Surgery · Eyes

Best Double Eyelid Surgery in Korea: Choosing a Clinic

Best double eyelid surgery in Seoul, compared on the method, the crease and the follow-up

Gangnam, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
KHIDI-registered for international patients · Apgujeong Rewind

Choosing a Double Eyelid Surgeon Choosing a Double Eyelid Surgeon Choosing a Double Eyelid Surgeon Choosing a Double Eyelid Surgeon 
Crease

Choosing double eyelid surgery

How do you choose a clinic for double eyelid surgery in Korea?

The short answer

Pick the clinic whose surgeon can explain, for your own lids, why a buried-suture, partial-incision or full-incision method suits them, where the new crease will sit, and what happens if it loosens. Ask for the operating surgeon's specialty, the clinic's registration for international patients and an itemised quote. A double eyelid operation is short, but the decision about method and height shapes how the eyes look for years.

Lid skin thickness, the amount of fat above the eye and how far the lid covers the pupil decide which method is realistic. A surgeon who examines these and says so plainly gives you more to go on than a gallery of large, high creases.

Facts about Rewind on this page come from the clinic's eyelid pages, its price sheet and its registration details.

Double eyelid surgery is one of the operations visitors to Seoul ask about most, and many clinics in Gangnam list it. That makes the choice look easy and the differences hard to see. They show up when you ask each clinic the same questions about method, crease design and what happens afterwards.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi examining a patient's eyes at the consultation desk
Fig. 01 — Lid thickness and fat are judged by examination, not from a photo alone
Result

Before & After

Double eyelid results to look at, with what was done

When you compare double eyelid photos, check whether the pair shows the crease alone or a combined operation. The first case below had double eyelid surgery and nothing else; the second also had a medial epicanthoplasty in the same session, which changes the inner corner as well as the lid.

Rewind patients — upper eyelid crease

Before double eyelid surgery performed without any other procedure at Rewind After double eyelid surgery performed without any other procedure at Rewind BEFOREAFTER
case 01
Double eyelid surgery, no other procedure in the session
Individual results may vary.
Before non-incisional double eyelid surgery with a medial epicanthoplasty in the same session After non-incisional double eyelid surgery with a medial epicanthoplasty in the same session BEFOREAFTER
case 02
Non-incisional double eyelid + medial epicanthoplasty, same session
Individual results may vary.

Both pairs are Rewind patients, photographed by the clinic unretouched and published with written consent. Results differ from person to person and a particular crease cannot be promised. Swelling, bruising, asymmetry between the two lids, a crease that loosens or sits higher than planned, and a visible scar after incision are among the possible outcomes.

Check

Before you book

Best double eyelid surgery in Seoul: five things to confirm first

These five points can be raised by message before you book flights. Keep the written replies; they are the fairest way to compare clinics on the same terms.

check 01
Who designs the crease and operates
Ask for the operating surgeon by name and the specialty certification that surgeon holds. Crease design is part of the operation, so the person drawing the line should be the one who performs it.
check 02
Why this method for these lids
Ask why a buried-suture, partial-incision or full-incision method is proposed. Thick lid skin, extra fat or a lid that covers much of the pupil usually push the choice towards an incision.
check 03
Crease height and shape
Ask to see the planned line marked on your lid at consultation, and whether it is an in-line, semi-out-line or out-line shape. A crease set too high for the skin and fat is one cause of a heavy, swollen-looking result.
check 04
What happens if it loosens
Ask how a loosened buried-suture crease would be handled and what a revision costs. Rubbing the eyes hard or a knock to the lid can loosen buried sutures, so the answer matters.
check 05
Registration and the written quote
Ask for the clinic's KHIDI registration number for international patients and a quote that names the method, any combined procedure and whether VAT is included.
Method

Comparing approaches

Three double eyelid methods, and the question each raises

Most providers in Seoul offer some form of all three methods. What differs is how the method is chosen for you. Use the questions below whichever clinic you are comparing.

01Buried

Buried-suture, without an incision

The crease is held by sutures passed through the lid with no cut. Rewind's version fixes it at seven small points with a double tie. Ask whether your lid skin and fat suit a method that removes nothing, and what the loosening risk is for your eyes.

02Partial

Partial incision, a short opening

A cut of about 5 to 7 mm lets the surgeon remove some fat and tissue before fixing the crease. Ask whether that amount of access is enough for the fat in your lids, and how the short scar is expected to look as it fades.

