Under-Eye Fat Repositioning in Korea

Under-eye fat repositioning is performed through the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane on the inside of the eyelid) without an external skin incision and is suitable for people in their 20s and 30s. Lower blepharoplasty involves a skin incision, allowing more extensive correction, and is suitable for people in their 40s to 60s.

If you have midface sagging, you can combine it with cheekbone (midface) thread lifting to achieve both cheekbone reduction and nasolabial fold improvement effects simultaneously.

Edition strengthens the septum and fixes fat to minimize the possibility of recurrence.

The surgery is performed through the conjunctiva under the eye (the mucous membrane on the inside of the eyelid), so no external skin incision is made. The recovery process and the degree of scarring vary by individual.

We use PDO threads (Silhouette Fix, Mint), Silhouette Soft, and Aptos. No single thread is always best — we choose the most suitable thread after analyzing skin elasticity, fat distribution, and the cause of sagging.

The number of threads used varies by degree of sagging and area, and is explained at the design stage after the exam. As the doctor explains, using more threads does not guarantee a better result — placing the right threads in the necessary positions matters more.

It depends on the type of thread. PDO threads often last about 6 to 8 months, while Silhouette Soft and Aptos threads often last about 1 year to 1 year and 6 months. This may vary depending on your skin elasticity and the progression of aging.

PDO threads offer strong anchoring and are mainly used to refine a collapsed facial contour, while Silhouette Soft, with its bidirectional cone structure, is used to reposition tissue in cases of voluminous midface sagging and deep cheek sagging. Their duration also differs: about 6–8 months for PDO and about 1 year to 1 year 6 months for Silhouette Soft.

At first you may feel the threads, a pulling sensation, or slight asymmetry. These can occur as the tissue adapts to the threads and settles, and in most cases they stabilize over time. If discomfort persists, we check your condition directly and take any necessary steps.

Deep cheek fat and sagging around the mouth are areas commonly addressed with midface thread lifting, and refining these areas often tidies up the jawline that had been pushed downward as well. However, we first check whether the cause of sagging is the skin, a shift in fat position, or laxity of the retaining ligaments.

In some cases, puffy under-eye fat casts a shadow, and in others, a lack of fat creates hollowness that makes the area look dark. The former is addressed with fat repositioning and the latter with under-eye micro fat grafting, and if pigmentation is the main cause, we will discuss other methods with you.

What matters for the result is not how much the tissue is pulled, but in which direction it is moved. We design the lift with the direction in mind, moving sagging tissue toward the outer face, particularly toward the area behind the hairline. Our approach aims to improve the overall facial contour harmoniously without overemphasizing the midface.

The surgery takes about 1 hour, and recovery is generally expected to take about 5 to 7 days. Because the incision is made through the conjunctiva, no suture removal is needed, but how quickly swelling and bruising subside varies from person to person, so we check this at follow-up visits.

The decision is made after watching how the swelling subsides, and if thread lifting was combined, there is a separate period during which treatments that apply strong pressure to the face should be avoided. We check your condition at follow-up visits and advise you individually.

Even if you have had previous treatments, including filler, we decide whether to proceed after consultation. The first step is to accurately check which treatments you had and when, and the current condition of the tissue.

The pattern of under-eye problems differs, and so does the approach. For people in their 20s, whose main concerns are under-eye puffiness and dark circles, the focus is on fat repositioning; for those in their 30s and 40s with both hollowness and sagging, the midface is addressed as well; and for those in their 50s and 60s with combined hollowness, wrinkles, and grooves, we consult on options including lower blepharoplasty.

It depends on the amount of under-eye fat, whether fat grafting or thread lifting is combined, the extent of correction, and the anesthesia method. After your condition is checked during the medical consultation, our consultation manager will explain the cost.

We approach through the conjunctiva under the eye (the mucous membrane on the inside of the eyelid), release the adhesions in the tear trough area to create space, and move the bulging fat into the hollow area to reposition it. Finally, the stretched septum is reinforced and the repositioned fat is secured. The surgery takes about 1 hour and is performed under local anesthesia or sedation.

It depends on which part of the under-eye area is the problem. When protruding fat is the main issue, under-eye fat repositioning may help, and if there is also sagging skin, lower blepharoplasty is considered. If the main concern is loss of elasticity or fine lines, we may first discuss laser lifting or skin boosters. Filling the area without identifying the cause can actually make it look heavier.