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Plastic surgery is on the rise more and more each day in Korea and around the world. One of the most common areas of plastic surgery has become double eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and other eye-widening surgeries. Thousands of foreigners visit Korea just for eye surgery every year. Since these surgeries are on a meteoric rise of popularity, we created this Korea eye surgery guide so you understand what procedures there are, how they will affect you, and what your expected recovery time will be if you choose to get one of these surgeries.
This knowledge is critical to know before getting any operation, but it’s especially important to familiarize yourself with before an operation that has the potential to change the way you look for decades to come.
Blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery that is used to correct deformities, defects, and disfigurations that occur in the eyelids or the eye region of the face. This can occur in birth defects or other accidents that affect the appearance of that area of the face. Though this operation started out as a necessity, it has since morphed into something that is an elective. Many people in Korea and other parts of the world choose to have double eyelid surgery to make their eyes look a certain way that they consider to be desirable.
The operation is rather simple and involves a few simple incisions and skin removal. In a blepharoplasty, the incisions that are made help to remove, rearrange, or reinforce the skin in the eyelid or around the eye. The operation usually takes between 1-3 hours to complete fully. Though it is considered a relatively simple operation, you should do your research and consult your medical professionals to determine if it’s right for you, as with all major and minor surgical operations.
It’s also important to know that often a blepharoplasty is different in Korea than it is in the rest of the world. In either ways of doing this procedure, changes are made to the eyelid to change the appearance. However, a Korean blepharoplasty is a little bit more specialized than a typical operation. In Korea, this operation focuses specifically on the upper eyelid. The goal most of the time with Korean eye surgery is to remove excess skin and fat from the upper eyelid. This is becoming an increasingly common procedure in Korea and around the rest of Asia as well. The goal result of this operation is to make the individual appear more fresh, with a bright and alert look that otherwise they might not be able to achieve as well. With a traditional operation, this procedure would be more aimed at fixing droopy eyelids through the removal of excess skin or fat. This is also a common procedure.
There are three main types of this operation, so in this section of the Korea eye surgery guide, we’ll expand on all of them. Each of them addresses different areas of the eyelids but most have the same goal in mind—to make your eyes look better, more fresh, and more youthful.
First, there is upper eyelid surgery. Most commonly, this is done on a patient to increase functionality. As people age, their eyelids will become more droopy and begin losing natural elasticity. An upper eyelid surgery can help improve your eyelid function and increase your level of comfort and confidence as a result.
The second type is the lower eyelid surgery. This is less common and mostly done to address eye bagginess. If you have baggy eyes, you understand that this can be a struggle and overall just looks bad. This surgery repairs that and can help you look fresh and well-rested, which can have a ripple effect throughout the rest of your life and your interactions with others.
The most common of the three in Korea is definitely the double eyelid blepharoplasty. As we know, in this operation a crease is created in the upper lid which is something that is seen as desirable in Korea and the rest of Asia as well. For this reason, it’s a very common procedure there.
After your double eyelid surgery, it is natural to experience swelling. As with any operation, your body has just undergone a serious operation that it needs time to recover from and you will experience some swelling during that time. Don’t worry, though. Over time, the swelling will go down and the skin will begin to naturally fall over the crease, which creates the look that you desire.
Your recovery process doesn’t just happen by itself all the time. There are things that you can do to make sure that your recovery more pleasurable and the operation more effective long-term. It’s important to not neglect this. If you are going to have an operation like this, you should make sure that you are prepared to take care of your eyelids after the procedure is completed to ensure a complete and speedy recovery from the operation.
The first few days after the operation are the most vital. You should follow your recover instructions that the doctor or surgeon gives to you so that you can provide your eyes with the best environment for natural healing possible. Usually, these instructions will include the advice to not shower for at least the first 24 hours. By not showering in this timeframe, you will allow the wound to seal up and it will also help to reduce the risk of getting an infection in the wound. Infections are nasty things and can prolong your recovery team or even lead to dangerous health complications and risks from the side effects. You should avoid an infection at all costs in order to speed along your recovery.
Another thing that you should avoid in the days after the procedure is applying makeup to the upper eyelid. You should refrain from this for at least 10 days following the procedure. This is another thing that can lead to infection and prolonged recovery if the warning is not heeded. So, always listen to your doctor and refrain from doing things that will further injure your eyelid and make your recovery take longer.
This section of the Korea eye surgery guide is related to the section above on healing. Standard recovery time for this procedure is anywhere from 4 to 9 days, but that can be prolonged if you don’t follow the advice of your doctor and take the necessary recovery steps. This includes refraining from showering or applying makeup for a period of time. If you fail to take these steps, your recovery will inevitably be extended and you will be left frustrated. If you infect the area of your operation, it can even lead to dangerous health and recovery complications that will result in more cost and time to you.
This can vary based on which doctor or institution you go to for the operation, but the average cost of eyelid surgery in the United States is around $3000. Again, this number is a rough estimate based on a running average.
If you are doing more than the normal procedure, obviously this can increase. If it is more minor of an operation than the standard, it could cost less. It’s all going to depend on what you need done, how long it takes, and which doctor or practice you go to for the operation.
It’s not recommended that you try to just find the cheapest one possible. If you are serious about the procedure, you should find a good doctor and organization to do the procedure for you and ensure that it is done right, not just quickly or cheaply. Poorly done procedures will just lead to problems down the line and you don’t want to deal with that.
So, do it right the first time and you will save time and money down the road.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery is a fast growing procedure around the world and Asia, especially in Korea. People choose to get this procedure done for a variety of reasons, but what is most important is that you find a knowledgeable place to do it for you to ensure that it is done safely, correctly, and looks great afterwards. You should do a lot of talking with your doctor beforehand to make sure you are comfortable with the procedure and you are ready to commit to the short recovery time as well.
Thanks for making it through our Korea eye surgery guide. We hope you learned a lot and feel free to reach out for a consultation if you want to take the next steps.