03Full

Full incision along the crease

The line is opened along its length, excess fat and muscle are removed and the crease is sutured. Ask how long the scar usually stays red; Rewind's page says light make-up can usually cover it at about two months.

04Combined

Crease surgery with another eye procedure

Some plans add an epicanthoplasty or ptosis correction. Ask what each part changes on its own, how the recovery differs, and whether the combination was suggested because of your eyes or because it is a package.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi operating at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 02 — The method is decided before surgery, from the lid you have
Rewind

The same checks, applied here

How Rewind answers the double eyelid checklist

These are the clinic's published answers to the checks above, set out so you can compare them with what you hear at consultation.

01Surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi designs and operates

Dr. Choi, a board-certified plastic surgeon, marks the crease with you, performs the operation and sees you at review. His published work includes a paper on lower-lid surgery in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

02Methods

All three methods, four crease shapes

Rewind performs buried-suture, partial-incision and full-incision double eyelid surgery, and plans in-line, semi-out-line, in-out-line or out-line creases according to the eye. The choice is explained at examination.

03Revision

Revision prices published in advance

A revision by the buried method and a revision by incision each have their own listed price, shown below, so the cost of a second operation is known before the first.

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery paper on lower-lid surgery co-authored by Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Fig. 03 — Eyelid work the surgeon has published on can be looked up
Apgujeong

The clinic

Where double eyelid surgery at Rewind takes place

Procedure room prepared for surgery at Rewind Plastic Surgery

Fig. 04 — Eyelid surgery is carried out in the clinic's own rooms

Consultation room at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong

Fig. 05 — The crease is marked and agreed here first

Rewind Plastic Surgery is on the fourth and fifth floors of the Richro Building in Apgujeong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The consultation, the operation and the review visits for double eyelid surgery all take place there, by appointment, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 19:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00.

Method chosen after examining the lid
Crease marked on the lid before surgery
Revision prices listed in advance
Combined procedures quoted separately
Review dates set before you fly
Messages answered as soon as possible
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon at Rewind

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon, performs double eyelid surgery at Rewind. KHIDI registration for international patients: M-2025-01-08-09288.

Quote

Pricing

Double eyelid surgery prices at Rewind

Each method has its own listed price, and so do the two kinds of revision. Your quote names the method chosen at examination and anything combined with it.

Non-incisional (buried) double eyelidSeven-point double-tie fixation
₩1,200,000
Partial-incision double eyelidAbout 5–7 mm opening
₩1,800,000
Full-incision double eyelidIncision along the crease
₩2,900,000
Revision, buried methodSecond operation without incision
₩1,200,000
Revision, incisionalSecond operation through an incision
₩4,900,000
Medial epicanthoplastyInner-corner surgery, when planned with the crease
₩1,200,000

Prices are listed excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). The written quote lists the method, any combined procedure and every additional line before a date is fixed.

Fit

Suitability

Who double eyelid surgery tends to suit, and when to pause

Often a good fit when

  • Your eyes look tired or sleepy because the lid sits low
  • You raise your eyebrows to open your eyes fully
  • Less than about four-fifths of the pupil shows when you look ahead
  • An earlier buried-suture crease has loosened
  • You want a defined crease and can describe the shape you prefer

Worth pausing when

  • You hope one method will suit any lid, whatever its thickness
  • Your flight home leaves no room for stitch removal and a review
  • You tend to form raised scars and have not mentioned it
  • The crease you want is much higher than your skin and fat allow
  • The lid droops because the opening muscle is weak, which needs its own assessment
Stay

Planning the stay

Double eyelid aftercare to plan around your trip

Recovery depends on the method, so plan the length of your stay after the surgeon has chosen it. The clinic's own instructions give the outline.

First two days
Swelling and bruising
After the buried-suture method, swelling and bruising are expected for about the first 48 hours, varying from person to person.
Stitch removal
Washing the face
Face washing resumes from the day after the stitches come out. The removal date is set by the surgeon for the method used.
First weeks
Make-up, contacts and saunas
Eye make-up is avoided for one to two weeks after stitch removal. After the buried method, saunas and hard exercise are avoided for at least a week; after a partial incision, contact lenses, rubbing the eyes and alcohol are avoided for a period.
About two months
Incision scar
After full incision, the line is usually red at first and can typically be covered with light make-up by around two months.

