Korean Double Eyelid Surgery
A soft, more balanced double eyelid crease that makes your eyes look open and rested, in a way that looks like it was always yours.
Is this right for you?
Not every pair of eyes suits this method, and that is completely normal. During your consultation, your surgeon will look at the thickness of your eyelid skin and the amount of fat and skin on your upper lids, then tell you honestly whether this surgery can give you the result you want.
This may be a good fit if
- You are an adult with single eyelids, a crease that is too shallow, or two lids that do not match.
- Your eyelid skin is thin, still elastic, and only slightly droopy.
- You want a crease that looks natural rather than overly sharp.
- You want to limit your downtime and return to daily life soon.
- You feel uneasy about surgery, worry about pain, or are concerned about visible scars.
This may not be right if
- Your eyelids are thick, with extra skin or extra fat. In that case, the suture method on its own is often not a good match, and your surgeon may suggest combining it with removal of some fat and skin, or a different approach.
- You need a crease that stays stable for a very long time. With some non-incisional methods, the crease can fade after about 2 to 3 years.
- You are hoping for a large change to the shape of your eyes rather than a soft, natural crease.
How it works
Everything starts with a conversation. Your surgeon measures the width of your eyelid and draws a trial crease line so it sits in harmony with your face, while listening to what you want and explaining which approach fits the condition of your lids.
This surgery can be done in a few ways. Your surgeon may work through a very small skin opening (about 1mm), using non-dissolving sutures placed as separate stitches or a continuous line to form the double crease. Or it can be done from inside the eyelid, with no opening on the outer skin. The non-incisional approach leaves almost no surgical mark or scar on the outside, but the crease is usually less durable and can fade after about 2 to 3 years.
In technical terms, your surgeon uses sutures to create a connection between the upper lid skin and the muscle that lifts the lid or the lid cartilage, at the border between the cartilage and the septal part of the upper lid. This connection is what forms the new crease. A simple suture procedure usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. If extra fat needs to be removed through the suture points, it may take about 30 to 60 minutes.
Based on your own face and the condition of your lids, your surgeon will choose the crease line and the method that suit you. In most cases, you can go home the same day.
Realistic expectations
This surgery gives you a more balanced and natural double eyelid crease. It is not a full reshaping of your face, so picturing clearly what it does and does not do will help you feel more satisfied with the result.
What this will not do
- It will not completely change the shape or size of your eyes. The goal is a crease that fits your face, not a different pair of eyes.
- It will not always be a change that stays forever. With the non-incisional approach, the crease can fade after about 2 to 3 years.
- It will not handle extra skin and fat well if your lids are thick. That situation calls for a different approach to consider.
Recovery
Recovery after this surgery is usually gentle. Every body heals differently, so the points below are time ranges that people often experience, not fixed numbers that apply to everyone.
- The first few days
- Your lids may have mild swelling and some bruising around the surgical site. These signs usually ease over a few days.
- The first 3 to 5 days
- You may be given pain relief and antibiotics, for a length of time that depends on the method and on your body.
- The next day to 1 or 2 days
- Many people return to normal daily life the very next day, and go back to work after about 1 to 2 days, depending on the nature of their job.
- Around day 5
- With the pure suture method, stitch removal is usually not needed. If the crease was made with a continuous skin incision, or combined with removal of extra fat and skin, the stitches are usually taken out after about 5 days.
- Around 2 months
- This is the time it takes for the lid skin to settle back to its normal looseness, so the final result is usually judged around this point.
Risks & safety
This is a small procedure, but like any surgery, large or small, it still carries risks. You should understand them clearly before you decide. Many of the complications below are uncommon when the surgery is done correctly, but that does not mean they cannot happen.
- Reactions related to the anesthetic.
- Infection at the surgical site.
- Poor scarring.
- Uneven eyes that do not match.
- The eyelid being pulled or tethered.
- A crease that is not durable and can fade over time, especially with the non-incisional approach.
- A result that is not what you hoped for, which may need further revision.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, a specialist surgeon will measure your lids, draw a trial crease line, and choose the crease approach based on your own face and the condition of your lids, rather than applying one template to everyone. If your lids are thick or have a lot of fat, your surgeon will tell you honestly and talk through the option of combining fat removal, skin removal, or a different method.
To keep complications and unwanted results as low as possible, the surgery is performed by a specialty-trained surgeon at a licensed medical facility. After the procedure, your surgeon schedules a follow-up visit to check the crease and where the fold is set.
Frequently asked questions
Does this surgery hurt?
This is a gentle procedure, usually with little pain and little swelling. You may be given pain relief for the first few days if needed. What you feel can differ from one person to the next.
Will it leave a scar?
With the approach done from inside the eyelid, there is almost no visible surgical mark or scar on the outside. With the skin incision, the opening is very small, about 1mm. Poor scarring is a possible risk, though it is uncommon.
How long do I need to take off work?
Many people return to normal daily life the next day and go back to work after about 1 to 2 days, depending on the nature of your job and how you are healing.
Will the crease look natural?
The goal of this method is a crease that is balanced, soft, and natural, one that fits your face, not a completely different pair of eyes.
How long does the result last?
It depends on the method. With the non-incisional approach, the crease can fade after about 2 to 3 years. Your surgeon will explain how durable each method is during your consultation.
How long until I see the final result?
The final result is usually judged after about 2 months, which is the time the lid skin needs to settle back to its normal looseness.
Do I need to have stitches removed?
With the pure suture method, stitch removal is usually not needed. If the crease was made with a continuous skin incision, or combined with removal of extra fat and skin, the stitches are usually taken out after about 5 days.
My lids are fairly thick with a lot of fat. Can I still have this surgery?
The suture method on its own is often not a good match for thick lids with extra skin and fat. In some cases it can be combined with removing some fat and skin. Your surgeon will look at your lids in person and advise the approach that suits you.
My eyes are uneven right now. Can this surgery make them more balanced?
This method can improve lids that are uneven, a crease that is faint, or one side having a crease while the other does not. How much it improves depends on your specific situation, and your surgeon will assess this during your exam.
What if I do not like the crease later on?
One advantage of this technique is that you can return to your original crease if you want to. Share this wish with your surgeon right from the consultation so you can be advised in detail.
The next step
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.