Eye plastic surgery in Korea is easiest to plan when you start from what bothers you, because one complaint, such as looking tired, can come from loose upper skin, a low brow, a weak lid muscle, lower-lid fat or a hollow beneath the eye. Each cause has a different operation and a different recovery. Upper-lid work usually shows its heaviest swelling in the first week, while bruising after lower-lid surgery often takes one to two weeks to fade. A 2025 systematic review described a low complication profile for lower-lid surgery, and a 2018 review found that long-term results are poorly documented. Build the trip around the slowest-healing step you choose, not the quickest.
Guide
When the eyes look tired or heavy
Heaviness above the eye has three common sources, and they can overlap. Loose skin folds over the lashes, the brow sits lower than it once did, or the lid muscle no longer lifts the margin fully. A quick home check helps you describe it: gently raise the brow with a fingertip in a mirror. If the heaviness mostly disappears, the brow plays a large part. If the lid edge still covers part of the pupil, mention a possible muscle problem.
Older photos help too: bring one from ten or fifteen years ago so the surgeon can see what changed. Removing skin alone will not fix a low brow or a weak muscle.
Guide
Bags or hollows under the eyes
Puffy bags are usually fat pushing forward, while a dark groove is often a hollow at the edge of the bony rim. Surgeons remove fat, shift it into the groove, or combine both, working from inside the lid or through a cut just below the lashes when loose skin also needs trimming. Filler can soften a mild hollow without surgery, but it does not remove bulging fat.
How long the result lasts is less certain than many clinics suggest. Wilson and colleagues reviewed 49 studies covering 10,698 patients for the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2018. Among the 29 studies that reported follow-up, the mean was 14.8 months, and photographs beyond 24 months were available for only 10 patients. The procedure appeared to have low morbidity, but its long-term durability is poorly supported by published images.
Guide
What the evidence says about lower-lid safety
In a 2025 systematic review in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, Gimenez and colleagues analyzed 36 articles on lower blepharoplasty complications. They reported an overall low complication profile, found no reported major complications causing visual disturbance, and noted that most functional or cosmetic problems resolved with conservative care or revision surgery.
Low does not mean absent. The problems to discuss before you agree to a plan are listed below.
- The lower lid pulling down or showing extra white beneath the iris
- The lid edge turning outward, which may need further surgery
- A sunken look if too much fat is removed
- Swelling of the white of the eye and temporary dryness
- Uneven contour between the two sides
- Rare bleeding behind the eye, which needs urgent care
Guide
Combining procedures in a single trip
Many visitors want upper-lid, lower-lid and corner work done together to save time. Doing them in one session means one recovery period, but swelling is heavier, both eyes are affected at once, and if one part heals poorly it is harder to tell which step caused it. Upper fold creation is covered on its own page on this site.
Some surgeons prefer to stage the work, lower lids first and upper lids on a later trip once the first result has settled. Ask which order your surgeon suggests and why.
Guide
Timing the stay around the slowest step
The table shows how a typical stay is structured. Your own timeline depends on which procedures you combine and how your tissue heals.
| Stage | Typical timing | What it means for the trip |
|---|---|---|
| Exam and measurements | One or two days before surgery | Leaves time to change the plan after the consultation |
| Surgery | Usually local anesthesia with sedation | Someone should collect you afterward |
| Stitch removal | Around day 5 to 7 | Stay at least until this visit |
| Bruising fades | About 10 to 14 days | Lower-lid work tends to take longer |
| Lid position settles | Three to six months | Judge the final result then, not on the flight home |
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Does the Literature Support the Longevity of this Procedure?Aesthetic Surgery Journal · 2018 · doi:10.1093/asj/sjy186
A review of 49 studies with 10,698 patients found low complication rates but very little photographic follow-up beyond 24 months, so long-term durability of lower-lid surgery is poorly documented.
- Safety and Complications in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic ReviewPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open · 2025 · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000007102
A systematic review of 36 articles reported a low overall complication profile for lower blepharoplasty, with most functional and cosmetic complications resolved by conservative care or revision.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Do I need an eye exam before eyelid or lower-lid surgery?
Yes, a proper assessment should include vision, tear production, lid strength and lower-lid tone before any plan is fixed. Dry eye, thyroid eye disease and earlier laser vision surgery can all change what is safe. Bring glasses or contact lens details and any eye prescriptions. If a clinic plans surgery from photos alone, ask for a full in-person exam first.
When can I wear contact lenses again after eyelid surgery?
Most surgeons ask you to wait until swelling has eased and the incisions have healed, commonly one to two weeks. Inserting lenses means pulling on the lids, which can strain fresh stitches and irritate the eye. Pack glasses for the whole trip. If your eyes feel gritty or dry, use the drops your surgeon recommends and ask before restarting lenses.
Is eyelid surgery in Seoul done while awake?
Most eyelid operations are done under local anesthesia, often with sedation so you are relaxed and drowsy. Being able to open and close your eyes on request helps the surgeon judge lid height during ptosis work. General anesthesia is used less often, mainly for longer combined procedures. Ask which option is planned and how long you will rest at the clinic before leaving.
Can I read or use my phone after eye surgery?
Short periods of screen use are usually fine from the day after surgery, but long sessions tire healing eyes. Blinking less when you stare at a screen worsens dryness, which is common after lid surgery. Take breaks, use lubricating drops, and keep brightness moderate. Plan lighter work tasks for the first week if you must stay connected during the trip.
What if one eye heals differently from the other?
Some difference in swelling between the two sides is normal in the first weeks and usually evens out. Each eye drains fluid differently, and sleeping on one side can make it worse. Lasting asymmetry is judged only after three to six months. Ask before surgery how the clinic handles follow-up from abroad and what a correction would involve. Keep your head raised while sleeping to help it settle.
Is filler a reasonable alternative to lower-lid surgery?
Filler can soften a mild hollow under the eye, but it cannot remove fat that bulges forward. It is quicker and needs less downtime, yet it wears off and can look puffy if placed too close to the surface. People with clear bags usually need surgery for a lasting change. A careful consultation should explain which option fits your anatomy.