Skin excision above eyelashes (ham eye correction)

Ham eyes is not an official academic term and there is no set definition, but it is a colloquial term referring to eyes with a puffy appearance caused by a bulging skin below the double eyelid line. They are called ham eyes because they look like a ham tied up with string. Characteristics of ham eyes include an unnaturally puffy eye area and eyelids that are so puffy that they obscure the lash line.

There are several causes of ham eyes, some of whom are born with plump eyelids, while others have sagging eyelids due to aging. Many people become concerned about the swelling above their eyelashes after double eyelid surgery using the full incision or suture method. If the width of the double eyelid is made too wide during double eyelid surgery, ham eyes may develop after surgery.

As mentioned above, many patients have developed ham eyes after double eyelid surgery using the full incision or suture method. After double eyelid surgery, fluid is secreted from the body to repair damaged cells, causing swelling around the eyes and resulting in ham eyes. Normally, the swelling will subside by the end of the downtime period, but in some cases the swelling may not subside even after the downtime has ended.

If your hamster eye does not go away after the downtime, we recommend that you wait a little longer for the swelling to completely subside. If your hamster eye still does not go away, you should consult a doctor and consider treatment.

In the case of the suture method, removing the suture used to create the double eyelid may improve the appearance of ham eyes, but surgery will be required again. For those who do not want to correct the double eyelid surgery or change the double eyelid line, or if the swelling is only mild, treatment can be performed by removing the skin above the eyelashes.

If you are concerned about ham eyes, there are three main methods: (1) double eyelid incision method, (2) double eyelid buried suture method, and (3) ptosis surgery (surgery to open the eyelids wider) to adjust the double eyelid line and the skin nearby, or removing excess skin above the eyelashes by skin resection above the eyelashes without changing the double eyelid line. The best method will be determined based on the patient's wishes and the condition of the eyelids.

[1] Double eyelid incision method
The double eyelid incision method is a surgery in which the eyelids are incised along the desired double eyelid line. A semi-permanent double eyelid can be created by treating the orbicularis oculi muscle (the muscle that stretches around the eye), the tarsal plate (a hard plate like cartilage that lies along the edge of the eyelid), and the orbital septum (a wall that holds down the orbital fat so that it does not protrude forward). This surgery can also remove excess skin and fat, which are one of the causes of hamster eyes.

[2] Double eyelid burial method
The suture method is a procedure that uses a thread thinner than a hair to tie the back of the eyelid to create a double eyelid line. By narrowing the width of the double eyelid with the suture method, it is possible to correct ham eyes.

[3] Ptosis surgery Ptosis is when the eyelids droop and it becomes difficult to see. This is a manual surgery that improves eye opening and creates double eyelids at the same time. It is recommended for those who have ham eyes and have poor eye opening.