Plastic surgery in Korea before-after photos are worth studying only when both images share the same light, camera angle, distance and expression, state how long after the operation the second one was taken, and were shared with the patient's written consent. Without those conditions, a pair shows lighting and editing more than surgery. A fair after image is usually taken months later, once swelling has settled, because eyelid creases and nose shapes keep changing well after the stitches come out. Below: how to test any photo set, which healing stages a picture can represent, and what studies say about how long certain results hold.
Guide
What makes two photos a fair comparison
A pair of images is a measurement, and it only works when nothing changes except the face. Overhead light flattens the nose bridge, while side light deepens cheek hollows. A wide lens held close makes the nose look larger, and a lowered chin softens the jaw. Each of these can mimic a surgical change.
Clinic photo rooms usually solve this with a fixed backdrop, a marked spot on the floor and the same camera height. When you look at before and after plastic surgery in Korea, check that the background, ear position and shoulder line match between the two frames.
- Same background color and lighting direction in both images.
- Ears, hairline and eyes level at the same height in the frame.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, no smile in one and not the other.
- No makeup, false lashes or contouring in the after image only.
- Front, three-quarter and profile views, not one flattering angle.
Guide
Timing: when an after photo starts to mean something
Swelling is the main reason early photos mislead in both directions. In the first week a face can look heavier than the final result. Some galleries instead show the second or third week, when tissues are still tight, which can make a nose look sharper than it will stay. Always ask how many weeks or months separate the two images.
The table gives commonly described healing stages. Individual recovery varies with age, skin thickness, technique and whether operations were combined.
| Procedure | Most visible swelling | When photos become informative |
|---|---|---|
| Suture (non-incisional) double eyelid | First one to two weeks | Around three months |
| Incisional eyelid surgery | First two to three weeks | Three to six months |
| Rhinoplasty | First two weeks, tip swelling lingers | Six to twelve months for the tip |
| Zygoma or jaw reduction | First four to six weeks | Six months or later |
| Facial fat grafting | First one to two weeks | Three to six months, after partial absorption |
Guide
Consent, retouching and where galleries appear
Patient images are medical records. A clinic should show them only with the patient's written permission, and Korean rules on medical advertising restrict how such images may be used in public promotion. Many clinics therefore keep fuller galleries for the consultation room.
Retouching is the second issue. Smoothed skin, removed under-eye shadows or a reshaped jaw outline may come from software rather than surgery. Look for matching pores, freckles and small scars in both frames, and ask whether any image was edited beyond cropping. A plain, slightly unflattering photo set is often more trustworthy than a polished one.
Guide
What studies say about whether results hold
A single after photo cannot show durability; research can. In a 2026 retrospective study in Archives of Plastic Surgery, Inoguchi and colleagues followed 513 consecutive patients after non-incisional suture double eyelid surgery. Continuous buried-suture fixation and eyelids without puffiness independently predicted keeping the crease, while surgeon experience was not a significant factor in their model.
Bone work raises different questions. Writing in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery in 2018, Kim and colleagues noted that zygoma reduction can be followed by nonunion, malunion or cheek drooping, which they linked to movement of the bone segments, and described a modified cut meant to lock them more firmly. Asking how a clinic fixes the bone matters more than any photo.
Guide
Using photos well at your own consultation
Bring clear, recent photos of yourself in plain light from the front, both sides and three-quarter angles. They help the surgeon explain what your anatomy allows and give you a baseline. Ask to see cases from the surgeon who will operate, with a starting face similar to yours.
It is also reasonable to ask how often a procedure needs revision and what a less favorable result looks like. A consultation that discusses limits, not only highlights, gives a more realistic picture than any gallery of plastic surgery before and after in Korea.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- The HIROSHIMA Study: A High-Volume, Institutional, Retrospective, Observational Study of Hidden Non-Incisional Suture Double Eyelid Surgery for Multivariate Analysis of Crease LossArchives of Plastic Surgery · 2026 · doi:10.1055/a-2796-6824
In 513 patients after non-incisional double eyelid surgery, continuous suture fixation and non-puffy eyelids predicted crease retention, while surgeon experience did not.
- An improved technique for zygoma reduction malarplastyJournal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery · 2018 · doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2018.01.010
Describes a modified zygoma reduction cut that increases bone contact to reduce segment displacement, the cause linked to nonunion, malunion and cheek drooping.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Can a clinic show me photos of patients whose face resembles mine?
Yes, asking for cases with a similar starting face is reasonable and often more useful than a general gallery. Surgeons can usually pick patients with comparable eyelid shape, skin thickness or bone width, shown with their consent during the consultation. Ask whether the images are from the surgeon who would operate on you. Similar anatomy is still no promise of an identical outcome, because healing differs from person to person.
Why does a face look so swollen in photos from the first week?
Early swelling and bruising are a normal response to surgery and usually peak in the first two or three days. Fluid around the eyelids, nose and cheeks hides the new contour and can make the face look wider. Most visible swelling fades over the following weeks, though subtle swelling can remain for months, especially at the nose tip, so first-week photos rarely predict the final shape.
How can I tell whether an after image has been retouched?
Compare small fixed details between the two frames: pores, freckles, moles and old scars should look the same. If skin looks airbrushed only in the after image, or the jaw edge looks unnaturally sharp against the background, editing is likely. Clinics that keep photos as medical records generally store the unedited originals, so you can ask whether anything was altered beyond cropping.
Should I take my own photos before surgery?
Yes, a personal baseline is one of the most useful records you can keep. Stand in the same spot with daylight in front of you, keep the phone at eye level and take front, side and three-quarter views. Repeat the same setup at one week, one month, three months and later. These images help you judge real change and give your home doctor context if questions arise after you fly back.
Is it normal to ask how often a procedure needs revision?
It is normal and sensible to ask, and a careful surgeon will answer without hesitation. Revisions happen with every type of facial operation, for reasons such as asymmetry, crease loss after eyelid surgery or shape changes after nose work. Ask what the usual causes are, how long you would wait before a revision and how costs are handled. A clear answer tells you more about a clinic than its photo gallery.