2026-09-03
Droopy Eyelids in Men: Ptosis Surgery (Eyelid Correction Surgery)
A man in his late 20s sought surgery for small-looking eyes. Diagnosed with ptosis, he underwent eyelid correction, epicanthoplasty, and lateral canthoplasty for a more open and refreshed look.
This patient is a man in his late 20s. He visited our clinic for double eyelid surgery because his eyes looked too small.
Upon examination, his eyelids were significantly covering his pupils, and he was using his forehead and eyebrows extensively to open his eyes wide. This indicates weak eye-opening strength, which is a typical sign of ptosis.
Ptosis is a condition where the eyelids cover a significant portion of the pupils due to weak eye-opening muscles. ‘An-geom’ (안검) refers to the eyelid skin, and ‘hasu’ (하수) means ‘drooping’ or ‘falling’. When the pupils are largely covered, vision can be impaired, leading individuals to use the stronger forehead muscles to open their eyes wider. This can cause forehead wrinkles.
If you have weak eye-opening strength, one of two things usually happens: you’re either asked, ‘Are you sleepy or tired?’ or ‘Are you angry or upset?’ You might feel perfectly fine, but you’re often misunderstood. In such cases, ptosis surgery is necessary. It is also referred to as eyelid correction surgery.
If ptosis is present but only a standard double eyelid surgery is performed, the eyes can look very unnatural. The double eyelids also tend to become very large. Since Korean men, in particular, generally do not prefer large, high double eyelids, ptosis eyelid correction surgery is often essential.
Ptosis surgery primarily involves an incision. Although non-incisional surgery is also available, I will explain that in a different post. First, after making an incision, an appropriate double eyelid is created, and the eye-opening muscles are located and manipulated. After the surgery, you will be able to open your eyes more clearly with the same effort, and the previously covered pupils will be more visible.
In this patient's case, he had severe epicanthal folds, so epicanthoplasty (inner corner surgery) was performed concurrently. He also requested lateral canthoplasty (outer corner surgery), which was also performed. We anticipate a more open and refreshed eye appearance than before through ptosis surgery, epicanthoplasty, and lateral canthoplasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ptosis?
Ptosis refers to a condition where the eyelids significantly cover the pupils due to weak eye-opening strength. It is a term combining ‘an-geom’ (안검), meaning eyelid skin, and ‘hasu’ (하수), meaning drooping. This can lead to impaired vision or give a sleepy impression.
What problems can arise from ptosis?
With ptosis, the pupils may be covered, leading to impaired vision. Additionally, using forehead muscles to open the eyes wide can cause forehead wrinkles, and individuals are often misunderstood as being sleepy, tired, or angry.
How does male ptosis surgery (eyelid correction) differ from standard double eyelid surgery?
Male ptosis surgery corrects the weak eye-opening strength associated with ptosis. If only standard double eyelid surgery is performed on someone with ptosis, the double eyelids can become too large and unnatural. Eyelid correction surgery is necessary to achieve the natural eye shape preferred by Korean men.
How is ptosis surgery performed?
Ptosis surgery is primarily performed using an incisional method. After an incision, an appropriate double eyelid is created, and the eye-opening muscles are located and manipulated to strengthen their function. After surgery, you can open your eyes more clearly with the same effort.
Can other surgeries be performed concurrently with ptosis surgery?
Yes, it is possible. As in the patient's case described in the article, if severe epicanthal folds are present, epicanthoplasty can be performed concurrently. If the patient desires, lateral canthoplasty can also be combined to create a more open and refreshed eye appearance.