Eyes
Upper blepharoplasty in Korea
Upper blepharoplasty, or an upper eyelid lift, removes loose skin and sometimes fat from hooded eyelids through a cut in the crease. It suits lids grown heavy with age. NHS guidance puts eyelid surgery at 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, usually without an overnight stay. Stitches come out on day 5 to 7. Allow 5 to 7 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for upper blepharoplasty?
- Your upper eyelid skin has loosened with age and folds down over your crease or lashes
- Heavy lids make you look tired, or the extra skin narrows the upper part of your vision
- You would like your crease to show again, with the lid looking lighter and more open
- Your eyes are healthy, and you can protect the pink crease scar from sun in the first weeks
When it may not be the right choice
- Your lid droops because the lifting muscle is weak (ptosis), not because of extra skin. Ptosis correction is needed, sometimes in the same operation
- You want to keep your current double eyelid line exactly as it is. A sub-brow lift, which removes skin just under the eyebrow, may suit you better
- Your eyebrows have dropped a lot and pull the lid skin down. A forehead or brow lift may be the better first step
- You have untreated dry eye or an eye infection at the moment
What happens on the day of upper blepharoplasty?
- Consultation with the surgeon. They check your brow position and how well your lids open, then mark how much skin to remove while you sit up.
- Local anesthesia, often with sedation, keeps you comfortable. The surgeon confirms which you will have.
- Extra skin, and sometimes a strip of muscle or fat, is removed through a cut in the crease. Fine stitches close the cut.
- Most people rest for a short time and go back to their hotel the same day.
What is recovery like after upper blepharoplasty?
- Days 1 to 3
- Swelling and bruising are at their peak and the lids feel tight. Cold packs and sleeping with your head raised help, and so do the eye drops or ointment you are given.
- Days 5 to 7
- Stitches come out. Most people return to daily life, with sunglasses to cover any bruising that is left.
- Weeks 2 to 4
- Bruising fades. The scar in the crease is pink and a little firm, and the lids can still look swollen.
- Months 1 to 3
- Swelling goes down and the scar fades into the crease. The result is usually judged at about three months, and the scar keeps softening after that.
How long should you stay in Seoul after upper blepharoplasty?
Plan on 5 to 7 days in Seoul. Upper blepharoplasty always involves a cut in the crease, so the trip has to include stitch removal on day 5 to 7, and flying is usually fine once the stitches are out. Sunglasses cover leftover bruising. Keep away from alcohol, saunas and swimming for two weeks.
What are the risks of upper blepharoplasty?
- Swelling, bruising and tightness, which are expected and temporary
- Too much skin removed, so the eyes are hard to close fully and can feel dry or sore
- Watery or gritty eyes, or sensitivity to light, for a while after surgery
- A difference between the two eyelids, an uneven crease, or some loose skin left behind
- A scar that stays visible, thick or uneven
- Bleeding or infection. Rarely, blood collects behind the eye and puts vision at risk. If your sight changes suddenly or the eye becomes very painful, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic
What affects the cost of upper blepharoplasty in Korea?
Upper blepharoplasty has no listed price yet; the clinic quotes after it sees your photos. The quote changes with how much skin and fat come out and with anything added: ptosis correction, a brow lift or lower eyelid surgery. The written version should name the surgeon and spell out anesthesia, follow-up visits and stitch removal.
More questions
What is the difference between upper blepharoplasty and double eyelid surgery?
Double eyelid surgery creates a crease, usually on younger eyelids. Upper blepharoplasty removes extra skin from lids that have loosened with age. The cut sits in the crease, so it can define the crease at the same time.
How long does upper blepharoplasty take?
UK NHS guidance puts eyelid surgery at about 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, and most people go home the same day. Ask the surgeon how long yours will take. Adding ptosis correction or removing fat makes it longer.
Will the upper blepharoplasty scar show?
The cut is placed in the natural crease, so the scar is usually hidden when your eyes are open. It looks pink for a few weeks and fades over the following months.
Should I have a sub-brow lift instead?
If you like your current double eyelid line and want to keep it, a sub-brow lift, which takes skin from just under the eyebrow, may suit you better. If you want the crease redefined, upper blepharoplasty is the usual choice. The surgeon decides after examining your eyelids.
When can I fly home after upper blepharoplasty?
Most people fly home once the stitches are out on day 5 to 7. Some swelling on the flight is normal.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Eyelid surgery. NHS
- Eyelid Surgery Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty. StatPearls
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.