The lowdown on eye plastic surgery in Korea

Eye plastic surgery is one of the most common cosmetic surgery done in South Korea. In fact, it has become almost like a rite of passage for most high school graduates and college students in Korea.

While some want double eyelids, others want an attractive eye shape, and a handful others just want to fix their droopy eyes. Naturally, everyone has a different eye for beauty as well as a specific look that they want their eyes to convey.

And if you don’t like the way your eyes look now, there is nothing stopping you from achieving your preferred eye shape. Here are the different types of eye plastic surgery available to help you achieve more attractive looking eyes.

The golden ratio for beautiful eyes

Without a doubt, the golden ratio differs amongst individuals because everyone is born with different eye shape, features and face shape. The key to beautiful eyes is finding the balance between your eyes, nose and face shape.

Here is a rough guide for finding the optimal ratio for your eyes:

1:1:1 is the ideal ratio for length of eyes and distance between the eyes.

Inner corner of your eyes and corner of nose should be vertically aligned while the outer tail of your eyes and corner of nose should be diagonally aligned.

Ideal degree of eye slant from the inner corner of your eye to the tail of your eye is 5~8°.

Candidates for eye plastic surgery

Plastic surgery for eyes is for anyone who is not satisfied with the appearance of their eyes. However, it not only has aesthetic purposes, but also functional purposes. Generally, eye plastic surgery can help those who are seeking to:

• Change the appearance of their eyes
• Fix drooping eyelids that are blocking their vision
• Fix sleepy-looking or saggy-looking eyes
• Correct under-eye bags and dark circles
• Rectify sunken eyes due to aging
• Get rid of multiple creases on their eyelids
• Define and achieve more attractive-looking eyes

Depending on your current eye shape, the look that you want to achieve and your expectations, you might need to undergo a few types of eye plastic surgery.

Types of eye plastic surgery available

1. Double eyelid surgery

This is one of the most commonly undergone cosmetic surgery in Korea. Double eyelid surgery can create double eyelids for those with monolids – instant “opening up” their eyes to create brighter and clearer eyes.

This procedure can address issues such as:

2. Canthoplasty

Essentially, canthoplasty surgery alters eye shapes by reshaping the inner or outer or inner and outer corners of your eyes. Generally, there are 4 types of canthoplasty procedures:

• Epicanthoplasty: Reshaping the inner corner of your eyes
• Lateral canthoplasty: Extending the tail of your eyes horizontally
• Lateral hotz (lower canthoplasty): Reshaping the tail of your eyes vertically downward
• Dual canthoplasty: Reshaping the outer corners of your eyes both horizontally and vertically.

This procedure can address issues such as:

3. Ptosis correction

Ptosis refers to a condition where your upper eyelids droop. Sometimes, it’s barely noticeable so we don’t know that we have it. Other times, it is so obvious and severe that it affects how you look and blocks your vision.

Even if it’s mild ptosis, you should get it treated by going for ptosis correction surgery. Because prolonged ptosis can cause poor vision and forehead wrinkles – the result of using your forehead muscles to “open” your eyes in the long run.

This procedure can address issues such as:

• Sleepy or tired-looking eyes
• Lazy eyes
• Drooping eyelids
• Undefined eyelids

4. Revision eye surgery

Revision eye surgery is for those who are either not satisfied with the result of their previous eye surgery or have experienced blotched eye surgeries. If you are looking for a revision, doctors recommend to wait at least 6 months, to give your eyes enough time to heal from your prior surgery.

Also, correcting a botched eye surgery is a very delicate and complicated task so it very important for you to get a doctor who is skilled in corrective surgeries for your revision.

4. Eye bag surgery

Eye bags makes you look tired and older than you really are. There are 2 types of procedures available to address this issue – eye bag removal surgery and under eye fat repositioning surgery, the latter being the most recommended procedure because in many cases, complete removal of eye bags can lead to sunken eyes.

This procedure address issues such as:

• Bulging eye bags
• Excessive fats under your eyes
• Severe dark circles caused by existing eye bags

Some may also consider getting facial fillers to address their eye bags issue but those results are sadly, temporary.

5. Forehead lift surgery

Forehead lifting such as endotine forehead lift and traditional forehead lift, are anti-aging cosmetic procedures that enhances the appearance of your forehead, eyebrow and eye area. It used to remove excess skin and reposition muscles and tissues in the forehead.

This procedure address issues such as:

• Sagging eyebrows
• Asymmetrical brows
• Frown lines
• Sagging eyelids caused by saggy brows

Downtime & recovery of eye plastic surgery

Depending on one’s health condition and healing responses, the downtime and recovery time needed varies among individuals. Here’s a guide to the downtime (major bruising and swelling) and total recovery time needed for eye plastic surgery.

Generally, hospitalization is not required for eye plastic surgeries in Korea. And typically, stitches are removed on the 7th day after the eye surgery. So, do stay in Korea until your stitches are removed. And go shopping in the meantime!

Conclusion

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. And undergoing cosmetic surgery for your eyes can subtly enhance or sometimes, drastically change your appearance, in a good way, of course.

And which is the best country to get it but South Korea – where it is estimated that 1 out 5 Koreans get plastic surgery for eyes. Because, practice makes perfect, isn’t it?