Risks to discuss include bleeding, haematoma, infection, swelling, asymmetry, a crease that loosens, one set higher than intended and a visible scar. Hard rubbing or a knock to the lid can loosen a buried-suture crease. Results vary by individual.

Doctor

Professional

For double eyelid surgery, the crease is designed and sutured by the same hand. At Rewind that is the surgeon you meet at consultation.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery article co-authored by Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Fig. 06 — Peer-reviewed work is open to anyone to check

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

The right crease is the one
your lid can carry.

Board-certified plastic surgeon and medical director, author of ten peer-reviewed papers in craniofacial surgery and medical science journals.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Ask

Questions

Choosing a double eyelid surgeon: common questions

How do I know which double eyelid method suits my eyes?
The surgeon decides by examining lid skin thickness, the fat above the eye and how much the lid covers the pupil. Thin lids with little fat may suit the buried-suture method; thicker lids or extra fat usually point to a partial or full incision.
Can a buried-suture double eyelid loosen?
It can. Rewind fixes the crease at seven small points with a double tie to lower that risk, yet rubbing the eyes hard or a blow to the lid can still cause bleeding or swelling that loosens it. A revision by the buried method has its own listed price.
How long does an incision scar stay noticeable?
Healing varies with skin type. Rewind's page says the line is red at first and can usually be covered with light make-up at about two months, fading further over the following months. Tell the surgeon if you form raised scars easily.
How long should I stay in Seoul for double eyelid surgery?
Plan around the stitch removal and the first review, whose dates the surgeon sets for the method used. Swelling after the buried method is expected for about two days; incision methods take longer to settle, so confirm the dates before booking flights.
Can the crease be redone if I am unhappy with an earlier operation?
Often, yes. A loosened or misplaced crease can be revised by the buried method or through an incision, depending on what the examination finds. Bring the date and method of your earlier operation, and photos of your eyes before it, to the consultation.
Should I add an epicanthoplasty to double eyelid surgery?
Only if the inner fold is part of what you want changed. An epicanthoplasty alters the inner corner and adds its own scar and recovery. Ask the surgeon to show what the crease alone would achieve before deciding on a combination.
Is a higher crease more noticeable as a result?
A higher line is more visible, but a crease set too high for the skin and fat can look heavy and swollen. A surgeon who marks the line on your lid and explains its limits gives you a clearer picture than a sample photo.
Can I send photos of my eyes before booking?
Yes. Send front-facing photos with your eyes open and closed through the form below or WhatsApp, and Rewind replies as soon as possible. Any view from photos is provisional; the method is confirmed only at an in-person examination.
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile
★★★★★

Came to REWIND to get my facial treatment and i'm absolutely obsessed about it💞 the doctor is so kind and is an expert! Everyone must visit!

YunHee Hong2 weeks ago
★★★★★

There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts…

J. S.5 months ago
★★★★★

I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the…

J. Siou5 months ago
★★★★★

Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))

Kristie Chu5 months ago
★★★★★

I received a thread lift at Rewind Plastic Surgery. The clinic was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable. The consultation was thorough, and I felt confident because they kindly explained everything tailored to my facial condition. They…

한주연2 weeks ago · Translated by Google
Booking

Reservation

REWIND,booking

Send photos of your eyes open and closed, and any earlier eyelid surgery dates, and we reply as soon as possible.

Visit

REWIND,visit

For international patients — interpreter-assisted, from your first message to your follow-up.

Location
Apgujeong, Gangnam
4F & 5F, Richro Building,
812 Nonhyeon-ro,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours
Mon·Tue·Wed·Fri 10:00–19:00
Sat 10:00–16:00
Closed Sundays & Thursdays
Lunch 12:00–13:00
Consultation
In your language
WhatsApp · Instagram
Interpreter-assisted
consultations available
Registration
KHIDI Registered
Registered institution for
international patients
Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288

Scientific evidence

Research behind the double eyelid clinic checklist

The first paper reviews small-incision double eyelid techniques; the second reports a buried non-incisional method; the third describes a short-incision approach for Asian lids; the fourth sets out complications after eyelid surgery, the risks a consultation should cover. Their patients were not Rewind patients, and their findings describe groups rather than any one person.