Ptosis Correction in Korea (Droopy Eyelid Surgery) — The Complete Guide for International Patients: Diagnosis, Methods, Recovery & Schedule

Last updated 2026-10-28

⏱Treatment time

Non-incisional about 30–60 minutes, incisional about 1–2 hours (half a day including consultation)

✋Pain

A pinch during the anesthetic injection, almost no pain during surgery, then a few days of tightness

🩹Downtime

Major swelling about 1 week for non-incisional / 1–2 weeks for incisional, stitches removed on day 5–7

🏨Recommended stay

Non-incisional 5–7 days / incisional 7–10 days (revision surgery 10 days or more)

✨Results begin

Looks natural in 1–2 months; final height and symmetry at 3–6 months

📅How long it lasts

Incisional results tend to last long; non-incisional results may weaken over time

🔁Sessions

1 surgery (touch-ups or revisions are usually considered after 3–6 months)

Send photos with your eyes open and closed, and we will tell you your degree of ptosis, the suitable method and the length of stay for freeGet a free consultation →

Contents

What Is Ptosis Correction — Why Eyes Look Sleepy
Diagnosis — What the Decision Is Based On
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Non-Incisional vs Incisional Ptosis Correction — At a Glance
What to Know When Combining with Double Eyelid Surgery
Risks and Side Effects — Over-Correction, Asymmetry, Incomplete Closure
Recovery — How It Progresses Day by Day
Sample Stay Plan — 7–10 Days
Precautions for Lenses, Makeup and Travel
Questions to Ask at Your Consultation
How to Choose a Clinic

What Is Ptosis Correction — Why Eyes Look Sleepy

Ptosis correction strengthens the muscle that opens the eye (the levator muscle) so the upper eyelid covers less of the dark part of the eye. Medically, a condition in which the upper eyelid droops lower than normal and covers the pupil area is called ptosis (blepharoptosis), and ptosis correction is the everyday name for the surgery that corrects it.

Consider a consultation if you notice these signs

You always look sleepy or tired, even with a double eyelid
You strain your forehead to open your eyes and the horizontal wrinkles have deepened
You unconsciously raise your eyebrows to open your eyes (compensation)
Your eyelids feel heavier in the afternoon and your eyes tire easily
Your two eyes open to different heights, so they look uneven

Some people are born with a weak muscle, but acquired ptosis is also common: the membrane that connects the muscle loosens with age, or long-term contact lens wear and frequent eye rubbing take a toll.

Diagnosis — What the Decision Is Based On

In the consultation, the doctor looks at how much the upper eyelid covers the dark part of the eye when your eyes are comfortably open. The distance from the center of the pupil to the edge of the upper eyelid (MRD) and the range of movement of the muscle that lifts the eyelid are checked together to grade the severity of the ptosis.

What is checked	Why it matters
How much the eyelid covers the pupil	Determines mild, moderate or severe, and the choice of method
Range of muscle movement	Decides whether the muscle can be tightened or another method is needed
Forehead/eyebrow compensation	Predicts changes in eyebrow position and forehead wrinkles after surgery
Eyelid skin laxity and fat volume	Tells true ptosis apart from "pseudoptosis," where excess skin covers the eye
Dry eye and eyelid closure	Assesses the risk of dryness after surgery

If one eyelid has suddenly drooped, or you have other symptoms such as double vision, see an eye doctor or neurologist before a cosmetic consultation. If only the skin is sagging, upper eyelid surgery may be more suitable than ptosis correction.

Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful

People who have been told during a double eyelid consultation that their eye-opening strength is weak
People who habitually open their eyes by wrinkling the forehead or raising the eyebrows
People who still look sleepy after a previous double eyelid surgery (revision consultation)
People bothered by a difference in eye-opening height between left and right

Be careful if you have: severe dry eye or thyroid eye disease, recent vision correction surgery, use of blood thinners, or a keloid tendency. Severe ptosis with a very weak muscle may need a different surgical method, so an examination is essential.

Non-Incisional vs Incisional Ptosis Correction — At a Glance

	Non-incisional ptosis correction	Incisional ptosis correction
Method	Sutures are passed through tiny openings to tie and pull up the muscle	The eyelid is opened and the muscle/membrane is pulled and fixed directly
Best suited for	Mild ptosis, thin eyelids, fine correction of uneven eyes	Moderate or greater ptosis, thick eyelids or sagging skin, revision surgery
Surgery time	About 30–60 minutes	About 1–2 hours
Major swelling	About 1 week	1–2 weeks
Stitch removal	None, or only short stitches (varies by clinic)	Day 5–7
When it looks natural	1–2 months	2–3 months (final at 3–6 months)
Longevity	May weaken over time	Tends to last long

It is not that "non-incisional is better because recovery is faster"; what matters is choosing the method that fits your degree of ptosis and eyelid thickness. If your ptosis is moderate or greater, a non-incisional approach may under-correct or loosen quickly.

