If you want upper eyelid surgery in Korea, this is a guide for you.
In this guide, we will go over everything you need to know before upper eyelid surgery in Korea, including:
- What is upper eyelid surgery
- Upper eyelid surgery cost in Korea
- Why choose Korea for upper eyelid surgery
- Best upper eyelid surgery clinics in Korea

Let’s quickly go over what upper eyelid surgery even is:
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Is Upper Eyelid Surgery
Upper eyelid surgery, or upper blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that fixes problems because of your upper eyelid.
Upper eyelid surgery helps treat sagging and excess tissue in the upper eyelid area. You can get this surgery either for aesthetic reasons or if you experience frequent problems with your upper eyelid.
This surgery can also help treat ptosis, but for that, we recommend ptosis correction surgery. It can also help if you struggle with frequent dermatitis in that area.
Upper eyelid surgery can also help you achieve a more youthful and smoother look.
Your insurance typically does not cover upper eyelid surgery. However, if you are having surgery because of medical reasons (eyelids impair your vision), your insurance might cover it.
Upper eyelid surgery is very common among middle-aged men and women who struggle.
Recovery
It can take 10 to 14 days to recover well enough for you to return to work and daily activities. However, this down period more or less depends on how you feel after.
You can expect some swelling and bruising after upper eyelid surgery that can take up to 3 weeks to disappear.
You will need to get stitches removed after at least a week. It can take up to 3 months for your eyes to fully get better after surgery.
You should avoid wearing makeup for about 3 weeks, wear protective glasses, avoid any pressure on your eyes, and don’t do strenuous exercises.
Results
You will notice a difference immediately after surgery. However, it can take up to 3 months, or until swelling and bruising go down, for full results.
After your eyes fully heal, you can expect brighter, higher, and more open eyes. You will look more natural, well-rested, and more vibrant.
However, sometimes the first procedure won’t get you the desired results. Don’t worry because you can always get corrective surgery for the desired results.
Before And After
Why Is Korean Eyelid Surgery Special
Sometimes, Korean eyelid surgery can be mistaken for Asian eyelid surgery. Though both are similar, a few key differences make Korean eyelid surgery special.
First, Korean surgeons have innovated a suture technique used for eyelid surgery.
They use this technique for almost all eyelid procedures. It’s common for double eyelid surgery, upper and lower eyelid surgery, canthoplasty, etc.
The main focus of Korean surgeons is the minimization of scarring.
This way of suturing is best apparent in double eyelid surgery. Surgeons can create the desired results without leaving a visible scar.
There is also a difference in results after Korean eyelid surgery compared to the Asian style. Results after Korean eyelid surgery are much more elegant and natural looking.
You will get a much lighter feel of your upper eyelid but also larger, brighter, and glamorous eyes.
Upper Eyelid Surgery Cost In Korea
The average cost of upper eyelid surgery in Korea is 2,460,000 KRW (=1,900 $).
However, the final cost depends on many different factors, such as:
- Clinic reputation
- Additional procedures
- Extra fees (guest fees, …)
- Promotions, deals
Upper eyelid surgery is pretty popular in Korea, and clinics compete with each other for customers. With over 500 clinics in Seoul, you can imagine how competitive it is.
They offer competitive prices and always run promotions and deals for only foreign patients.
The price-to-value in Korea is one of the best in the world. For a great price, you get a very attentive aftercare. Surgeons in Korea are also some of the best in the world.
The great thing about Korean prices is the all-inclusivity. You will notice that prices in Korea include everything from surgery costs to operating room fees and taxes.
You can also get a VAT refund, but we will cover that later.
Korea is very affordable and budget-friendly for upper eyelid surgery, especially compared to other countries.
Plus, there are plenty of ways to save even more money in Korea.
Compared To Other Countries
When we compare upper eyelid surgery prices in Korea to other countries, it becomes clear that Korea is a better choice.
The reason for such prices is the competition between clinics. To attract customers, they offer very competitive prices that are lower than in other countries.
For the same procedure, you can expect to pay an average of:
- 5,180,000 KRW (=4,000 $) in the US
- 4,900,000 KRW (=3,800 $) in Australia
- 5,700,000 KRW (=4,400 $) in Canada
Compared to Korea, you will pay at least twice as much for upper eyelid surgery in other countries.
Keep in mind that the above prices are only ballpark figures. In other countries, prices usually don’t include consultation fees, anesthesia, VAT, etc.
However, Korean clinics offer all-inclusive prices, which include the surgery cost, consultation fees, accommodation, a translator, and transport forms to the airport.
