Double Eyelid Surgery (Incisional/Non-Incisional)

Double Eyelid Surgery (Incisional/Non-Incisional)

Reviewer Details

Medically reviewed by Dr. Choi deokho, Representative Director & Plastic Surgeon, Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Registered as the clinic's legal representative in the Korean National Tax Service registry, Full Member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons · Last reviewed 2026-08-18 · Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Double eyelid surgery creates or reinforces a crease in the upper eyelid, giving the eye a more open, defined, and symmetrical appearance. At Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul, the procedure is performed using a non-incisional (suture) technique, a partial-incision technique, or a full incisional technique, with the specific approach selected according to each patient's eyelid fat volume, skin elasticity, and existing crease.

What Is Double Eyelid Surgery?

Double eyelid surgery is a plastic-surgery procedure that creates or reinforces an upper-eyelid crease using sutures placed through small openings, a small incision to remove fat before the crease is formed, or a full incision along the eyelid, with the technique chosen according to the patient's eyelid anatomy.

• Non-incisional technique connects eyelid skin and muscle using 2-3 sutures through small openings, without a conventional continuous incision.

• Partial-incision technique uses an approximately 3mm incision to remove accumulated eyelid fat before the crease is created with the non-incisional method.

• Incisional technique places a full incision along the planned eyelid crease line, allowing direct adjustment of eyelid tissue.

• Performed under local anesthesia, in some cases combined with sedation depending on the technique and whether it is combined with another procedure.

• Can be performed as a standalone procedure or, when clinically appropriate, together with upper-eyelid wrinkle (eye-wrinkle) removal surgery in the same session.

Who Performs Double Eyelid Surgery at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

Dr. Choi deokho
Representative Director and plastic surgeon

Dr. Choi deokho is the Representative Director and plastic surgeon at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic, with approximately 25 years associated with the clinic since its founding in 2001. His stated core specializations include facial plastic surgery with a specific focus on eye surgery and eye revision, alongside rhinoplasty and facial contouring, and he holds full membership in the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the Korean Society for Microsurgery, the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Before recommending a specific double eyelid technique, Dr. Choi evaluates each patient's eyelid fat volume, skin elasticity, and any pre-existing crease, since these anatomical factors — rather than a patient's stated preference alone — largely determine which of the three approaches is likely to hold up well over time. A patient who requests a specific technique by name, such as the non-incisional method, is still examined individually before that technique is confirmed, because a crease created with sutures alone in an eyelid carrying more fat or looser skin is more likely to loosen or disappear than one created with a partial-incision or full incisional approach suited to that anatomy. This anatomy-first evaluation is treated as a core part of the consultation rather than a formality that precedes a technique the patient has already chosen for themselves.

Double Eyelid Surgery Options Available

Non-Incisional Double Eyelid	Partial-Incision Double Eyelid	Incisional Double Eyelid
Eyelid skin and muscle connected with 2-3 sutures through small openings; no conventional continuous incision	Small (~3mm) incision made to remove accumulated eyelid fat, then the crease is created using the non-incisional technique	Full incision placed along the planned eyelid crease line for direct adjustment of eyelid tissue
Best suited to smaller or normal-sized eyes with relatively low eyelid fat and elastic skin	Best suited to eyelids that have some fat needing removal before a durable crease can be created	Best suited to thicker eyelids, greater fat volume, or looser/excess eyelid skin
Shorter surgery time and generally faster early recovery than the incisional method	Combines features of both the non-incisional and incisional approaches	Allows more extensive, direct correction of eyelid fat and skin
No conventional external scar	Limited incision scar, generally well-concealed within the new crease	Scar placed within the natural eyelid crease line, intended to be well-concealed once healed

Choosing between these three approaches is not simply a matter of selecting whichever sounds least invasive. Eyelid fat volume and skin elasticity meaningfully constrain which technique will hold its result over time: an eyelid with little excess fat and reasonably elastic skin is generally well suited to the non-incisional method, since there is little tissue that needs to be removed and the small sutured openings heal with minimal visible trace. An eyelid carrying some accumulated fat, but not enough to require extensive tissue removal, is often better served by the partial-incision technique, which uses a limited incision specifically to address that fat before the crease is formed with the non-incisional approach — effectively combining the durability benefit of fat removal with a smaller access point than a full incision. An eyelid with more fat, looser or excess skin, or a patient seeking more extensive correction is generally directed toward the full incisional technique, which allows the surgeon to work directly on the eyelid tissue rather than working through small openings alone.

Anesthesia for double eyelid surgery is typically local, in some cases combined with sedation depending on the technique used and whether the procedure is combined with another eyelid treatment in the same session; the exact anesthesia plan is confirmed individually with the surgeon rather than assumed in advance. As general guidance, upper-eyelid procedures of this kind often take in the broad range of 45 to 60 minutes, though the exact duration for any individual patient depends on the technique selected and whether additional correction is performed at the same time, and should be confirmed with the surgeon rather than treated as a fixed figure. The non-incisional technique is generally associated with a shorter surgery time and a faster early recovery than the incisional technique, largely because it avoids a continuous incision and the associated wound-healing period; the partial-incision technique falls between the two, reflecting its combination of a limited incision with the suture-based crease-forming method.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Double Eyelid Surgery?

