If you are concerned about heavy upper eyelid skin, lateral hooding, a tired-looking eye area, or age-related sagging beneath the eyebrows, a Sub Brow Lift may be considered. Also called subbrow blepharoplasty or infrabrow blepharoplasty, the procedure removes selected skin immediately beneath the eyebrow to improve upper-eyelid laxity while preserving the existing eyelid crease.

Hongdae and Sinchon are convenient areas for Sub Brow Lift consultations in Seoul, especially for international residents, students, and travelers seeking upper-face and eyelid rejuvenation.

What Is a Sub Brow Lift?

A Sub Brow Lift is an upper-eyelid rejuvenation procedure in which selected skin and soft tissue are removed along the lower border of the eyebrow.

Unlike conventional upper blepharoplasty, which commonly places the incision within the eyelid crease, a Sub Brow Lift positions the incision closer to the underside of the eyebrow. It can be particularly useful for selected Asian patients with upper-eyelid laxity and lateral hooding who want to preserve their natural eyelid crease.

Consultation → brow and eyelid assessment → surgical design → subbrow skin removal → tissue fixation → closure → recovery → follow-up.

When Might You Consider a Sub Brow Lift?

A Sub Brow Lift may be considered for:

• Heavy upper-eyelid skin
• Lateral eyelid hooding
• Age-related upper-eyelid sagging
• Desire to preserve an existing double eyelid crease
• Multiple or irregular eyelid creases
• Previous double eyelid surgery
• Mild brow-related upper-eye heaviness
• Desire for upper-eyelid rejuvenation without recreating the eyelid fold

Published studies describe the procedure particularly for patients with dermatochalasis and lateral hooding, including those who want to preserve their natural eyelid crease or have undergone previous eyelid surgery.

What Can a Sub Brow Lift Improve?

Upper Eyelid Sagging

Removing redundant skin beneath the eyebrow can reduce the amount of tissue hanging over the upper eyelid.

A recent study of patients with severe upper-eyelid laxity reported measurable improvement in visible eyelid height following modified subbrow blepharoplasty.

Lateral Hooding

The outer portion of the upper eyelid is a common area of age-related skin excess.

Subbrow blepharoplasty has been specifically described as an effective option for lateral hooding in Asian eyelids, where conventional crease-based skin removal may require a longer incision.

Natural Eyelid Crease Preservation

Because the incision is positioned beneath the eyebrow rather than through the existing eyelid crease, the procedure can help preserve a patient's natural double eyelid structure.

Sub Brow Lift Surgery Process

A typical surgical process may include:

1. Plastic surgery consultation
2. Assessment of eyelid skin and brow position
3. Evaluation of the existing eyelid crease
4. Customized crescent-shaped or elliptical skin design
5. Removal of selected subbrow skin and soft tissue
6. Muscle or deeper tissue fixation when indicated
7. Careful closure along the eyebrow border

Different techniques may include treatment of the orbicularis oculi muscle or fixation to deeper tissues to improve support and stability.

Sub Brow Lift vs Upper Blepharoplasty

These procedures both treat upper-eyelid aging but use different incision locations and surgical strategies.

Sub Brow Lift

• Incision beneath the eyebrow
• Focuses on upper-eyelid skin laxity
• Can preserve the existing eyelid crease
• Particularly useful for lateral hooding in selected patients

Upper Blepharoplasty

• Incision generally within the eyelid crease
• Can directly modify the crease and upper-eyelid tissues
• May address fat, muscle, skin, or crease-related concerns

For some patients, the procedures can also be combined when significant skin laxity exists in more than one region.

Sub Brow Lift vs Endoscopic Forehead Lift

A Sub Brow Lift primarily removes redundant skin immediately below the eyebrow, while an Endoscopic Forehead Lift repositions forehead and brow tissues from higher scalp incisions.

A forehead lift may be more appropriate when the main problem is significant brow ptosis or forehead descent, while subbrow surgery may suit patients whose primary concern is excess upper-eyelid skin.

