Eye plastic surgery in Korea covers far more than creating an upper fold: surgeons also correct a weak lid-lifting muscle (ptosis), reshape the inner or outer corners, treat lower-lid bags and hollows, and repair earlier eyelid work that healed poorly. Each operation solves a different problem, so the first step is a measured exam of lid height, muscle strength, corner shape and lower-lid support. Most are done under local anesthesia with sedation. Swelling is visible for about two weeks, while scars and lid position keep settling for months. Revision surgery is the least predictable of all.
Guide
Which eye operation matches which problem
Many visitors ask for one procedure when their eyes need another. A heavy upper lid can come from excess skin, a stretched lid muscle or a low brow; under-eye bags can be forward fat, a hollow tear trough or loose skin. Diagnosis matters more than technique names.
The table covers operations planned alongside upper fold creation, which has its own page here, or on their own.
| Operation | What it changes | Usual anesthesia | Visible healing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ptosis correction | Strength and height of the upper lid opening | Local with sedation | About two weeks, settling for months |
| Medial epicanthoplasty | Skin web at the inner corner | Local | Redness at the corner for several weeks |
| Lateral canthoplasty | Length and tilt of the outer corner | Local with sedation | Two to three weeks |
| Lower blepharoplasty | Under-eye bags, tear trough, lid-cheek junction | Sedation or general | Two to three weeks |
| Revision surgery | Asymmetry, scars or an overcorrected result | Depends on the repair | Often longer than the first operation |
Guide
Ptosis correction when the lid muscle is weak
Ptosis means the upper lid margin sits low because the levator muscle or its tendon no longer lifts it fully. Many people raise their brows all day to compensate. Surgery tightens or advances the muscle, and the surgeon measures the pupil-to-margin distance before and during the operation.
Undercorrection leaves the lid low, overcorrection can make the eye look startled or unable to close fully, and the two sides may heal at slightly different heights. Dry eye is common for a few weeks. Adjusting lid height with you sitting up during surgery improves the odds that both sides match.
Guide
Reshaping the inner and outer corners
Medial epicanthoplasty reduces the fold of skin that covers the inner corner, which can make the eyes look closer together. Lateral canthoplasty lengthens or changes the tilt of the outer corner. The main risk is going too far: an inner corner opened too widely can look sharp or unnatural, and it is hard to rebuild.
Ha, Park and Jin reported in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2021 that restoring overcorrected inner corners with a reverse Z-plasty in 548 Asian patients, 83 of them male, led to a later scar revision in about 6%, with scars scarcely visible after three months. For a first operation, plan conservatively: adding a little later is easier than putting tissue back.
Guide
Lower eyelid surgery: removing, moving or grafting fat
Lower blepharoplasty is done through an incision inside the lid when skin is not the issue, or just below the lashes when loose skin needs trimming. Surgeons may remove fat, move it into the tear trough, or add small grafts to smooth the lid-cheek junction.
Hedén and Fischer, reviewing 339 lower blepharoplasties in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2021, found a narrower tear trough with segmental fat grafting than with fat transposition after a mean 12.9 months, while complications (4%) and revisions (9%) did not differ significantly.
Lower lids carry specific risks: the lid can pull down or turn outward, the white of the eye can swell, and too much fat removal leaves a hollow look. Bleeding behind the eye is rare but threatens vision and needs emergency care.
Guide
Revision eye surgery: timing and realistic aims
Revision eye plastic surgery in Korea is a routine request, yet it is harder than a first operation. Scar tissue, missing skin and altered muscle make results less predictable, and some repairs need grafts or several stages.
Most surgeons wait until earlier scars have softened, often six months or more. Bring previous operative notes and photos, and ask what will improve, what will stay the same and what could get worse.
- Uneven lid height or fold position
- An inner corner that looks too open
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Comparison of Fat Repositioning Versus Onlay Segmental Fat Grafting in Lower BlepharoplastyAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2021 · doi:10.1093/asj/sjab070
Retrospective review of 339 lower blepharoplasties finding a narrower tear trough with segmental fat grafting than with fat transposition, with no significant difference in complications or revisions.
- Revisional Medial Epicanthoplasty Using Reverse Z-Plasty TechniqueAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2021 · doi:10.1093/asj/sjab091
Case series of 548 Asian patients whose overcorrected inner corners were restored with reverse Z-plasty; most were satisfied and about 6% had a later scar revision.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
How can I tell if my droopy upper lid is ptosis or just extra skin?
A short exam tells them apart: with extra skin the lid margin sits normally, while with ptosis the margin itself covers part of the pupil. The surgeon measures margin height, checks lid travel and lifts the brow to see what changes. Many people have both, which is why a skin trim alone can leave eyes looking as tired as before.
Can an inner corner that was opened too far be narrowed again?
Yes, in many cases, though it is more demanding than the first operation and rarely restores the exact original shape. The reverse Z-plasty described by Ha and colleagues in 2021 moves skin back toward the inner corner to rebuild the fold. Expect redness for weeks and ask how the surgeon plans the skin flaps. before agreeing to a date.
Is lower eyelid surgery done from inside the eyelid?
It often is when the problem is fat and not loose skin, using an incision on the inner surface that leaves no outside scar. If the skin is lax, a fine cut below the lashes is added to trim the excess. The inside route tends to carry a lower risk of the lid pulling down, but it cannot remove skin.
How many days should I stay before flying home after eyelid work?
Plan on roughly one to two weeks for most eyelid and corner operations, and longer for lower-lid or revision surgery. That covers stitch removal, the first check-up and the worst swelling. Flying is usually fine once the surgeon has seen you; keep your head raised, carry lubricating drops and take written aftercare notes in English for any doctor you see at home.
Which symptoms after eye surgery need urgent attention?
Sudden severe pain, a tense bulging eye or any loss of vision needs emergency care at once, because bleeding behind the eye can damage sight. Rising redness, warmth or discharge after a few days may signal infection. Mild bruising, watering and blur from ointment are expected. Before leaving, confirm who to contact from abroad and how fast messages are answered.
Will my eyes feel dry or gritty after ptosis or lower-lid surgery?
Many people notice dryness, grittiness or watering for a few weeks while the lids settle and blink differently. Drops by day and ointment at night usually manage it. Tell the surgeon beforehand if you already have dry eye or wear contact lenses, since a raised lid exposes more of the eye surface and the plan may need to stay conservative.