible. By small or short ey
Today's post: how the swelling resolves after male ptosis correction with a hidden, no-crease design. Most male patients want the crease as invisible as possibl
Sometimes what looks like simple post-op swelling after double eyelid surgery is actually something else. I want to talk about correcting mucosal show after dou
Reversing buried-suture double eyelid surgery — removing the sutures and undoing a natural-adhesion technique. The big advantage of the buried-suture technique
Releasing an incisional ptosis correction early to prevent complications. When we do incisional ptosis correction, the things to watch for most carefully are ov
Most patients book a consultation first, then schedule the surgery for a later date. But some patients prefer to have the surgery on the same day as the consult
If you are a male patient dealing with complications after a no-crease ptosis correction, please get in touch. I will be presenting on this topic at the 2020 Ko
Non-incisional ptosis correction has gotten a lot of attention recently. I want to walk through the complications, and the cases where this technique simply sho
It does not happen often, but it happens. Patients with hearing loss occasionally come in for double eyelid surgery. Some have ptosis correction at the same tim
Today's topic. Asymmetric eyes in male patients — corrected with no-crease ptosis surgery. When the eyes are uneven, one of them can read as a sleepy, half-clos
When patients write reviews of incisional ptosis correction, the most common question is about swelling. Most of these patients have a medial epicanthoplasty at
I want to walk through a case combining male no-crease ptosis correction and medial epicanthoplasty reconstruction. The video below was taken pre-op. He came in
When male patients ask about ptosis correction, the question is almost always about swelling. They ask how the bruising and swelling can resolve as quickly as i
This was my talk at the Asian Blepharoplasty Forum, held during the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS) meeting on November 10, 2019.
Some patients want to get rid of their crease — to convert from a double eyelid back to a no-crease look. I want to walk through how I approach this. Technicall
It has been about six years now. I appeared on Let Me In, seasons 3, 4, and 5. It was a while ago — some readers may not remember the show. This case sticks wit
Patients often ask whether the scar from incisional ptosis correction is going to be very visible. There is no such thing as a scarless surgery. But there are w
I just gave a lecture on incisional ptosis correction in men who do not have a pre-existing eyelid crease. Venue: Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons (KAPS)
Today's post is on how to address asymmetric eyes. Eye asymmetry is sometimes an isolated finding, but very often it is part of a broader facial asymmetry. In t
When you perform lower eyelid fat repositioning, a solid grasp of the regional anatomy is what keeps the operation safe and prevents complications. I am sharing
This post covers the surgical approaches for lower eyelid fat repositioning and fat removal. There is the external (subciliary) approach and the transconjunctiv
Ptosis correction increases the volume just below the brow, on top of the crease. After surgery, this can leave the upper eyelid looking thicker and puffier. If
Today's post is on the revision of sausage-shaped eyelids after double-eyelid surgery. Note in advance: the post-op photos shown here are at about six months ou
Anatomy of the periorbital fat: orbital fat compartments and the preaponeurotic fat. Lower eyelid. Orbital septum. 1. Origin at the arcus marginalis, where the
Today I want to write about reverse double-eyelid surgery, the procedure to erase a pre-existing crease and create a monolid appearance. Erase the crease? Techn
Our paper on medial epicanthal fold reconstruction (epicanthoplasty reversal) was just accepted by a major American journal. Patients seeking epicanthoplasty re
Ptosis correction has become increasingly common. When I started performing it 15 years ago, it was not a routine operation. Today, ptosis correction is essenti
I have been performing ptosis correction in men without a pre-existing crease (monolid) frequently since around 2015. I had done the occasional case before then
I was invited to perform a live surgical demonstration of incisional ptosis correction with epicanthoplasty at Severance Hospital. The format was as follows. Fo
I want to write up a topic I presented at the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS) meeting in April 2019. The official title was "Reducing Compl
It has been a while since my last post. Today I want to walk through the different styles of before-and-after results for male ptosis correction. There is more
Today's post is on lower lid ectropion. It is one of the more serious complications of lower blepharoplasty. It develops as a complication of lower-lid fat surg
When the upper eyelid is hollowed out (sunken eye), corrective surgery focuses on restoring volume to that area. These eyes very often present with multiple fol
"My eyelashes are poking my eye!" When the eyelashes turn inward and irritate the eye, the diagnosis is adult entropion. It is treated surgically. Today's post
