Ear Filler in Korea and Other Special-Area Fillers, Explained

I'm Dr. Jong Seon Kim, a director at Gangnam HERA in Seoul. I'm a board member of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and of the International Petit Medical Society, and filler is the center of my work. Most people know filler for the nose bridge, hollow cheeks and nasolabial folds. In this video I talk about the other kind — special-area fillers for places many viewers do not even realize can be treated: the ears, the upper eyelids, the under-eyes, neck lines and the backs of the hands.

My short answer: ear filler works by shaping — a relatively firm filler, in the right amount, plumps the lobe, builds out the rim or lifts a flat ear. Every special area needs its own filler firmness, amount and depth, and that choice is the know-how.

What are special-area fillers?

They are fillers for areas outside the usual nose, cheek and fold treatments, where the anatomy and the right product are quite different. At HERA the ones I do most often are:

• Upper-eyelid hollows and under-eye grooves
• The ear rim and earlobe, and ears that lie flat and need lifting
• Neck lines
• The backs of the hands, in women whose hands have become thin, with visible tendons and fine wrinkles

Many people do not know these areas can improve with filler at all. When they are done well the change can be striking, which is why these treatments have become so popular in Gangnam.

What can ear filler do?

Ear filler is about building shape, so it needs a relatively firm filler placed in exactly the right amount. Unlike the eyelid or the neck, where the aim is to smooth, the ear needs structure. With the right product I can:

• Plump the earlobe — thin, small or sharply pointed lobes become fuller and softer.
• Build out the ear rim — adding definition to the upper ear so its outline looks fuller.
• Lift a flat-lying ear — ears that sit folded or flat against the head can be raised so they show from the front.

Why would anyone want this? Small, thin or flat ears can make the face look wider or less defined. When the ears are in better proportion, the face often looks better balanced. The injection itself takes only minutes. If you are planning a trip around it, how many days to plan for Korean ear filler covers the timing and methods.

One thing I always check is symmetry. Most people's ears are not identical, so I shape each ear to match the other from the front rather than simply injecting the same amount on both sides. Ear filler is a hyaluronic acid filler, so if you ever change your mind, it can be dissolved like filler anywhere else.

Why does the upper eyelid need a soft filler?

Because the eyelid moves every time you blink. Sunken eyes and under-eye hollows are almost universal with age, and these days many younger people have them too, simply because of how they were born. Filler can improve them quickly.

But if a filler that is too firm, or too much of it, goes into the upper eyelid, blinking can feel uncomfortable, or the eyelid can go past "filled" and look swollen and watery. The skill is to use a filler with just enough firmness not to interfere with the eyelid's movement, in a modest amount, in the most sensible anatomical layer.

Why does under-eye filler need such small amounts?

Because the under-eye groove becomes lumpy easily. Filling it takes a delicate touch: very small amounts, distributed carefully, rather than one larger deposit. Done this way, the groove and the shadow it casts soften without a puffy or uneven look.

What goes wrong with neck-line filler?

Too firm and it bulges; too thin and it disappears quickly. Too deep and it does nothing; too shallow and it looks like a worm. Neck lines are a balancing act. I choose a filler with just the right firmness and place it in the right layer — not too deep, not too shallow — so the crease softens without a raised line appearing. What neck filler can smooth and what it cannot lift explains the limits in more detail.

How is filler used on the backs of the hands?

With a filler that spreads smoothly, and without overfilling. When the backs of the hands lose volume, tendons and veins show and fine wrinkles appear. Too much filler makes the hands look puffy or lumpy instead of younger. A smooth-spreading filler, placed evenly, restores a soft surface.

Can filler be used on the body too?

Yes — filler is increasingly used beyond the face. For people whose collarbones do not show, body filler can define the collarbone and shape the shoulder line. Filler is also being used to refine body silhouettes in other areas. It is a growing trend, and the same rules apply: the right product, the right amount and the right depth. If you are curious which body areas make sense, where on the body filler actually goes is a good place to start.

What does special-area filler involve at HERA?

An assessment of the area, a filler matched to it, and usually a visit of about 30 minutes.

1. Look at the area and its proportions. For the ears, I look at how they balance with the face, not just at the ear on its own.
2. Match the filler to the job. Firmer for shaping the ear, softer for the eyelid, carefully balanced for the neck, smooth-spreading for the hands.
3. Use the least amount that works. Overfilling is the most common mistake in every one of these areas.
4. Check symmetry before you leave. Especially for ears, I shape and compare both sides.

Numbing cream is used, with local anesthesia if needed. Mild swelling, redness or a small bruise can appear and usually settles within 2–3 days for the ears, neck and hands, and within about a week for the delicate eye area. You receive an itemized written estimate before treatment, and an English interpreter is with you throughout.

The honest limits

These are not beginner areas. Special-area fillers are hard to gain experience in, and they need a lot of it. Filler in these places is also temporary, and it changes shape and volume — it does not tighten loose skin or reverse deep aging. Results vary from person to person.

When they are done properly, though, patient satisfaction is very high. At the end of the video I show before-and-after photos of special-area fillers done at HERA, and you can see more in our before-and-after gallery.