• Healthy adults who want to create or improve a defined upper-eyelid crease, with realistic expectations about the outcome.

• Patients with small or normal-sized eyes, relatively low eyelid fat, and elastic skin, generally well suited to the non-incisional technique.

• Patients with some accumulated eyelid fat that needs to be addressed before a durable crease can be created, generally well suited to the partial-incision technique.

• Patients with thicker eyelids, greater fat volume, or looser/excess eyelid skin requiring more direct tissue adjustment, generally well suited to the incisional technique.

• Patients without active eye or eyelid-skin infection and without uncontrolled medical conditions that would increase surgical risk.

• Patients able to disclose a complete medical and medication history, including any prior eyelid or eye surgery, before a technique is confirmed.

• Patients whose primary concern is upper-eyelid crease definition rather than a drooping eyelid affecting the visual field, since the latter concern is generally evaluated as eyelid ptosis correction rather than crease-creation surgery alone.

• Patients with significant eyelid fat or skin characteristics unsuited to a suture-only technique are generally not appropriate candidates for the non-incisional method alone, until an alternative technique is planned with the surgeon.

What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery, and Results Timeline

Stage	What Typically Happens
Day 0 (Day of Surgery)	Local anesthesia, in some cases with sedation; non-incisional surgery uses small sutured openings, while partial-incision and incisional surgery use a marked incision line
Day 1-3	Swelling and bruising are most noticeable; non-incisional swelling is commonly reduced to some degree within about 2-3 days
Day 5-10	Bruising continues to fade for most patients; many feel comfortable resuming routine activity, though incisional techniques generally require more time than non-incisional
Week 4-8	The eyelid crease and surrounding tissue continue to settle as residual swelling gradually resolves
Month 12+	The crease is generally considered stable and long-lasting, though natural aging of the eyelid and surrounding skin continues afterward

Before surgery, patients are generally asked to provide a complete medical and medication history, including any prior eyelid or eye surgery, and to review any medications or supplements that can increase bleeding risk, typically pausing them only on the surgeon's advice and typically 1-2 weeks beforehand. Smoking and excess alcohol are generally discouraged before surgery because both can affect healing and bleeding risk, and patients should arrange transportation home after the procedure since sedation may be used depending on the technique.

Aftercare commonly includes cold compresses during the first 24-48 hours to reduce swelling, prescribed eye ointment or drops when indicated, keeping the head elevated while sleeping, avoiding rubbing the eyes, and attending scheduled follow-up visits. Follow-up is particularly important for incisional and partial-incision techniques, where sutures may need to be checked or removed, while non-incisional surgery involves closer monitoring of the sutured openings as they heal.

International patients evaluating double eyelid surgery in Seoul commonly weigh how much time to allow for surgery and early follow-up before flying home. Because recovery timelines vary by the specific technique used, the appropriate length of stay should always be confirmed individually with the surgeon; some patients undergoing eyelid procedures have been advised to allow approximately five to ten days for surgery and early follow-up before traveling home. Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic offers English-language consultation and an online contact channel to support this planning for patients traveling from abroad.

Combining Double Eyelid Surgery with Other Treatments

• Double eyelid surgery can be performed together with upper-eyelid wrinkle (eye-wrinkle) removal surgery in the same session when a patient's eyelids show both a lack of crease definition and age-related upper-eyelid skin laxity.

• Patients whose concerns extend to the lower eyelid — such as under-eye puffiness, dark circles, or a hollow appearance — may separately discuss the clinic's Under-Eye Fat Repositioning procedure, which addresses the lower lid independently of upper-eyelid correction.

• Patients dissatisfied with a previous double eyelid result, rather than pursuing a first-time procedure, are evaluated for double eyelid revision surgery instead, since a prior procedure carries its own distinct set of anatomical considerations tied to existing scar tissue.

• Whether to combine procedures in a single session or stage them separately depends on the patient's overall health, the combined anesthesia and recovery time involved, and — for international patients specifically — how much time is realistically available in Korea for recovery and follow-up.