There is a procedure for reducing fat in the upper eyelid, and it is called ROOF excision. The patients who tend to need it look something like this. It is as i
Today's post is on post-operative care after eyelid surgery. We go over instructions in the office before patients leave, but they often forget the details once
I came across this kind of headline while browsing online. "Double-eyelid surgery review. This is not an ad." Maybe it really is not an ad. Then again, would an
Online reviews labeled "failed double-eyelid surgery" or "botched double-eyelid surgery" are not uncommon. Some are genuine complications. Many are simply post-
Many patients ask about the swelling timeline after incisional double-eyelid surgery during consultation. Does the incisional method swell more than the buried-
Today's post is on the side effects of double-eyelid tape. Several companies make these strips, and the underlying mechanism is roughly similar to how a real cr
Patients often ask whether upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done at the same time. Yes, they can. There are some considerations worth knowing about beforeh
After incisional ptosis correction, we typically check the patient at one week, one month, and six months. The swelling is just one phase of recovery, and the e
When I see patients in revision consults, a recurring request is the sausage-eye look. There are many ways to lower a double-eyelid crease, and when the patient
There are several Korean spellings floating around for double-eyelid surgery, and patients often ask which one is correct. The standard is 쌍꺼풀. I love how clean
These are my personal thoughts on why non-incisional ptosis correction is rarely the right choice for male patients. The photo above is a patient who had a non-
Yesterday (October 9, 2018), I gave a lecture on safe incisional double-eyelid surgery and how to minimize complications. The talk was hosted by the Korean Asso
When we set out to make a beautiful eye, we are still working with human tissue and human hands. Sometimes a surgery does not turn out the way we hoped, or the
In August 2018, our work was published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the journal of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Getting into an
These are slides from a talk I gave at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, on June 24-25, 2017. Korean surgeons broadly group double-eyel
On July 8, 2018, at the 13th Academic Symposium of the Eyelid Surgery Study Group (a KSPRS subcommittee), I gave a talk titled "Safe Approach of Incisional Ptos
These slides are from a talk I gave at the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS) meeting at COEX on April 7-8, 2018. When we operate on older pat
In autumn 2017, I gave a talk on upper blepharoplasty and ptosis in older patients at the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS) meeting.
These slides are from a talk I gave on hidden double-fold ptosis correction in male patients at the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (KSAPS) meeting
These slides are from the spring symposium of the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (KCPCA). When we operate on older eyes, looking natural is everyt
This is Dr. Cheng-sheng Lai, a leading eyelid surgeon from Taiwan. We were both invited as faculty for the 3rd Asian Eyelid Surgery Symposium. Two of his daught
Today's topic is surgery to remove an existing double-eyelid crease. But before I get to it, a question: why do you want to remove the crease? If your goal is t
In November 2016, I gave a talk on managing the lacrimal gland as one cause of a heavy upper lid. It applies to patients like the one below, with significant fu
Hello. As the title suggests, today's post covers the double-line technique for thick or sausage-shaped double eyelids. There are several names for the same ide
These slides are from the Eyelid Surgery Study Group symposium in July 2016. Let me start with the epicanthal fold itself. The epicanthal fold blocks the medial
I was invited to lecture on incisional double-eyelid surgery at the eyelid symposium held in Daegu. It ran two days, April 18-19, 2015. Day one was lectures at
I gave a talk titled "Mild Ptosis Correction Using Levator Aponeurosis Advancement." Looking back from 2018, this was already four years ago. On June 27-28, 201
This material is from a talk I gave at Gangnam Severance Hospital on June 28, 2014. Beautiful eyes depend on a number of proportions, but having the medial corn
"Filial-piety surgery" is a phrase that has been going around lately. It refers to procedures that grown children pay for so a parent can address sagging, eye i
"Big-eye surgery" is the catch-all phrase for procedures that make the eye look larger. Patients do not usually walk in asking for it by that name, but there ar
Today I want to talk about male double-eyelid surgery, including the hidden double-fold ptosis correction commonly done for male patients. There used to be a re
Let me walk through how we approach removing a double-eyelid crease. Why would anyone want their crease removed? In male patients, particularly when the crease
Hello. This is Dr. Choi Dong-Il. I currently serve as secretary of the Eyelid Surgery Study Group, a subcommittee of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstru