Double Eyelid Surgery in Korea

What is Double Eyelid Surgery?

Double eyelid surgery is a popular procedure in Korea where a crease is made on the eyelids with the purpose of making the eyes bigger. It is a surgery that is more common in Asian countries such as Korea, China, Japan, etc. This is due to “monolids” being a more common trait in (East) Asian descent compared to other ethnicities. Monolids refer to eyes that do not have a crease on the upper eyelid, which usually results in smaller eyes. Double eyelid surgery can be referred to as Blepharoplasty, Asian Eyelid Surgery, and is commonly abbreviated as DES.

Types of Double Eyelid Surgery

Incisional double eyelid surgery is the most common method for double eyelid surgery. Just like its name, an incision is made on the upper eyelid to create a crease. This method removes fat and tissues in the eyelid, then the surgeon finishes the surgery by suturing the muscles. The incision method is recommended for those with a lot of fat on their eyelids. This method will leave scars on the eyelids after recovery. As time goes by, the scars will become less visible but will not disappear completely.

Non-incisional double eyelid surgery is suitable for individuals who do not have a lot of fat on their eyelids. The surgeon will poke small holes into the eyelids and then insert sutures across the holes. The suture will secure the fat and tissue in place, creating a crease. Unlike the incision method, non-incisional double eyelid surgery will leave no visible scarring. This method is recommended for those who do not have a lot of fat on the eyelids.

Partial incisional double eyelid surgery is a combination of both the incisional method and the non-incisional method. Small holes will be made on the upper eyelids along with a tiny incision line to remove excess fat. After that, the holes and incision area will be sutured. This method will leave minimal scarring and is recommended for those who cannot do the non-incisional method due to the amount of fat on the eyelids.

Surgeries Done Together with Double Eyelid Surgery

Usually, double eyelid surgery in Korea is paired with other surgeries. These additional procedures can help improve the shape of the eyes, and make the eyes look more “refreshed.”
a. Ptosis: correctional surgery to improve sagging and excess fat that may cover the eyes.
b. Canthoplasty: lengthens the eyes horizontally by incising the outer corners of the eyes.
c. Epicanthoplasty: lengthens the eyes horizontally by incising the inner corners of the eyes
d. Brow Raise: lifts the brows to lengthen the distance between the eyebrows and upper eyelids.
e. Fat repositioning (under eyes): Adds volume and improves hollowness by transferring fat into the area underneath the eyes.
f. Eyelid fat graft: Adds volume and improves wrinkles by adding fat into the upper eyelids.

Surgery Time, Anesthesia, Hospitalization, Stitch Removal, Recovery

*Information/timeline may vary depending on the clinic

	Incision Double Eyelid	Non-Incision Double Eyelid	Partial-Incision Double Eyelid
Surgery Time	30 minutes~1 hour	30 minutes	30 minutes
Anesthesia	Local or Sedation	Local or Sedation	Local or Sedation
Hospitalization	Not required	Not required	Not required
Stitch Removal	After 5~7 days	None	After 5~7 days
Recovery Period	Daily activities possible after 1~2 weeks	Daily activities possible after 3 days	Daily activities possible after 3 days

 

Post-OP Care for Double Eyelid Surgery

It is important to follow the instructions given by the clinic after double eyelid surgery. Some common precautions are:
a. Refrain from wearing makeup for 1 week, and contact lenses for 2~3 weeks
b. Refrain from smoking and drinking for at least 2~3 weeks
c. Refrain from sleeping on the sides or lying face down
d. Refrain from rubbing the eyes after surgery
e. Apply cold compression after surgery, then apply warm compression after stitch removal.

 

Results for Double Eyelid Surgery: Good vs Bad

No one wants poor results such as uneven eyelids, thick/sausage-shaped eyelids, excessive scarring, etc. So how and why does this happen? There could be several factors that can lead to poor double eyelid surgery results. First, the skills and experience of the surgeon are important. Second, complications may occur if the patient does not follow the given instructions (precautions) after surgery. The other factor can be outside of the surgeon’s control- due to your body anatomy:
a. If the strength of the eyelid opening muscles are different, causing asymmetry.
b. If one side of the eye/eyebrow sags more than the other, causing asymmetry.
c. Having high/unrealistic expectations, causing unsatisfactory results.
d. Not following precautions after surgery, causing complications such as infection, inflammation, etc.

 

Revisional Double Eyelid Surgery

Revisional double eyelid surgery is done when the previous double eyelid surgery caused complications or results that were not desired. Revision surgery can be carried out 6 months~1 year after the initial surgery. A medical professional with extensive knowledge of double eyelid surgery will pinpoint the problem of the previous surgery and suggest a customized plan for correction. It is important for the surgeon to fully understand the problem so that revision surgery will not lead to further complications. A lot of clinics may advertise that they do the best double eyelid surgery in Korea, but it is important to see if they also have good before& after revision surgery results.

 

Korean Double Eyelid Surgery Before & After

So which clinic does the best eyelid surgery? Finding a clinic that does double eyelid surgery in Seoul is easy, but choosing the right clinic can be tricky without seeing any before and after pictures. Searching the plastic surgery clinic’s website to see their results is highly recommended. Reading the doctor’s credentials is important as well: how much experience do they have, whether they are board certified, etc. It’s also helpful to read Korean double eyelid surgery reviews to get tips about the procedure and recovery process. Here are the results from some of the best double eyelid surgeries in Korea.

 

Book Now: Top 10 Famous Korean Double Eyelid Surgery Clinics