Safety, Precision, and Clinic Standards

Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic is a Registered Medical Institution for Attracting Foreign Patients, certified by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Medical Overseas Expansion and Foreign Patients Attraction Act. Dr. Choi deokho is a full member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Patient assessment before double eyelid surgery includes a review of eyelid fat, skin elasticity, and existing crease, along with medical history and current medications, before a specific technique is confirmed. As with any eyelid surgery, temporary swelling, bruising, and asymmetry are possible, and postoperative swelling or a hematoma from bleeding can temporarily affect the apparent size of the new double eyelid (see ASPS — Eyelid Surgery Safety). Sterile surgical technique and correct technique selection for each eyelid are treated as baseline requirements rather than differentiators, and scheduled postoperative follow-up is treated as an integral part of risk reduction rather than an optional courtesy visit, since a missed follow-up can delay identification of a complication that would otherwise be manageable if caught early. Patients are encouraged to raise any concerning symptom — unusual pain, vision changes, or asymmetric swelling — with the clinic promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled appointment.

The Bottom Line

• Double eyelid surgery at Good-Line is offered in three techniques — non-incisional, partial-incision, and incisional — matched to each patient's eyelid fat, skin elasticity, and existing crease.

• The non-incisional method generally offers the shortest surgery time and fastest early recovery, while the incisional method allows the most extensive correction of fat and excess skin.

• Reviewed and performed under Dr. Choi deokho, a board-registered, experienced plastic surgeon with roughly 25 years at the clinic and a specific stated focus on eye surgery and eye revision.

• Results are considered long-lasting, though a durable crease depends on matching the technique to the patient's anatomy rather than to the patient's initial preference alone.

• Double eyelid surgery can be combined with upper-eyelid wrinkle removal in the same session, and patients with lower-eyelid concerns or a prior unsatisfactory result are evaluated through separate, dedicated procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the actual difference between non-incisional, partial-incision, and incisional double eyelid surgery? The non-incisional method uses 2-3 sutures through small openings to connect eyelid skin and muscle, without a continuous incision, and generally suits eyes with low fat and elastic skin. The partial-incision method adds a small (~3mm) incision to remove accumulated fat before the crease is formed with the non-incisional technique. The incisional method places a full incision along the eyelid crease line, allowing more direct correction of eyelid fat and excess skin, and is generally suited to thicker or looser eyelids.

How painful is double eyelid surgery? Local anesthesia is used during the procedure itself, so significant pain during surgery is not expected. Afterward, some swelling, tightness, or bruising is common across all three techniques and is generally manageable with cold compresses and, if prescribed, pain medication.

How long is recovery for each technique? Swelling from the non-incisional method is commonly reduced to some degree within about 2-3 days, generally the fastest of the three approaches. The partial-incision and incisional techniques typically involve a somewhat longer early recovery because of the additional incision, though most patients across all three techniques feel comfortable resuming routine activity within roughly one to two weeks, with final settling of the crease continuing over a longer period.

Will double eyelid surgery leave a visible scar? The non-incisional technique uses small sutured openings rather than a continuous incision and is designed to avoid a conventional visible scar. The partial-incision technique leaves a limited scar that is generally well-concealed within the newly created crease. The incisional technique places its scar within the natural eyelid crease line specifically so that it is well-concealed once healing is complete.

Can double eyelid surgery be combined with other procedures? Yes — double eyelid surgery is sometimes performed together with upper-eyelid wrinkle removal surgery in the same session when both concerns are present. Whether combining procedures is appropriate depends on the patient's anatomy, overall health, and the total anesthesia and recovery time involved, and is assessed individually during consultation.

Is the double eyelid crease permanent once it forms? Results are generally considered long-lasting once the eyelid has fully settled, though natural aging of the eyelid and surrounding skin continues afterward regardless of technique. A crease created with a technique poorly matched to the patient's eyelid fat and skin elasticity — for example, a non-incisional crease placed in an eyelid with more fat than ideal for that method — carries a comparatively higher chance of loosening over time, which is a central reason the surgeon's physical examination, not patient preference alone, guides technique selection.

What happens if I'm not happy with a previous double eyelid surgery, whether from Good-Line or another clinic? Patients dissatisfied with a prior double-eyelid result — including asymmetry, an overly high or low crease, scarring, or loss of the crease — are evaluated separately for double eyelid revision surgery. That evaluation reviews the previous surgery, existing scar tissue, and current eyelid skin and function, since revision cases involve different anatomical considerations than a first-time procedure.

How many days should I plan to stay in Korea for double eyelid surgery? The appropriate length of stay depends on the specific technique used and individual healing; allow approximately five to ten days for surgery and early follow-up as a general guide, though this should be confirmed directly with the clinic for your specific technique and any combined procedures.

Book a Consultation at Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic

To discuss whether the non-incisional, partial-incision, or incisional technique best fits your eyelid anatomy and aesthetic goals, contact Good-Line Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam-gu, Seoul at +82 2 543 1830 or through the clinic's online contact form. A consultation with Dr. Choi deokho is the only reliable way to determine which double eyelid technique is appropriate for your specific eyelid fat, skin elasticity, and existing crease.

Disclaimer

This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Candidacy, technique, and expected outcomes can only be determined through a consultation with a qualified physician.

Sources & Further Reading

• ASPS — Eyelid Surgery

• EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology) — Asian Blepharoplasty