As eye plastic surgery has become common, the number of people distressed by surgical scars has also increased. Can scars that appear when closing the eyes or looking down after double eyelid surgery or epicanthoplasty truly be lightened with a laser? To answer directly, you can expect sufficient improvement with cosmetic surgery scar treatment, not surgery.
Scars that are barely visible when the eyes are open but become prominent when looking down or closing the eyes are more frequently noticed these days, with the increased time spent looking at smartphones. Therefore, inquiries about wanting to refine double eyelid surgical scars continue steadily.
Eye Plastic Surgery Scars That Once Only Had Surgical Options
Until the early 2000s, methods for treating scars were limited to skin grafting, tissue expansion, and surgical excision. However, these surgical methods often resulted in a sense of incongruity between the original skin and the newly treated area, and could leave other scars, leading to low patient satisfaction.
Given these circumstances, scars from eye plastic surgery were often endured without other options. To overcome these limitations, Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon introduced the 'Pinhole Technique,' a scar laser treatment, in the early 2000s.
What is the Principle of the Pinhole Technique?
The Pinhole Technique involves creating microscopic holes in the scar with a laser that reaches deep into the skin, regenerating scar tissue located deeper than what is visible on the surface. The goal is to restore the skin to a texture most similar to normal skin.
As reports accumulated on the usefulness of the Pinhole Technique for scar improvement, similar treatment methods followed, and the perception that cosmetic surgery scars could be treated with lasers and procedural methods rather than surgery became established.
However, even with the same laser, results can vary. This is because the Pinhole Technique depends on the practitioner's skill in irradiating the laser according to the size, depth, and extent of the scar. If you have received similar treatments multiple times and have not noticed a change, it might be because the principle was merely mimicked under the false premise that simply making holes with a general fractional laser would lead to improvement. In the same vein, specialized approaches tailored to the scar type, such as Mild Pinhole or Pinhole Alpha, are utilized.
Things to Consider When Choosing Treatment
It is advisable to approach scars on the face, especially around the eyes, with extra caution. We recommend checking the following items before making a decision:
- Whether a practitioner with sufficient experience in scar treatment directly examines you
- Whether the clinic is equipped with laser devices suitable for scars
- Whether the treatment direction is determined by distinguishing the scar type
- Whether procedural methods can be combined, not just relying on one laser
- Whether the plan differs depending on whether it's an early-stage or old scar
For questions, inquire via chat consultation about eye plastic surgery scar treatment
Combination Treatment Tailored to Scar Type
Eye plastic surgery scars do not all look the same. They range widely from white, long straight lines, red and bumpy forms, widened or depressed suture sites, raised forms, to keloid-like appearances. Therefore, it is important to use lasers as a base, but also combine them with procedural methods appropriate for the specific form.
| Scar Type | Primary Treatment Direction |
|---|---|
| Depressed scars along the line | Combined Subcision |
| Raised scars | Combined Triamcinolone Scar Injection |
| White, long straight lines, bumpy scars | Laser treatments such as Pinhole Technique |
| Red early-stage scars | Combined vascular laser and procedures |
For cases where the skin adheres and becomes depressed along the line after double eyelid surgery, Subcision can be combined. Subcision is a treatment that uses a medical needle to sever the fibrous tissue pulling the skin downwards, restoring the depressed area to its normal height.
For raised scars along the line, Triamcinolone Scar Injection can be combined. The results of Triamcinolone Scar Injection can vary depending on the practitioner's meticulous and precise technique, so it is better to receive it from an experienced practitioner. In cases where the suture site is deeply separated or structural refinement is needed, Surgical Scar Revision may also be considered.
When is the Best Time to Start Treatment?
In the examination room, even with the same surgical scar, the progress varies significantly depending on when the treatment was started. For eye surgery scars, it is often easier to expect more change if treated in the early stage, before the wound heals and hardens into a scar.
Immediately after double eyelid surgery, in the early stages, scars often appear red or bumpy, and at this time, combining vascular laser and procedural methods can be helpful. Immediate treatment right after surgery is difficult; it is possible approximately 1 to 2 weeks after removing the stitches. The directions by period are as follows:
- Within 6 months after surgery: Focus on scar prevention and minimization
- After 6 months after surgery: Focus on scar revision
- Treatment interval: Generally every 1 to 2 months
It's Not Too Late for Old Scars
Even for those who had eye plastic surgery in the late 90s when it became popular and were left with scars, but had no suitable method at the time and lived with them, many visit after more than 10 years. Now, with treatments tailored to the scar, it is possible to expect to refine them to be less noticeable than before. Even challenging forms like keloid scars are approached according to their specific characteristics.
If you are concerned about eye plastic surgery scars from long ago, we recommend consulting with medical staff experienced in scar treatment to determine the direction.
For questions, inquire via chat consultation about double eyelid scars
If you are concerned about scars remaining after eye plastic surgery, such as double eyelid surgery or epicanthoplasty, Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon will help you explore the appropriate treatment direction for your condition.
Representative Director Lee Sang-Joo (MD, PhD, Yonsei University College of Medicine and Graduate School, Completed Dermatology Residency at Severance Hospital, President of the Korean Dermatological Association) Representative Director Lee Sang-Joo's Profile First Published 2023-12-14 / Last Reviewed 2026-06-16
Treatment results and recovery patterns may vary by individual, so please consult with medical staff for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.