Surgical specialty

Eyelid surgery.

You blink roughly 14,000–17,000 times a day. A successful eyelid operation has to look right in the mirror and still hold up across millions of motion cycles in the years that follow.

Eyelid surgery is structural, not just cosmetic.

The eyelid involves the levator muscle, the tarsal plate, the glands of the lid margin, and the thinnest skin on the body. Operate at the wrong depth and the result can be dry eye, lagophthalmos (the lid not closing during sleep), or asymmetry that stays. That's why the surgeon needs periocular-specific training, not a generic cosmetic technique repurposed for the eye.

At The Gioi Dep, patients coming in for eyelid surgery are assessed for levator strength, the crease height that suits their facial proportions, and what is likely to keep the result stable over time.

Procedures.

Upper eyelid surgery (double-eyelid creation)

Creation of an upper-eyelid crease using either a suture or an incisional technique, chosen by skin character, fat thickness, and prior surgery. The shorthand is "making a crease," but it is structural surgery — it has to account for levator function and the proportion of the whole eye.

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.

All Eyes services.

The hospital performs 12 procedures in the Eyes group. The flagship operations are detailed above; the full list below shows the hospital's complete range.

Eyes & brows

Non-surgical

Ask about Eyes procedures See the full directory →

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.

What a consultation looks like.

  1. Functional and structural eyelid exam. Levator strength, skin elasticity, fat-pad volume, and lacrimal status.
  2. Goals discussion. Crease height and shape relative to your facial proportions and bony orbit — not in isolation.
  3. Technique selection. Suture or incisional — based on anatomy, not on the patient's preference for downtime.
  4. Risks and limits. Reviewed before consent, never after.
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