Korea double eyelid surgery creates an upper lid crease by one of two routes: a buried suture method that fixes the fold with fine stitches through small punctures, or an incision method that opens the lid along the planned line and can remove skin or fat. Some patients also have inner-corner work, called epicanthoplasty, to reduce the skin web near the nose. Swelling eases over one to two weeks after a suture fold and takes longer after an incision. The real risks are uneven folds, a crease that fades, a lid that opens too little, and visible scarring, so each one is set out below with the questions to ask before surgery.
Guide
Buried suture or incision: how the two routes differ
The suture route suits thin lids with little excess skin or fat. Stitches link the skin to deeper lid structures through two or three tiny openings, so there is no long wound and the fold can often be redone. The trade-off is hold: on heavier lids a stitched fold is more likely to soften over the years.
The incision route is chosen when there is surplus skin, puffy fat, a lid operated on before, or a weak opening muscle that needs tightening. It leaves a fine line inside the crease, usually hidden when the eyes are open, and is harder to reverse.
| Point | Buried suture | Incision |
|---|---|---|
| Typical lid | Thin, little excess skin | Thicker, extra skin or fat |
| Wound | Two or three punctures | Line along the new crease |
| Swelling | Roughly one to two weeks | Several weeks, softening over months |
| Reversibility | Often adjustable | Hard to undo |
| Main weakness | Fold may loosen | Scar and longer healing |
Guide
When inner-corner epicanthoplasty is added
Many East Asian eyes have an epicanthal fold, a curved web of skin at the inner corner that partly covers the pink tissue next to the nose. In a 2020 review in Facial Plastic Surgery, Baek and colleagues explain that this fold can make the eye look shorter and the opening narrower, and can weaken the look of a new crease, which is why it is sometimes corrected in the same session.
The same review notes that no single technique has become the gold standard, so surgeons choose a design by preference and anatomy. The authors stress magnifying loupes and tension-free skin closure with very fine needles, because the inner corner scars easily. Ask where the cut will run.
Guide
Risks of eyelid surgery, stated plainly
Morax and Touitou, writing in Orbit in 2006, reviewed complications of blepharoplasty, from common and minor to rare and serious. Swelling, bruising and temporary dryness are expected; the problems patients notice most are cosmetic and may need a second operation.
- Asymmetry: creases sit at different heights or shapes, sometimes only until swelling settles.
- Fold loss: a stitched crease can fade or split into several lines over time.
- Ptosis after surgery: the lid opens less than before, which needs assessment rather than waiting.
- Scarring: a visible line, a thick scar at the inner corner, or a crease set too high.
- Dry or irritated eyes, incomplete lid closure, or stitch irritation of the eye surface.
- Rare but urgent: bleeding behind the eye with pain, pressure or blurred sight, which needs same-day care.
Guide
Reading a review or blog before booking
A Korea double eyelid surgery review or a double eyelid surgery Korea blog post records one person's lids at a single moment in healing. Posts from the first two weeks show swelling, not the final fold, and a stranger's anatomy rarely predicts your own. Use them to gather questions: which route was used, was inner-corner work added, how long swelling lasted, and how problems were handled.
Guide
Planning recovery around a trip
Stitches from an incision are usually removed after about five to seven days, so a stay of at least a week is common for that route; a suture fold allows a shorter stay. Cold compresses, sleeping with the head raised and avoiding alcohol, saunas and hard exercise help in the first days.
For anyone weighing double eyelid plastic surgery in Korea with other procedures, ask whether combining them lengthens healing. Flying is generally fine once the treating doctor has checked the wound, but arrange a follow-up contact in case a problem appears at home.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Medial Epicanthoplasty: What Works and What Does NotFacial Plastic Surgery · 2020 · doi:10.1055/s-0040-1715617
Review explaining how the epicanthal fold narrows the eye, that no gold-standard epicanthoplasty exists, and that fine tension-free closure helps avoid scarring.
- Complications of BlepharoplastyOrbit · 2006 · doi:10.1080/01676830600985841
Review of eyelid surgery complications, from common minor problems such as swelling and asymmetry to rare serious events, with their prevention and management.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Is south korea double eyelid surgery done under general anesthesia?
Most double eyelid operations in South Korea use local anesthesia, often with light sedation. Numbing is injected into the lid so the patient can open and close the eyes on request, which helps the surgeon check fold height during the operation. General anesthesia is more often kept for longer combined procedures, so ask which type is planned and whether you need to fast beforehand.
Can a buried suture fold come undone?
Yes, a stitched fold can loosen, fade or split, especially on thicker lids or after heavy eye rubbing. The stitches hold the crease by tension rather than by a healed scar line, so their grip can weaken over months or years. Some patients keep a stable fold for a long time while others need it redone. Ask what happens if the fold loosens and whether an incision would suit your lid better.
Will epicanthoplasty leave a visible scar at the inner corner?
A small scar is always made, and the inner corner is a spot where scars can thicken or turn red. Fine stitching without tension lowers that risk, as the 2020 review by Baek and colleagues describes, yet healing still varies with skin type. Redness often fades over several months. People who scar easily should mention it at consultation, since a smaller correction or none may be advised.
When can I wear contact lenses and eye makeup again?
Most surgeons ask patients to wait about one to two weeks before contact lenses and eye makeup. The puncture sites or wound need to close first, and inserting lenses means pulling on a swollen lid. After an incision, makeup usually waits until stitches are out and the line has sealed. Pack glasses and follow the written aftercare sheet for your own timeline.
What if one eye looks different from the other after surgery?
Early unevenness is common and often comes from one side swelling more than the other. Most surgeons suggest waiting several weeks, sometimes a few months, before judging the final shape. A lasting difference in crease height, or one lid that opens less, can need a small revision, so take dated photos and ask how follow-up works once you are abroad.
Who should not have double eyelid surgery right now?
Surgery is usually postponed for people with an active eye infection, severe dry eye, uncontrolled thyroid eye disease or a bleeding disorder. Blood thinners and some supplements may need to be paused under a doctor's advice. Pregnancy is another common reason to wait. A consultation should also screen for a weak lid opening muscle, since that changes the operation needed. Results vary from person to person.