"I have a double eyelid, but it often disappears. What should I do?"
"Who is the incisional method for?"
"Will it leave a scar?"
Questions like these come up often in eyelid consultations with us. If you are looking into double eyelid surgery in Korea, you are probably also working out how many days to take off, when your eyes will look normal enough for the flight home, and whether you need incision at all.
This guide is worth reading before you choose a clinic in Seoul, because the method should come from what your eyelid is like, and your stay follows from the method.
By the end you will know:
- how the suture and incisional methods differ and who each suits
- when canthoplasty or lower eyelid surgery is part of the conversation
- the surgery time, stitch removal and aftercare for each method
- how long to stay in Seoul and how to plan the flight home
- the risks to expect and what to ask any clinic
Who is behind this guide
This guide comes from the team at LAHYEON Plastic Surgery in Cheongdam, Seoul. Our doctors include Dr. Koo Bon-jun, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and board-certified general surgeons Dr. Im Jung-woo, our representative director, and Dr. Kim Il-gon. Each doctor's credentials are on our doctors page. At Lahyeon, a dedicated medical team looks after eye surgery patients from consultation through surgery and aftercare.
How the method is chosen
The eye area is delicate, and small changes there alter the whole impression of the face. So the method is chosen after an examination of:
- the thickness of your eyelid skin
- the amount of fat in the eyelid
- the strength of the muscle that opens your eye
- whether you already have a crease, and how it behaves
- the shape of your face and eyes
Crease height is part of the design too. A line that suits one face can look heavy on another, so the crease is designed for your face rather than copied from a photo.
The options at a glance
| Suture method | Incisional method | Canthoplasty | Lower eyelid surgery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A crease without a skin incision | A clearer, long-lasting crease | Lengthens the eye horizontally | Sagging and wrinkles under the eye |
| Time | About 30 minutes | About 50 minutes | About 30 minutes | About 1 hour |
| Anesthesia | Local | Local | Local | Local |
| Hospital stay | None | None | None | None |
| Stitches | None to remove | Out on day 5–7 | Out on day 5–7 | Out on day 5–7 |
| Face washing and makeup | From about day 3–4 | After stitch removal | After stitch removal | After stitch removal |
These methods can be combined when one alone is not enough. More detail is on the double eyelid surgery treatment page.
Suture method: who does it suit?
The suture method, also called the non-incisional or buried suture method, fixes the crease with fine sutures and no skin incision. It tends to suit you if:
- you have a crease that comes and goes
- your crease is thin
- several crease lines form
The honest trade-off is durability. A crease held by sutures can loosen over time, and how likely that is depends on your eyelid. Thicker eyelids are a common reason the suture method reaches its limit.
Is Double Eyelid Surgery right for you?
Tap what applies. We turn it into an inquiry, and our team replies with suggested next steps for your trip.
Hello, I'm interested in Double Eyelid Surgery at LAHYEON Plastic Surgery. Could you suggest a plan for me?
No booking until you confirm.
Incisional method: who does it suit?
The incisional method suits thick eyelid skin with more fat, eyes where the suture method has reached its limit, and people who want a clearer crease. It is also used where the eye-opening muscle is slightly weak. The crease it creates is long-lasting.
The trade-off here is a longer recovery and an incision line. The incision follows the crease, and how visible the scar becomes varies by person and with time.
Canthoplasty and lower eyelid surgery
Canthoplasty lengthens the eye from side to side, at the inner corner, the outer corner or both. Opening the inner corner also softens its angle. The incision line is designed to be fine, and healing varies by person.
Lower eyelid surgery treats sagging skin and wrinkles under the eye. Only the excess skin is removed, and your own muscle is used to restore the under-eye roll. Depending on your eyes, under-eye fat is removed or repositioned. Those fat procedures go through the inner lining of the eyelid, so the scar is not visible from outside. If skin aging is advanced, skin removal may be needed as well.
Recovery by method
Recovery varies by person. These are the instructions we give.
| Suture method | Incisional method | Canthoplasty and lower eyelid surgery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First days | Cold compresses for 2–3 days | Cold compresses for 3 days, then warm | Cold compresses for 3 days, then warm |
| Water and makeup | Washing and makeup from about day 3–4 | Keep the eyes dry until stitches are out | Keep the eyes dry until stitches are out |
| Stitch removal | None | Day 5–7 | Day 5–7 |
| Avoid | Alcohol, smoking, contact lenses and saunas for a while | Hard exercise, saunas, alcohol and smoking for 2 weeks | Rubbing the eyes, alcohol, smoking and saunas for 2 weeks |
| Bruising and swelling | Varies by person | Varies by person, settling from about 2 weeks | Varies by person |
After lower eyelid surgery, avoid pressing the area and sleep with your head raised to help with swelling. If tearing or discomfort continues, contact us.
How long should you stay in Korea?
For the incisional method, canthoplasty and lower eyelid surgery, stitches are removed at the clinic on day 5 to 7, so plan to stay in Seoul for about a week.
For the suture method there are no stitches to remove, and you can wash your face from about day 3 to 4. The number of days to stay is agreed at consultation, based on how much recovery time you want before you travel.
A few planning notes:
- You need an in-person consultation before surgery. Your surgery date is agreed with us.
- We are closed on Sundays and close at 16:00 on Saturdays, so make sure day 5 to 7 includes an open day.
- Book your return after stitch removal with some margin.
- Remember that bruising and swelling may still be there after you are home, especially after the incisional method. If you will be seeing people straight away, tell us when you message us.
Flying home and aftercare
For methods with stitches, fly after they are out and the doctor has checked your eyes. Ask at that visit whether there is anything to avoid on the flight. Avoid contact lenses for as long as you are told to, so pack your glasses.
At home, keep following the instructions you were given. If something worries you, send us clear photos and tell us how many days it has been since surgery.
Risks to discuss honestly
Every surgery carries risk, and eyelid surgery is no exception. Issues that can occur in general include asymmetry between the eyes, a crease that loosens or looks different from what you expected, prolonged swelling, and visible scarring. Some people need a second procedure. A dedicated plan and careful examination help to reduce these risks, but they cannot be removed entirely.
Results vary by person. We don't have before-and-after photos of eye surgery to show on this site, so please weigh how clearly we answer your questions.
What does double eyelid surgery in Korea cost?
We are not quoting a figure here. The price follows the plan, mainly:
- which method is used
- whether methods are combined
- whether both upper and lower eyelids are treated
Send us your goal and your dates and we will come back with a plan and a quote before you book a flight.
Questions to ask any clinic
- Which doctor does the consultation, the surgery and the follow-up?
- Why do you suggest this method for my eyelid and not the other one?
- If I choose the suture method, what is the chance the crease loosens, and what happens then?
- Where exactly will the incision be, and what should I expect from the scar?
- How will my crease height be decided?
- What happens if my eyes look uneven after the swelling has gone?
