Eyes
Eyelid fat grafting in Korea
Eyelid fat grafting fills a sunken upper eyelid with your own fat, taken by suction from another area. It suits lids hollowed by age or earlier eye surgery. It takes about 1 hour under local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation; you go home that day. Plan 5 to 7 days in Seoul, or 7 to 10 within an eye revision.
Who is a good candidate for eyelid fat grafting?
- Your upper eyelids look hollow or sunken because there is little fat between the crease and the brow
- The hollow has deepened with age, and it makes you look tired or older
- Too much fat was removed in an earlier eyelid operation, and the lid now looks sunken or the crease looks deep and multiple
- You prefer to use your own fat rather than a filler
When it may not be the right choice
- Your lids look heavy from loose skin rather than hollow. Upper blepharoplasty or a sub-brow lift deals with extra skin
- The lid also droops because the lifting muscle is weak. Ptosis correction may be needed first or at the same time
- You have very little fat to spare anywhere on your body, or you need the hollow to look exactly even from day one. Grafted fat settles over months
Which method fits you?
The fat is taken by suction through a small opening, for example on the abdomen or thigh, then purified and injected into the hollow in very small amounts. How it is combined depends on why your lids are sunken.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat grafting on its own | Tiny amounts of fat are injected in layers between the crease and the brow, without opening the eyelid. | Lids that have hollowed with age, with healthy eye opening | Stitches at the small openings out on day 5 to 7, back to daily life in 5 to 7 days |
| As part of an eye revision | Fat is grafted during a revision that also releases scar tissue or resets the crease. | A sunken lid or a deep, multiple crease after earlier eyelid surgery | Stitches out on day 5 or 6, with 2 to 3 follow-up visits; daily life after 1 to 2 weeks |
| With fat repositioning or ptosis correction | The lid is opened, the fat behind it is moved forward and the opening muscle can be tightened, with grafted fat added where needed. | Severe hollowing, or hollowing with a droopy lid | Similar to incisional eyelid surgery. Ask the surgeon for your own timeline |
What happens on the day of eyelid fat grafting?
- Consultation. The surgeon checks how deep the hollow is, how well your lids open and where fat can be taken. Tell them about any earlier eyelid surgery or filler.
- Local anesthesia numbs the lids and the area the fat is taken from. Sedation can be added for a first-time graft.
- Fat is taken by suction, purified and injected into the upper lids in tiny amounts. This takes about 1 hour.
- You rest at the clinic for a while before returning to your hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after eyelid fat grafting?
- Days 1 to 3
- The upper lids are swollen and can look fuller than the final result. The area the fat came from is bruised and sore. Cold packs and a raised head help.
- Days 5 to 7
- Stitches come out on day 5 to 7, or on day 5 or 6 when the graft is part of an eye revision. Bruising is fading.
- Weeks 1 to 2
- Most people return to daily life within a week, or up to 2 weeks after a revision. Some swelling remains.
- Months 1 to 6
- Part of the grafted fat is absorbed in the first months, and the fat that remains settles. The outcome is judged after this, and a top-up is sometimes planned.
How long should you stay in Seoul after eyelid fat grafting?
For eyelid fat grafting on its own, 5 to 7 days in Seoul is usually enough. One check, between day 5 and day 7, takes out the stitches, and the clinic lists no other follow-up visits, so most people fly around day 6. When the graft is done within an eye revision, allow 7 to 10 days instead. Its stitches come out a little earlier, on day 5 or 6, but there are 2 to 3 follow-up visits to fit in, so fly on day 7 or later. Lids that look full at first are expected and settle over the following weeks.
What are the risks of eyelid fat grafting?
- Swelling and bruising of the lids and of the area the fat was taken from
- Part of the fat is absorbed, so the hollow can partly return and a second session may be needed
- Lumps, an uneven surface or one lid fuller than the other, which can be hard to correct
- Too much fill, so the lids look puffy or heavy
- The lid drooping (ptosis) for a while if the muscle that opens it is affected
- Infection, small cysts or firm areas where fat did not survive
- Rarely, fat can enter a blood vessel and cause permanent loss of vision or a stroke. If your vision changes suddenly or the pain becomes severe after grafting, or you notice face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic
What affects the cost of eyelid fat grafting in Korea?
This page has no eyelid fat grafting price for now. The clinic quotes after seeing photos of your eyes from the front and the side. The quote varies with whether the graft is done alone or within an eye revision, with ptosis correction or fat repositioning added, and with the anesthesia. Ask that it name the surgeon, the donor area and the follow-up visits, and say whether a top-up session would be charged.
More questions
How long does eyelid fat grafting last?
Part of the graft is absorbed in the first months, and the fat that remains can last, though how long varies from person to person. Your face keeps aging too, so some people need a top-up session.
Where is the fat taken from for eyelid fat grafting?
Usually from an area with some spare fat, such as the abdomen or thigh, through a small opening. Only a small amount is needed for the eyelids. Ask the clinic which area it plans to use for you.
Can fat grafting fix sunken eyelids after double eyelid surgery?
Often, yes. When too much fat was removed in an earlier operation, grafting fat or moving the remaining fat can fill the hollow. It is usually planned with a double eyelid revision, which releases scar tissue and resets the crease.
Should I choose filler or fat for hollow upper eyelids?
Filler needs no surgery and wears off, so it can be a trial. Fat transfer uses your own tissue and can last longer, but it needs a small operation and part of it is absorbed. The eyelid skin is thin, so either can show lumps. The surgeon advises which suits your lids.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Arterial Embolism After Facial Fat Grafting: A Systematic Literature Review. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Application of Microautologous Fat Transplantation in the Correction of Sunken Upper Eyelid. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Comprehensive management for complex complications after periumbilical fat implantation into the upper eyelid. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Correction of severe upper-eyelid sunken deformity in Asians by double-eyelid procedure and combination of orbital fat pad repositioning and autologous fat transplantation: a one-year follow-up study of 79 cases. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Eyelid Surgery Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Symptoms of a stroke. NHS
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.