Evaluation of the eyebrow and eyelid together is important because aging of these structures is closely related.

Sub Brow Lift vs Double Eyelid Surgery

Double Eyelid Surgery creates or modifies an upper-eyelid crease, while a Sub Brow Lift primarily removes sagging skin beneath the eyebrow.

For patients who already have a natural or surgically created double eyelid crease that they like, a Sub Brow Lift may allow rejuvenation while minimizing direct alteration of that crease.

This can be especially relevant for patients with previous double eyelid surgery who develop upper-eyelid skin laxity later.

Does a Sub Brow Lift Actually Lift the Eyebrow?

Despite the name, a basic Sub Brow Lift is not necessarily designed to raise the entire eyebrow like a formal brow lift.

Instead, it primarily improves the skin between the eyebrow and upper eyelid.

Interestingly, recent quantitative research found that the distance between the eyebrow and eye often decreased after subbrow blepharoplasty, meaning the eyebrow can appear closer to the eye after surgery.

Patients who specifically want significant brow elevation may therefore require a different brow-lifting procedure.

Can a Sub Brow Lift Make the Eyes Look More Open?

Yes, in selected patients.

When excess upper-eyelid skin creates hooding, removing that redundant tissue can expose more of the visible upper eyelid and create a lighter, more open eye appearance.

Recent research on modified subbrow blepharoplasty reported significant improvement in visible eyelid measurements and patient satisfaction in patients with severe upper-eyelid laxity.

However, the procedure does not directly correct true eyelid ptosis caused by weakness of the eyelid-elevating mechanism.

Sub Brow Lift for Asian Eyes

Subbrow blepharoplasty has been particularly studied in Asian patients, including Korean, Chinese, and Japanese populations.

Potential advantages for selected Asian patients include:

• Preserving the existing eyelid crease
• Treating lateral hooding
• Avoiding excessive alteration of eyelid anatomy
• Maintaining familiar ethnic eyelid characteristics
• Placing the incision close to the eyebrow

Research emphasizes that aging Asian upper-eyelid surgery should consider the relationship between eyebrow position, eyelid crease, soft-tissue thickness, and periorbital anatomy.

Does a Sub Brow Lift Leave a Scar?

Yes.

The incision is generally placed along the lower border of the eyebrow, where eyebrow hair and the natural transition between eyebrow and eyelid skin may help camouflage the scar.

A retrospective study comparing supra-brow and sub-brow blepharoplasty found that the sub-brow group had less noticeable postoperative scarring at one year based on both observer and patient scar assessments.

However, scar visibility varies according to:

• Skin characteristics
• Eyebrow thickness
• Surgical technique
• Wound tension
• Individual healing
• Previous scars

Can Eyebrow Hair Be Affected?

Because the incision is close to the eyebrow, careful incision placement is important.

Some techniques place the incision so that it follows the direction of the eyebrow hair follicles to help minimize visible scarring and preserve the eyebrow margin. Extended infrabrow techniques have also been designed specifically to make scars less conspicuous after eyebrow hair regrows.

Patients with very thin eyebrows should discuss scar visibility and incision placement before surgery.

When Do Results Appear?

Improvement in upper-eyelid hooding is visible after surgery, but the early result can be affected by:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Incision redness
• Temporary tightness
• Mild asymmetry

The eyelid gradually becomes more natural as swelling decreases and the scar matures.

Studies evaluating subbrow blepharoplasty have assessed final scar and aesthetic outcomes several months to one year after surgery, so early postoperative appearance should not be considered the final result.

What Is Recovery Like?

Temporary postoperative symptoms may include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tenderness
• Tightness beneath the eyebrow
• Temporary numbness
• Scar redness
• Temporary asymmetry

The extent of recovery depends on whether the operation involves skin excision alone or additional orbicularis muscle manipulation and fixation.

Large clinical series of modified subbrow lifting techniques have reported generally favorable healing with low rates of significant complications in appropriately selected patients.