Many Korean clinics offer promotions and deals specifically for foreign customers so you can lower your final cost even more.
Save More Money On Upper Eyelid Surgery: Our Tips
To help you save money on upper eyelid surgery in Korea, we did some digging.
We did some research, asked about it, and looked at forums to find some tips. Use them, and you can lower your final cost a lot.
Not all will work for every clinic, but we guarantee you will get lucky at least with one.
Paying In Full
If you decide to pay in full, clinics will happily offer you a discount of up to 10%.
They prefer paying in full over in monthly installments. You can even try asking for a discount before paying.
Additional Procedures
If you decide to get an additional procedure with your upper eyelid surgery, clinics will offer you a discount on the final cost.
They do this because they save money on anesthesia and staff costs this way.
You should consider getting lower eyelid surgery or any other simple facial contouring or anti-aging procedure with upper eyelid surgery.
Before And After Showcases
Clinics like to show off their results on their website.
If you are a perfect candidate and okay with it, clinics will offer you a pretty nice discount for participating. You can even try volunteering to have your before and after pictures taken.
Tax Refund
If you are a foreign citizen, you are eligible for a VAT refund when leaving Korea.
It’s an easy way to get some money back because the only requirement is that you are not a Korean citizen.
Don’t forget to keep your receipts and look out for tax refund machines at Korean airports.
Duration Of your Post-Upper Eyelid Surgery Stay In Korea
After your upper eyelid surgery, you should take some time off to recover. Don’t travel back home immediately.
Before coming to Korea, plan to stay there for at least a week after surgery. This is so you can get stitches removed and have one check-up at the clinic.
Take it easy while in Korea, and don’t engage in strenuous activity. Protect your eyes, as they will be sensitive for the first few days.
Be sure to follow the instructions you get from your surgeons. You can also ask them what you can do in Korea while recovering.
However, in the end, it all depends on how comfortable you feel after surgery. If you don’t feel like getting out much, do that. Don’t force yourself to do anything. You can still enjoy Seoul that way.
There is a lot to do in Seoul, from great local restaurants to museums, galleries, and other sights. You can get some ideas on what to see here.
Sometimes, clinics are partnered with tourist agencies that organize bus tours for patients. It’s a good and cheap way to see the city. Ask the clinic if they offer such deals.
Rest after your upper eyelid surgery, but try to get as much as possible out of Seoul!
Why Choose Korea For Upper Eyelid Surgery
Korea is famous for being the ”plastic surgery capital of the world”. Every year, more people fly to Korea to have cosmetic surgery.
In 2020, the plastic surgery industry was worth around $10,7 billion in Korea. This ranks them at the top of countries with excellent plastic surgery.
Korean plastic surgery is also often dubbed as the leading country when it comes to innovations in this field. Clinics have the most modern and advanced equipment.
However, that is not the only reason we believe Korea is the best choice for upper eyelid surgery.
Korean Beauty Standards
Korean beauty standards are quite high. They prioritize features like a small V-shaped face, symmetrical eyebrows and eyes, slim body, and double eyelids.
Korean surgeons must follow trends and adapt their techniques and technology to follow their standards.
There is also a very high demand for plastic surgery, especially eyelid surgery, in Korea. That is why Seoul has over 500 plastic surgery clinics!
With high demand and beauty standards also comes high competition between clinics. This also affects the cost of upper eyelid surgery since clinics offer competitive prices to attract customers.
Affordable Cost And Price-To-Value
As we already covered in the ”Upper Eyelid Surgery Cost In Korea,” upper eyelid surgery is way cheaper in Korea compared to other countries.
Upper eyelid surgery in Korea costs at least two times less than in other countries.
The reason for such affordable prices is the competition between clinics. Korean clinics offer competitive prices to attract customers.
Not only that, but Korean clinics have a lot of foreign customers. To attract them, they offer promotions and deals only available to foreign citizens.
Because of low prices, high Korean beauty standards, state-of-the-art clinic facilities, and experienced surgeons, the price-to-value is the best in Korea.
And if you use our tips on saving money in Korea, you can lower your final cost even more.
Experienced And Specialized Surgeons
Korea has some of the most experienced plastic surgeons in the world.
They perform over 1,000,000 (1 million) plastic surgeries annually, and many are upper eyelid surgery.
With the amount of upper eyelid surgeries they perform, it’s clear that they are very experienced.
In fact, upper eyelid surgery is so popular in Korea that many surgeons are not only experienced but also specialized in performing them.
On top of that, Korean surgeons use techniques that minimize scarring and reduce recovery time. Many are using self-dissolvable stitches, so you don’t need them removed.
