Eyes
Lower blepharoplasty in Korea
Lower blepharoplasty, or a lower eyelid lift, removes loose skin under the eye, usually through a fine cut below the lashes, and trims or moves bulging fat. It suits eye bags with sagging skin or fine wrinkles. The clinic lists about 1 hour with local anesthesia or sedation and same-day discharge. Most people stay 5 to 7 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for lower blepharoplasty?
- Your under-eye bags bulge and the skin over them has loosened or sagged
- You have fine wrinkles or crepey skin under the eyes along with the bags
- You look tired even when rested, and the shadow below the bags does not go away with makeup
- Your lower eyelid is still firm enough to hold its position, which the surgeon checks
When it may not be the right choice
- You have bags but firm, smooth skin. Under-eye fat repositioning through the inside of the lid may be enough, with no skin cut
- The darkness under your eyes is pigment or thin skin, not a bulge. Removing skin and fat does not lighten it
- Your lower lid is already loose, pulled down or turned outward, or your eyes are very prominent. The surgeon may need to support the lid as well, or suggest another plan
- You have dry eye that is not under control, or an eye infection
Which method fits you?
Lower eyelid surgery can be done from the outside or the inside of the lid, and with or without support for the lid. The surgeon chooses after checking your skin, the bags and how firm the lower lid is.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin and fat (cut below the lashes) | A fine cut just under the lashes lets the surgeon trim loose skin, and remove or reposition the bulging fat. The muscle can be tightened too. | Bags with loose skin or fine wrinkles | Stitches out on day 5 to 7. The scar sits in the lash line and fades over months |
| Fat only (inside the lid) | The fat is reached through the inside of the lower lid, so there is no cut on the skin. No skin is removed. | Bags with firm skin and few wrinkles. This is covered on the under-eye fat repositioning page | Usually quicker, with no skin scar |
| With lid support (canthopexy) | The outer corner of the lower lid is tightened with a stitch, or in some cases detached and reattached, so the lid is less likely to pull down as it heals. This is a support step, not the cosmetic outer eye corner surgery that makes the eyes look longer. | A lower lid that is a little loose, or prominent eyes | The lid and corner can feel tight for a few weeks |
What happens on the day of lower blepharoplasty?
- Consultation. The surgeon checks the bags, the amount of loose skin and how firmly your lower lid sits, and marks the skin to remove while you sit up.
- Local anesthesia numbs the lower lids, often with sedation as well.
- The surgeon trims skin and removes or moves fat through the cut below the lashes, then closes it with fine stitches. The operation runs about 1 hour.
- You rest for a short while and go back to your hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after lower blepharoplasty?
- Days 1 to 3
- Bruising and swelling are at their worst and can spread toward the cheeks. Use cold compresses, keep your head raised and use the eye drops or ointment you are given.
- Days 5 to 7
- The stitches below the lashes come out, and most people get back to their usual day, with sunglasses for the bruising that is left.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- Bruising fades. The scar is pink, and the lower lid can feel tight or look slightly pulled for a while. If the lid keeps pulling down or more white shows below the iris, send the clinic photos.
- Months 1 to 3
- Swelling settles and the scar fades into the lash line. The contour under the eye is judged at about three months.
How long should you stay in Seoul after lower blepharoplasty?
A 5 to 7 day stay in Seoul suits lower blepharoplasty. Stitch removal, between day 5 and day 7, is the only planned clinic visit after surgery, and most people fly around day 6. Bruising around the lower lids can still show at that point, so plan the trip home with sunglasses. Avoid rubbing your eyes, saunas and alcohol for about two weeks.
What are the risks of lower blepharoplasty?
- Swelling and bruising. Bruising usually fades within about two weeks, while some swelling can take a few months to settle
- Lower lid malposition: the lid settles lower than before or turns outward (ectropion), so white shows under the iris. It is a well-known problem after this operation, and some cases need a further operation
- Too much fat removed, leaving a hollow, or too little, leaving a bulge
- Dry, gritty or watery eyes, or sensitivity to light, for a while
- A visible scar below the lashes, or a difference between the two eyes
- Infection or bleeding. Rarely, bleeding behind the eye threatens sight. If your sight changes suddenly, or the eye becomes very painful, feels hard or starts to bulge forward, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic
What affects the cost of lower blepharoplasty in Korea?
We do not list a lower blepharoplasty price yet. The clinic quotes after reviewing photos of your eyes. The quote moves with how much skin and fat are treated, whether the lid needs support at the corner, and whether upper eyelid surgery or a facelift is done in the same session. Check that it names the surgeon and covers anesthesia and stitch removal.
More questions
What is the difference between lower blepharoplasty and under-eye fat repositioning?
Under-eye fat repositioning moves the bulging fat into the groove below, usually from inside the lid with no skin removed. Lower blepharoplasty treats the same fat but also removes loose skin, through a cut below the lashes. If your skin is firm, repositioning alone may be enough. If it has sagged or wrinkled, lower blepharoplasty is the usual choice.
Will lower blepharoplasty leave a scar?
There is a fine scar just below the lashes. It is pink for a few weeks and fades into the lash line over the following months. How visible it stays differs from person to person.
How long does bruising last after lower eyelid surgery?
Bruising is worst in the first three days and fades over about two weeks. Most people are back to their usual routine once the stitches are out on day 5 to 7, using sunglasses to cover what is left.
Can I have upper and lower eyelid surgery together?
Yes, it is common to treat both in one operation. Recovery takes longer when both are done, and swelling can be heavier. Ask the surgeon whether it still fits into 5 to 7 days in Seoul.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: An overview. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Safety and Complications in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Blepharoplasty, Lower Lid, Canthal Support. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, US National Library of Medicine
- Eyelid surgery. 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.