Double eyelid surgery in Korea
Double eyelid surgery creates a crease on a monolid or defines a faint one. The suture method works through tiny openings. The incisional method uses a cut along the crease, usually lasts longer and can remove skin and fat. Either takes 30 to 60 minutes under sedation or local anesthesia with same-day discharge. Plan 5 to 7 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for double eyelid surgery?
- You have a monolid or a faint, uneven crease and want a defined one
- Your upper eyelid looks puffy or heavy and covers part of the crease
- You want a soft tapered (in-line) crease that merges into the inner corner, or an in-out crease that starts inside the inner corner fold and then rises above it
- Your eyelids are healthy, and you can shade the new crease from strong sun until it has healed
When it may not be the right choice
- Your eyelid muscle is weak and the lid covers your pupil. Ptosis correction is usually needed, often in the same operation
- You have untreated dry eye or an active eye infection
- You want a Western-style high crease. It often looks unnatural on an East Asian eyelid
Which method fits you?
Double eyelid surgery, also called Asian blepharoplasty, comes in two main methods at the clinic. The surgeon recommends one after looking at skin thickness, fat and how the eyelid opens.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suture method (non-incisional) | Fine stitches are buried through tiny openings to fold the skin into a crease. Nothing is removed. | Thin eyelids with little fat, a low tapered crease, short downtime | About 5 to 7 days of visible swelling |
| Incisional method | A cut along the planned crease. Extra skin and fat can be removed and the crease is fixed inside. | Thicker or puffy eyelids, excess skin, a crease that has come loose before | Stitches out on day 5 to 7. The crease looks higher and thicker for some weeks before it softens |
What happens on the day of double eyelid surgery?
- Consultation with the surgeon. You choose the crease height and shape in front of a mirror.
- Sedation or local anesthesia keeps you comfortable during the procedure.
- The surgeon makes the crease with buried sutures or through an incision. This takes 30 to 60 minutes.
- After a short rest you head back to your hotel the same day. The new crease looks high and puffy at first, which is expected.
What is recovery like after double eyelid surgery?
- Days 1 to 3
- Swelling and some bruising peak. Cold compresses help, and so does sleeping with your head raised.
- Days 5 to 7
- If you had the incisional method, the stitches come out now. Most people can go out with glasses. Ask the surgeon before using eye makeup near the incision.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- The crease still looks higher and thicker than the final result. This is normal.
- Months 1 to 3
- Swelling keeps going down and the crease softens. Surgeons usually judge the final shape at around three months.
How long should you stay in Seoul after double eyelid surgery?
Five to seven days in Seoul is usually enough, and the method sets the timing. After an incisional crease the stitches come out on day 5 to 7, and you fly after that visit. A suture crease has no stitches to remove, so the stay covers the first, most visible swelling and a check before you leave. Pack sunglasses, and skip alcohol, saunas and swimming for two weeks.
What are the risks of double eyelid surgery?
- Swelling and bruising, which are expected and temporary
- Asymmetry between the two eyes, sometimes needing revision surgery
- A crease that fades or loosens over time, more often with the suture method
- A crease that looks too high or thick, which takes months to settle and may need revision
- Dry or gritty eyes, or trouble closing them fully for a while. With the suture method, a buried stitch can irritate the eye
- Bleeding under the skin (a hematoma), infection or visible scarring. In rare cases, bleeding behind the eye can affect vision. If your sight changes suddenly or the eye becomes very painful, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic
What affects the cost of double eyelid surgery in Korea?
We do not list a price for double eyelid surgery yet; the clinic quotes once it has seen your eyelid photos. Three choices shape the quote: a suture or an incisional crease, whether skin or fat is taken out, and whether ptosis correction or eye corner surgery is added in the same session. Ask for it in writing with the surgeon’s name, the follow-up visits and, for the incisional method, stitch removal.
Cases from the clinic
Before and after photos from Urban Plastic Surgery, shown with the patient’s consent, as the clinic provided them and resized for the web. Results differ from person to person, and the risks above apply to every case.
Case zMgG2Eyes
- Suture double eyelid
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
Case TqRPuEyes
- Suture double eyelid
- Revision
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
Case YaVnyEyes
- Suture double eyelid
- Revision
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
Case GtExgEyes
- Suture double eyelid
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
Case 6LyWwEyes
- Suture double eyelid
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
Case pfu7XEyes
- Suture double eyelid
Urban Plastic Surgery · consent on file
More questions
How long does double eyelid surgery take?
About 30 minutes to 1 hour at the clinic, under sedation or local anesthesia. You go home the same day.
Which lasts longer, the suture or the incisional method?
The incisional method usually lasts longer, because the crease is fixed inside the eyelid, though it can still loosen or need revision. A suture crease can loosen over the years, especially on thicker eyelids, and may need to be redone.
When can I fly home after double eyelid surgery?
Usually after the check-up on day 5 to 7, which is also when incisional stitches come out. A suture crease has no stitches, but the check still comes first. Some swelling on the flight is normal.
Can double eyelid surgery be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Ptosis correction and eye corner surgery are the usual additions. Adding either can lengthen recovery, so confirm your days in Seoul with the surgeon before you book flights.
Related procedures
Guides and short answers
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Eyelid Surgery Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Eyelid Surgery Recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Treatment of Suture-related Complications of Buried-suture Double-eyelid Blepharoplasty in Asians. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.