Korean surgeons are also specialized. Those specializing in eye surgery only perform those procedures, so they are the most experienced.
And lastly, even Korean clinics are starting to specialize in eye surgery, but we will cover that later in this guide.
Best Upper Eyelid Surgery Clinic In Seoul
It’s important to pick the right plastic surgery clinic for your upper eyelid surgery.
Seoul has over 500 plastic surgery clinics, which can make your decision about a clinic very stressful. However, you shouldn’t pick just any clinic or the cheapest one, as this can mean the difference between good and bad results.
Researching clinics is not the easiest thing to do. There are so many factors to consider. That is why we already did the necessary research and came up with great clinic choices for upper eyelid surgery.
We verified these clinics by:
- Visiting their facilities
- Checking their credentials and surgeons
- Going over customer reviews and track record
- Contacting former patients
- …
We made sure that these clinics satisfy our criteria and are the best choice for upper eyelid surgery. If you want the best chances at avoiding a botched surgery, these clinics are a go-to.
We will also give you a rundown of the most important factors to consider when looking at clinics.
Real And Verified Reviews
The first thing we believe it’s important when researching clinics is customer reviews.
When looking at reviews, we recommend you look at those about eye surgery, and among those, focus on reviews mentioning eyelid procedures.
If a clinic has great reviews for breast augmentation and only average ones for eye surgery, then you should look at another clinic.
The review above is for upper eyelid surgery at JW Plastic Surgery. This review also speaks about the quality of work done by Korean surgeons. Even after 4 years, the results are still holding up excellent and satisfying.
Another important thing is to watch out for fake reviews. Unfortunately, these are becoming popular, as clinics do everything to attract customers.
When we review clinics, we like to look at their Google reviews and those on their website. We also contact former patients to learn about their personal experiences with the clinic.
Clinic Specialization And Their Surgeons
Another thing we believe is important when looking for a clinic is the specialization of the clinic and its surgeons.
When looking for a clinic, we recommend to focus on those specializing in eye surgery. There are a lot of plastic surgery clinics in Seoul, and not all of them are a good choice for upper eyelid surgery.
Clinics usually do not have a specialization set. However, with research, we figured out the best procedures clinics perform.
What you want to look for in terms of specialization is:
- Which eye-related procedures do they perform
- Track record with eye or eyelid surgery
- Reviews about eyelid surgery (look above)
- Specialization of their surgeons
We believe that the last one, surgeon specialization, is key here. Typically, clinics have ”About Us” sections on their websites where they introduce surgeons. Here is what it may look like:
The example above is for a surgeon from JW Plastic Surgery. They are one of the clinics we recommend for upper eyelid surgery and eye surgery in general.
Another one of our recommendations is JK Plastic Surgery. Both clinics excel at eyelid surgery and have eye surgery specialists working there.
Simply put, clinics specializing in eye surgery, especially eyelid procedures, are the clinics you should look at and pick between.
Don’t forget to check their track record and reviews about eyelid surgery. They can tell you a lot about the clinic.
Clinics specializing in eye surgery, with specialized staff and a great track record and reviews about eyelid surgery, are the safest choice for upper eyelid surgery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting upper eyelid surgery in Korea is a great and safe choice.
Korea has some of the most experienced surgeons. Korean clinics have state-of-the-art facilities with only the most modern and best equipment for eye surgery.
Upper eyelid surgery is at least two times cheaper in Korea than in other countries. You will get an amazing price-to-value by going to Korea for upper eyelid surgery. Plus, there are plenty of ways to save even more money there.
Now that you’ve read this guide, you know everything you need to know about getting upper eyelid surgery in Korea.
Don’t forget to check out our list of recommended upper eyelid surgery clinics in Seoul.
Remember, picking a plastic surgery clinic is very important, so think it through and find the best one.
If you have any questions about how we find the best upper eyelid surgery clinic or any general questions, contact us.
We are confident we can help you have a stress-free and successful upper eyelid surgery in Korea. Write to us and we will answer you within 48 hours.
FAQ
How much does upper eyelid surgery cost in Korea?
The average cost of upper eyelid surgery in Korea is 2,460,000 KRW (=1,900 $).
However, the final cost varies based on different factors and can be lower or higher. It’s always best to demand a full-price quote from the clinic to understand what you are paying for.
Is upper eyelid surgery worth it?
If you want brighter, tighter, and more open eyes, then upper eyelid surgery is worth it. You will look more natural, youthful, and well-rested.
Upper eyelid surgery can also fix some problems caused by a sagging upper eyelid. It can be a great cosmetic procedure and also resolve some medical problems.