Actors Han Hyo-joo and Kim Kang-woo have both drawn public attention for noticeable changes in the appearance of their eyes. Their double eyelids, once subtly defined, have at times appeared thicker and more pronounced—prompting familiar online speculation about double-eyelid surgery.
Both actors have flatly denied undergoing cosmetic procedures. During a past television broadcast, Han explained that she had monolids in middle school before naturally developing double eyelids in high school, adding that her creases continue to change as she ages. "Some days I have five double eyelids," she noted. Kim similarly addressed the rumors during a recent YouTube appearance, bringing his face close to the camera to demonstrate that his eyelids had not been surgically altered.
While it is impossible to confirm an individual's medical history from the outside, dramatic changes in eye shape can easily occur without plastic surgery—following a well-documented physiological pattern common among individuals with naturally thin monolids.
Why Monolids Change with Age
In eyes with monolids or "hidden" double eyelids, the connection between the levator muscle—which opens the eyelid—and the overlying skin is positioned low or relatively weak, accompanied by a thicker upper-eyelid fat pad. Over time, as upper-eyelid fat decreases, skin elasticity wanes, and the levator muscle thins, previously hidden folds gradually surface. This process can create brand-new creases or produce multiple overlapping folds, explaining the "five double eyelids" phenomenon described by Han.
A frequently overlooked factor in this transformation is brow ptosis, or drooping eyebrows. As structural aging causes the eyebrows to settle downward, skin below the brow is pushed over the upper eyelid. This shift forces the folding point higher, making the double-eyelid crease appear darker, deeper, and more pronounced without any direct intervention on the eyelid itself.
Furthermore, fluctuations in body weight and daily physical condition play a role. Losing weight reduces sub-orbicularis fat, while fatigue or fluid retention causes temporary swelling and slight ptosis. As seen with Kim, these daily variables can make double eyelids look strikingly deep one day and return to normal the next.
Preserving a Natural Eyelid Contour
When deepening creases or sagging skin begin to feel burdensome, many people immediately consider upper blepharoplasty—a surgical procedure that excises excess eyelid skin. However, this approach carries distinct aesthetic risks. Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the human body. Removing a portion of this delicate tissue forces thicker upper skin down to meet the fold, which can paradoxically make the eyelid look heavier and unnaturally "done."
The public's sensitivity to these changes stems from how central the eyes and brows are to facial identity. When an actor's eye contour shifts, their entire facial impression changes. Singer Shinji, for example, publicly shared that she underwent upper blepharoplasty to remove sagging skin. While her refreshed eye shape remains attractive, many fans noted that the procedure altered her recognizable, signature look.
For individuals wishing to maintain the soft aesthetic of natural monolids while managing age-related sagging, plastic surgeons often recommend avoiding direct incisions on the eyelid. Instead, addressing the underlying cause—drooping brows—delivers a more natural outcome.
Two common surgical options include a sub-brow lift, which trims sagging skin directly beneath the eyebrow, and a forehead lift, which elevates the entire forehead and eyebrow complex. Because neither procedure touches the eyelid tissue itself, both methods alleviate heavy, drooping eyes without creating an artificial double-eyelid line.
The choice between these two approaches depends largely on eyebrow position. If the eyebrows sit high with ample distance between the eyes and brows, a sub-brow lift is ideal. However, if the eyebrows have descended and the eye-to-brow distance is narrow, a forehead lift is preferred. Performing a sub-brow lift on an already narrow eye-to-brow space can crowd the upper eyelid, making it appear thicker and distinctly "operated on"—a situation recently highlighted by TV personality Jang Young-ran, who noted receiving public comments about looking like a "plastic surgery beauty" despite minimal procedures.”
Ultimately, when it comes to maintaining youthful and expressive eyes, preserving thin, natural anatomical texture is far more effective than cutting delicate eyelid skin away.
