Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Eyes

South Korea is renowned worldwide as an innovation hub in plastic surgery, especially regarding procedures aimed at correcting and enhancing the appearance of the eyes. Korean surgeons offer a wide range of eye surgeries that help achieve desired outcomes, from shape and size correction to aging changes mitigation. Here are some of the most popular procedures:

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Blepharoplasty with Ptosis Correction

Ptosis of the upper eyelid, or simply ptosis, is a condition where one or both upper eyelids droop, potentially impairing vision and altering the appearance of the eyes. Ptosis can be congenital or acquired due to trauma, aging changes, or neurological diseases. Ptosis correction is a surgical procedure aimed at lifting the drooped eyelid to restore normal vision field and improve the aesthetic look of the eyes.

The ptosis correction operation is usually performed under sedative anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision in the upper eyelid’s crease, through which the lifting muscle is corrected or shortened. In some cases, when the levator muscle is weak or non-functional, the eyelid can be suspended to the forehead or eyebrow with special threads to ensure its lift.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Double Eyelid

Creating a “double eyelid” or Asian blepharoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries in South Korea, aimed at creating a natural crease in the upper eyelid that might not be present in people with Asian facial features. The procedure not only gives the eyes a more expressive and open appearance, visually enlarging the eyes and making the gaze brighter and more attractive but can also improve the field of vision for some patients.

Creating a double eyelid can be achieved by two main methods: the thread method and the incision method. Each has its advantages and suits different patient types depending on their individual characteristics and desired outcomes.

The double eyelid thread method, also known as non-surgical blepharoplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure using special dissolvable or permanent threads to form a crease on the upper eyelid. This method’s advantage is the absence of the need for incisions, reducing recovery time and minimizing the risk of scarring. The thread method is ideally suited for patients with thin upper eyelid skin and a small amount of fat tissue, wishing to achieve a more expressive look without a lengthy rehabilitation period. Typically, this type of operation is suitable for 10-15% of patients. The results last from 4 to 6 years.

The method using an incision involves a minor surgical intervention, during which a precise incision is made in the area of the future fold of the upper eyelid. Through this incision, the surgeon can remove excess skin, fat tissue, and, if necessary, part of the muscle that lifts the eyelid. Then, a new fold is formed, and cosmetic stitches are applied. This method allows for a more noticeable and durable result, especially recommended for patients with excessive skin on the eyelids or those seeking a more significant correction of the eye shape. Despite the need for a longer recovery period compared to the thread method, blepharoplasty using an incision provides lasting results (lasting up to 15 years) and a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is an innovative procedure aimed at correcting “bags” and folds under the eyes by removing excess fat deposits without leaving visible scars. Unlike traditional blepharoplasty, this method involves the surgeon making an incision not on the outside but inside the lower eyelid, in the conjunctiva, which avoids external scars and reduces recovery time. This approach is ideally suited for patients with issues exclusively related to fat accumulation under the eyes, without excess skin. The procedure is performed under sedative anesthesia and requires a short recovery time, making it an attractive option for those who want to minimize the rehabilitation period and quickly return to normal life while maintaining a natural and youthful appearance of the lower eyelids.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Fat transfer

Fat transfer to the under-eye area is a highly effective procedure aimed at restoring volume and eliminating hollows under the eyes, contributing to a more youthful and rested appearance. During this procedure, fat obtained from other areas of the patient’s body, such as the abdomen or thighs, after special preparation, is introduced into the under-eye area using thin needles. This not only fills in the depressions and smooths the transitions between the lower eyelid and cheek but also provides a longer-lasting and more natural result compared to synthetic fillers. The fat transfer procedure maintains harmony and balance of facial features, refreshes the overall facial appearance, while minimizing the risks of rejection and allergic reactions, as it uses the patient’s own biological material.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Lower age-related blepharoplasty

Lower age-related blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure specifically designed to combat age-related changes in the lower eyelids, such as loss of skin elasticity, deep wrinkles, and the appearance of “bags” under the eyes, which can give the face a tired and aging look. During the operation, the surgeon makes incisions along the lash line of the lower eyelid, allowing for the effective removal of excess fatty tissue and skin, and if necessary, correcting the eyelid muscles to restore its original shape and firmness. This procedure helps to return a youthful and rested look to the eyes, significantly improving the overall impression of the appearance, while leaving minimal and barely noticeable scars that become invisible over time with proper care.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Subbrow

Subbrow lifting is a specialized plastic surgery aimed at tightening and correcting the upper eyelid. This procedure is designed to eliminate excess skin and soft tissues in the upper eyelid area that may cause a tired or aging look of the eyes. During the operation, the surgeon carefully removes part of the skin and fat tissue, and may also adjust the eyelid muscles to create a more open and youthful appearance of the eye slit. Subbrow lifting not only improves appearance, making the gaze brighter and more expressive, but can also enhance vision quality by removing visual obstacles caused by sagging skin of the upper eyelids. This procedure is especially popular among patients seeking natural rejuvenation results without significant recovery time. During the surgery, the incision is made precisely along the lower edge of the eyebrow, making it inconspicuous just a few weeks after the operation.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Canthoplasty or Canthopexy

Canthoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting the outer or inner corner of the eye, significantly altering the shape of the eyes, making them visually more rounded or elongated, depending on the individual desires of the patient and cultural preferences. This operation can be aimed at creating a more youthful, open look, eliminating visual signs of fatigue or age-related changes, as well as achieving specific aesthetic goals related to cultural or personal beauty standards. During Canthoplasty, the surgeon can change not only the shape of the eye corners but also adjust their position, requiring high precision and professionalism, given the complexity of the anatomy of this area. After the operation, patients may observe a significant improvement in the appearance of their eyes, positively affecting the overall perception of the face and self-confidence.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

Epicanthoplasty

Epicanthoplasty is a specialized plastic surgery procedure aimed at cosmetically changing the inner corner of the eye by correcting or removing the epicanthal fold, characteristic of Asian facial types. This unique procedure allows for the expansion of the eye space, making the eyes optically larger, the gaze more open and expressive. Epicanthoplasty is especially popular among patients seeking more European facial features and is one way to achieve a “doll-like” appearance, giving the eyes a rounder shape and increasing the visual width of the gaze. It’s important that the operation requires high precision and experience from the surgeon, as the work is carried out in a very sensitive and visible area of the face, where every millimeter matters for the final aesthetic result.

Eye Plastic Surgery in Korea: Types and Features

South Korea remains a leader in the field of eye plastic surgery, offering patients the opportunity to achieve the desired aesthetic results using the world’s best technologies and highly qualified specialists. To get a consultation with a surgeon from South Korea, fill out the QUESTIONNAIRE or contact our coordinator at +82-10-4214-9603.

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