Blepharoplasty Service (Double Eyelid Surgery) in Korea

Double eyelid surgery, or Asian blepharoplasty, creates an eyelid crease by using sutures that replicate the fibrous attachments naturally found in double eyelids; excess skin and fat are removed when necessary. Performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation, the 30- to 90-minute procedure costs between $1,000 and $4,000 USD in Korea. Stitches are taken out within two to four days, and most patients return to daily lifestyle in roughly one week, although full recovery may extend to two weeks; note that scarring or crease loosening can occur.

What is double eyelid surgery in Korea?

Double eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty or Asian blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes the skin around the eye to create an eyelid crease, and its primary goal is to alter the eyelid’s appearance, making the eyes appear larger and, to some tastes, more attractive due to a ‘wide-eyed’ and expressive appearance. Removal of excess skin and fat in the upper eyelid is performed as needed, and the height from your upper lash line to the new eyelid crease is customized to your preference and existing anatomy.

Double eyelid surgery is performed primarily on Asians who have no supratarsal folds and uses excess skin, muscle or fat to form a stable, long-lasting fold. In Korea the operation has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, synonymous with confidence-building and a central element in national beauty culture. It gives the appearance of larger, more expressive, symmetric oval eyes, reduces drooping skin and heaviness, improves function and makes makeup application easier. Techniques range from non-incisional methods that insert medical threads through micro-holes, to incision or CO2-laser approaches that allow permanent results and removal of excess tissue.

What is non incisional double eyelid surgery in Korea?

Non-incisional double eyelid surgery is a type of eyelid procedure that creates double eyelids using fine sutures without making incisions to the eyelid. The technique is called the “Pinch method”; multiple micro holes are punctured along the double eyelid line, thread is inserted and sewed in the micro-holes together, and a double eyelid is created. The method is intended for people who have thin eyelids and not saggy, and it gives much less swelling and faster recovery compared to the incision method. Operation time is within 30 minutes, hospitalization is not required, and recovery period is within a week. Local (deep sleep) anesthesia is used, and the procedure results in a subtle, natural look with minimal scarring.

How common is double eyelid surgery in Korea?

Double eyelid surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in South Korea. Around 200,000 people undergo the operation every year, and clinics proliferated in Korea to meet the steady demand. The procedure is popular in Taiwan and India as well, yet South Korea remains its epicentre. ISAPS reported a total of 365,000 procedures in South Korea in 2009, and the nation now holds a 25% share in the global market. Modern-day Korea has the highest per capita plastic-surgery rates of any nation; about 1 million procedures are performed per year.

Because most people in the general Korean population have monolids, the surgery carries little stigma. It is widely accepted and normalized, and is a common high-school graduation gift. Many girls and an increasing number of guys undertake double eyelid surgery between high-school graduation and starting college, making it almost a rite of passage. Korean patients typically receive the operation in their late teenage years, and one in five Korean women have undergone plastic surgery compared with one in twenty in the United States.

Is blepharoplasty in Korea right for me?

If you are at least 18 years old, mentally and physically healthy, and bothered by tired-looking eyes, sagging skin, dark circles, or vision blocked by droopy lids, you are a candidate. Korea has become the plastic surgery capital of the world, and Korean doctors are more experienced due to the sheer demand for this procedure. Advanced upper and lower blepharoplasty is crafted to enhance both aesthetics and function while leaving minimal scars.

Korean men often prefer a smaller fold height of 4-7 mm (0.16-0.28 in), and surgeons adapt technique so that male double-lidded eyes show no visible scar. The same operation can correct mild ptosis, epicanthoplasty, or lateral canthoplasty, and can be customized to meet specific goals.

Consultation is direct with the surgeon, after-care is provided 24 h, and full-time anesthesiologists monitor you in real time. Recovery is quick and results are natural, beautiful, and harmonious with each face. Individuals consult a board-certified plastic or oculoplastic surgeon to discuss goals and concerns; free consultation, quick recovery, and natural-looking results are common goals.

What is the recovery time for double eyelid surgery in Korea?

Double eyelid surgery recovery time is 7-10 days. Patients can return to their daily routine 2-3 days after surgery, while light physical activity can resume 1-3 days post-op. Stitches are removed between days 5-7, and contact lenses are worn after 10-14 days.

Swelling resolves within 1-3 months, bruising resolves within 1-2 weeks, and the incision line will be visible for 2-3 months. Scars fade within 3-6 months, and full results take up to 1 year.

What is the history of Korean double eyelid surgery?

The first reported double eyelid operation was performed by Dr. Kotaro Mikamo in 1896 in Japan; in 1929 Maruo reported the first incisional method. Double eyelid surgery was first introduced in late 19th-century Japan; by 1935 possessing double eyelids had come to be recognized as a symbol of modern beauty, and in 1939 a magazine featured an advertisement for Aihon tape promoted to create double eyelids.

The practice of double eyelid surgery originated during the Korean War. Dr. D. Ralph Millard was stationed in Korea during the Korean War (1950-53) and began rudimentary attempts at double eyelid surgery while researching ways to better reconstruct the ocular region for burn victims. Millard performed the surgery on Korean translators, sex workers, and war brides married to American servicemen, popularizing what he called deorientalizing surgeries. Korean women were motivated to undergo the procedure to appease the white soldiers’ eyes, and Korean war brides were among the very first Koreans who received the particular procedure. The operation became popular in Asia during the Korean War, and the Korean War contributed to the popularization of double eyelid surgery in Asia.

In 1961 the first university department of plastic surgery in Korea was developed at Yonsei University, and in 1974 the Supreme Court in Korea approved plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes as medical practice.

How long do I need to stay in Korea for double eyelid surgery?

You must arrive in South Korea a few days before the scheduled surgery date. Incision double eyelid surgery takes 30 minutes; no overnight hospital stay is required. Initial stitches are removed on day 4-6, and final medical-clearance check-up lands on day 7-10. Therefore, for a standard double eyelid operation, you will stay 7 days and leave shortly after the final session.

How much is blepharoplasty in Korea?

The cost of blepharoplasty in Korea ranges from approximately $2,500 to $6,700, depending on the specific method and clinic. Standard double eyelid surgery typically costs $2,700 to $3,000 in Seoul, while non-incisional or basic upper eyelid procedures are priced between $1,000 and $3,000. Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty without skin incision falls in the same $1,000-$3,000 bracket. The range is roughly 3,000,000 to 8,000,000, depending on complexity of the surgery and surgeon experience. Overall, blepharoplasty in South Korea is about 49% less than in the United States, where the average cost of blepharoplasty is $5,500, making Korea an attractive destination without compromising quality.