Ha-angeom is the Korean medical term for the lower eyelid.
Why the lower eyelid becomes a candidate for surgery, how it differs from the upper eyelid,
and the related types of surgery — I've summarized it all in one place.
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■ The Short Answer
Ha-angeom (下眼瞼) is the medical term for the lower eyelid.
Written in Chinese characters, it combines 下 (ha, "below") · 眼 (an, "eye") · 瞼 (geom, "eyelid"),
and in English it is called the lower eyelid or lower lid.
When "lower eyelid surgery" is mentioned in a plastic surgery consultation or clinic visit,
it is an umbrella term for procedures that correct the lower eyelid and the skin, fat, and muscle beneath the eye.
Under-eye fat herniation (under-eye bags), under-eye wrinkles, and lower eyelid skin laxity
are the main concerns addressed by lower eyelid surgery.
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■ What Does Ha-angeom Mean, Character by Character?
Many medical terms come from Chinese characters, so knowing their meaning makes the terms much easier to understand.
下 (ha, "below"): indicates a lower position.
眼 (an, "eye"): means the eye.
瞼 (geom, "eyelid"): means the eyelid.
Put the three characters together and you get "lower eyelid" — that is, the entire lower part of the eye.
Read the same way,
上眼瞼 (sang-angeom) = 上 (sang, "above") + 眼 + 瞼 = upper eyelid
內眼角 (naeangak) = the inner corner of the eye (medial canthus)
外眼角 (oeangak) = the outer corner of the eye (lateral canthus)
In this way, each area around the eye is named using directional Chinese characters.
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■ Why the Lower Eyelid Becomes a Target for Surgery
The lower eyelid (ha-angeom) and the surrounding area, due to various factors such as aging, individual constitution, and genetics,
can undergo a variety of changes.
If any one of the following applies to you, lower eyelid correction may be worth considering.
[ 5 Symptoms for Which Lower Eyelid Correction Is Considered ]
① Under-Eye Fat Herniation
A condition in which the area below the eye bulges outward,
caused by the fat around the eye (orbital fat) being pushed forward.
It can make you look tired or older than you are.
② Under-Eye Wrinkles (Creases Above the Pretarsal Roll)
With age, the skin beneath the eyes loses elasticity,
leading to fine lines or creasing of the skin.
③ Lower Eyelid Skin Laxity (Sagging)
A condition in which the skin beneath the eyes droops or sags.
In severe cases, the eye can become irritated or lower eyelid ectropion (下眼瞼外翻) can develop.
④ Under-Eye Hollowing (Volume Loss)
A condition in which the under-eye area around the pretarsal roll sinks in, creating shadows.
It appears when the under-eye fat descends or loses volume.
⑤ Dark Circles (Some Types)
When under-eye fat herniation and hollowing are present at the same time,
the resulting shadows can look like dark circles.
These need to be distinguished from pigmented dark circles (caused by skin pigmentation).
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■ Types of Lower Eyelid Surgery
Lower eyelid surgery is divided into several types depending on what is being corrected and the surgical approach.
[ Transcutaneous (Incisional) Lower Blepharoplasty ]
An approach in which an incision is made in the skin just below the lash line to correct sagging skin and fat together.
It is mainly suited to cases with significant skin laxity, and the incision line is on the outside of the skin.
Over time, the scar becomes hidden along the line beneath the lashes.
[ Transconjunctival Lower Blepharoplasty (Conjunctival Incision Approach) ]
An approach through the conjunctiva on the inner surface of the eyelid, leaving no external skin incision.
It is suited to cases where fat herniation is the main cause and skin laxity is not severe.
[ Under-Eye Fat Repositioning ]
An approach in which the under-eye fat is not removed but moved to fill in hollow areas.
When under-eye bulging and hollowing coexist, the bulging fat is repositioned into the hollow area
to create a natural under-eye contour.
