Fat grafting is often expected to permanently correct eyelid hollowing.
However, many patients experience recurrence over time.
This does not always mean the surgery failed.
The eyelid is a highly dynamic structure.
Unlike other areas of the face, the upper eyelid is constantly moving.
Blinking, opening, and closing place repeated stress on transplanted fat.
Because free fat grafts are disconnected from their original blood supply,
long-term survival in the eyelid is inherently unpredictable.
Even when early results appear satisfactory,
partial resorption can occur months later.
Repeated fat grafting does not always solve the problem.
When hollowing returns, additional fat grafting is often suggested.
However, repeating the same approach does not change the underlying condition.
In some cases, repeated grafting can lead to irregular contour, stiffness,
or a heavier eyelid without improving function.
Recurrence often reflects an uncorrected cause.
Eyelid hollowing may recur not because volume was insufficient,
but because eyelid function and balance were never addressed.
If compensatory eyebrow elevation, excessive tension,
or structural imbalance persists,
the appearance of hollowing can return—even after volume restoration.
Long-term improvement requires a different approach.
Stable improvement in eyelid hollowing depends on understanding
why the hollowing occurred in the first place.
In revision cases, correcting function and restoring balance
often matters more than adding volume.
In eyelid surgery, durability comes from addressing cause—not repetition.
Seeing the Eye as a Whole, Not in Parts
A Clinic Dedicated to Eyelid Revision Surgery in Korea
Ahnsungmin Plastic Surgery