Possible Risks and Complications

Potential complications may include:

• Visible scarring
• Brow or eyelid asymmetry
• Under-correction
• Excessive skin removal
• Temporary sensory changes
• Changes in brow position
• Eyebrow hair disturbance
• Persistent lateral hooding
• Need for revision surgery

A recent study specifically demonstrated that subbrow blepharoplasty can change the brow-to-eye distance, which should be considered during preoperative planning.

Can Upper Eyelid Sagging Return?

Yes.

Sub Brow Lift surgery does not stop the natural aging process.

Over time, changes may continue because of:

• Skin aging
• Brow descent
• Loss of skin elasticity
• Continued facial tissue changes
• Genetics

Long-term studies have reported stable improvement in selected patients, but recurrent or residual hooding can still occur.

Can a Sub Brow Lift Look Natural?

Yes.

One of the major reasons the procedure is used in selected patients is that it can reduce excess skin while preserving the existing eyelid crease and underlying eyelid framework.

Natural-looking results generally depend on:

• Conservative skin removal
• Appropriate scar placement
• Existing brow position
• Eyelid crease preservation
• Symmetrical surgical design
• Avoiding excessive tension

The goal should be a lighter and refreshed upper-eye appearance rather than creating an excessively tight eyelid.

Sub Brow Lift for International Patients

When contacting a plastic surgery clinic, consider asking:

• Is English consultation available?
• Is my heaviness caused by eyelid skin or brow ptosis?
• Am I suitable for a Sub Brow Lift?
• Will my existing double eyelid crease be preserved?
• How much skin will be removed?
• Where exactly will the scar be located?
• Could my brow position change?
• How long should I stay in Korea?
• Is postoperative follow-up included?

If you have previously undergone double eyelid surgery, ptosis correction, brow lift, forehead lift, or upper blepharoplasty, tell the surgeon because previous procedures can influence surgical planning.

Choosing a Sub Brow Lift Clinic in Hongdae or Sinchon

Consider:

• Qualified plastic surgeon
• Experience with Asian eyelid rejuvenation
• Detailed eyebrow and eyelid assessment
• Evaluation of true brow ptosis
• Customized subbrow excision design
• Natural eyelid-crease preservation
• Careful scar placement
• Clear explanation of brow-position changes
• English communication
• Transparent surgery costs

Current research supports careful patient selection because Sub Brow Lift, upper blepharoplasty, and formal brow lifting treat different anatomical causes of upper-eye aging.

Hongdae & Sinchon Medical Care

Hongdae is convenient for patients around:

Hongik University · Yeonnam-dong · Hapjeong · Sangsu · Mapo

Sinchon is convenient for patients around:

Yonsei University · Ewha Womans University · Seodaemun · Mapo

Common searches include:

• Sub Brow Lift Hongdae
• Subbrow Blepharoplasty Hongdae
• Upper Eyelid Lift Hongdae
• Sub Brow Lift Sinchon
• Infrabrow Blepharoplasty Sinchon
• English speaking plastic surgery clinic Sinchon



Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Sub Brow Lift?

A Sub Brow Lift, or subbrow blepharoplasty, removes selected upper-eyelid skin immediately beneath the eyebrow to improve hooding and laxity while generally preserving the existing eyelid crease.

Is a Sub Brow Lift the same as Upper Blepharoplasty?

No. Upper Blepharoplasty usually uses an eyelid-crease incision, while a Sub Brow Lift places the incision beneath the eyebrow. The best approach depends on the location of excess skin and the desired eyelid shape.

Does a Sub Brow Lift raise the eyebrow?

Not necessarily. The procedure primarily treats skin beneath the brow, and recent research found that the brow-to-eye distance often became smaller after surgery.

Does a Sub Brow Lift leave a visible scar?

A scar is expected along the lower eyebrow border, but a comparative study found less noticeable scars after sub-brow surgery than supra-brow surgery at one-year follow-up. Individual scar healing varies.

Can foreigners get a Sub Brow Lift in Seoul?

Yes. International patients can contact plastic surgery clinics in Seoul regarding consultation, surgical planning, recovery, postoperative monitoring, and English-language support.