The choice of surgery depends on the condition of the under-eye area (degree of fat herniation, degree of skin laxity, and whether there is volume loss)
and is decided after a specialist makes a direct diagnosis.
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■ Lower Eyelid vs. Upper Eyelid: How Are They Different?
The lower eyelid (ha-angeom) and upper eyelid (sang-angeom) divide the eye into its lower and upper parts,
but the goals of surgery and what is corrected are different.
Lower and upper eyelid surgery are sometimes performed at the same time,
and whether both the upper and lower eyelids need correction is determined through an in-person diagnosis.
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■ Who Needs Lower Eyelid Surgery?
Use the following criteria to first get a sense of your own condition.
Lower eyelid surgery may be considered if:
- The area below your eyes bulges out, making you look tired
- The skin beneath your eyes is noticeably sagging
- Under-eye bulging and hollowing coexist, creating shadows
- Under-eye wrinkles have become more pronounced with age
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■ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What exactly does ha-angeom mean?
A. Ha-angeom (下眼瞼) is the medical term for the lower eyelid.
It is composed of the Chinese characters 下 (below) + 眼 (eye) + 瞼 (eyelid),
and corresponds to "lower eyelid" in English.
In plastic surgery, "lower eyelid surgery" refers to procedures that correct the lower eyelid and the area beneath the eye;
it is a collective term for these operations.
Q2. Are lower eyelid surgery and under-eye fat repositioning the same thing?
A. Under-eye fat repositioning is one type of lower eyelid surgery.
Lower eyelid surgery is the general term for procedures that correct the lower eyelid,
and depending on the approach, it is divided into the transcutaneous (incisional) approach, the transconjunctival approach, fat repositioning, fat removal, and others.
Under-eye fat repositioning is the method among these that repositions the fat rather than removing it.
Q3. Can I have upper and lower eyelid surgery at the same time?
A. In some cases, they can be performed together.
When both the upper eyelid (sang-angeom) and the lower eyelid (ha-angeom) require correction,
as determined by diagnosis, the two procedures can be planned together.
Combined surgery can increase the extent of early swelling,
and whether to perform both at once is decided during the pre-operative diagnosis.
Q4. Is there an age limit for lower eyelid surgery?
A. There is no specific age limit.
Under-eye fat herniation can appear in people in their 30s and 40s,
and correction is also possible from the 50s and 60s onward, when skin laxity becomes more pronounced.
What matters more than age is the current condition of the under-eye area and whether correction is needed.
Q5. Does lower eyelid surgery leave a scar?
A. It depends on the approach.
The transconjunctival approach (conjunctival incision) involves no external skin incision, so there is little concern about scarring.
The transcutaneous approach leaves an incision line just below the lashes,
but over time it often becomes naturally hidden within the lash line.
Q6. Can dark circles also be improved with lower eyelid surgery?
A. It depends on what is causing the dark circles.
Shadow-type dark circles caused by under-eye fat herniation and hollowing
can in some cases be improved with lower eyelid surgery (such as under-eye fat repositioning).
Dark circles caused by skin pigmentation, however, call for something other than lower eyelid surgery —
a different approach, such as lasers or other non-surgical treatments.
Identifying the exact cause comes first.
Q7. How long does recovery take after lower eyelid surgery?
A. It depends on the surgical method.
With the transconjunctival approach, recovery is relatively quick because there is no skin incision,
while with the transcutaneous approach, following suture removal (around days 5–7), within 1–2 weeks
many patients are able to return to their daily routine.
70–80% of the swelling subsides within the first month,
and the final result can be seen after 3–6 months.
* This article is written for general informational purposes,
and the appropriate surgical method may differ depending on each individual's under-eye condition.
Whether to have lower eyelid surgery, and which method to use, should always be decided through an in-person consultation with a specialist.
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The photographs in this post were taken under identical conditions with the patient's prior consent.
In addition, side effects such as bleeding, infection, and inflammation may occur after plastic surgery or procedures depending on the individual, so caution is required.