What to Know When Combining with Double Eyelid Surgery

In Korea, ptosis correction is often done together with double eyelid surgery. Because the eye-opening strength is reinforced first and the crease is set on top of it, the line looks sharper and less sleepy than with double eyelid surgery alone.

Because your eyes open wider, the crease can look narrower than it did at the consultation, so the height is designed together with the ptosis correction
Surgery is usually done with you sitting up or opening your eyes to check left-right height, so local anesthesia is the standard
Swelling lasts a little longer than with double eyelid surgery alone, so plan a longer recovery schedule
Inner corner (epicanthoplasty) and under-eye fat procedures only when truly needed — they are hard to reverse, so ask for a full explanation of why

Risks and Side Effects — Over-Correction, Asymmetry, Incomplete Closure

Symptom	Explanation	What to do
Over-correction	Eyes open too wide and look startled, white of the eye visible	May be early swelling, so observe; adjust if it persists
Under-correction / loosening	Still looks sleepy, or droops again over time	Re-correction is usually considered after 3–6 months
Left-right asymmetry	Difference in eye-opening height between the two eyes	Early swelling differences are common; observe for weeks to months
Incomplete eye closure / dryness	Eyes close slightly less fully during sleep, with dryness and tearing	Usually temporary; managed with artificial tears and eye ointment
Crease line problems	Crease looks too high or doubled	Judge after swelling subsides; correct if needed

Ptosis correction demands more delicate control of symmetry and height than double eyelid surgery. Uneven eyes and dryness in the first few weeks are common, and it is generally decided whether to revise only after the swelling has fully gone down.

Recovery — How It Progresses Day by Day

Day of surgery
Swelling and tightness, a feeling that the eyes do not fully close. Keep your head raised and use cold compresses.
Days 2–3
Swelling peaks. Your eyes may open less at first, or look too wide open.
Days 5–7
Stitches removed for the incisional method. For non-incisional, major swelling subsides and going out gets easier.
Weeks 2–3
Most bruising has faded, and light makeup and daily life are possible. Dryness may remain.
Months 1–3
Remaining swelling goes down and eye-opening height and crease settle.
Months 3–6
Final height and symmetry can be assessed and scars fade. This is when a decision on re-correction is made.

Sample Stay Plan — 7–10 Days

Incisional ptosis correction (sample 8 nights / 9 days)

Day 1
Arrive → consultation, ptosis grading and choice of method
Day 2
Surgery → rest at accommodation near the clinic
Days 3–5
Cold compresses, cleaning, check-ups; mostly indoors
Days 6–7
After stitch removal, go out with sunglasses
Days 8–9
Light sightseeing (no sauna or alcohol) → final check-up, then fly home

We recommend 5–7 days for non-incisional, 7–10 days for incisional, and 10 days or more for revision surgery or when combined with canthoplasty. If you have work or an event right after returning home, allow 2–3 weeks.

Tell us your travel dates and we will plan the schedule from consultation and surgery to stitch removal and your flight homeGet a free consultation →

Precautions for Lenses, Makeup and Travel

Item	Recommended timing (general range)
Glasses	From the day of surgery (do not press around the eyes)
Contact lenses	1–2 weeks after stitch removal; about 1–2 weeks for non-incisional
Washing your face	Gently from the next day for non-incisional; from the day after stitch removal for incisional
Eye makeup	After about 2 weeks
Sauna, alcohol, intense exercise	Avoid for about 1 month

Remember these while traveling

Cabins and hotels are dry, so bring artificial tears and eye ointment
Block UV and wind with sunglasses and a hat
Do not rub your eyes or sleep face down; sleep with your head raised for the first week
Do not rush back to lenses; stick mainly to glasses — long-term lens wear can contribute to ptosis recurring

Questions to Ask at Your Consultation

When you travel from abroad you may only get one or two consultations. Jot down the questions below and bring them. Your manager will prepare and interpret them in advance.

Is my condition ptosis or sagging skin? How severe is it?
Which is right for me, non-incisional or incisional, and why?
How will my double eyelid height change after ptosis correction?
Will the doctor who consults me perform the surgery personally?
Do you have me open my eyes during surgery to check left-right height?
If over-correction or asymmetry occurs, when and how is it corrected?
When is the stitch removal date, and when can I fly home?
How is dryness managed if it occurs?
Can you review my progress from photos after I return home?
Can I get a record of the surgery (method and fixation technique)?

How to Choose a Clinic

Whether a specialist experienced in eye plastic surgery and ptosis correction personally consults and operates
Whether they explain the basis of diagnosis (MRD, muscle strength) and tell you if surgery is unnecessary
Whether they have revision experience and explain re-correction criteria in advance
Monitoring system for sleep anesthesia, and whether you can request CCTV recording of the operating room
Whether they offer foreign-language support and review your progress from photos after you go home

KBEAU connects you with partner clinics in Gangnam and Apgujeong led by board-certified plastic surgeons. Send photos with your eyes comfortably open, closed and looking up, and we will tell you in advance which methods are possible and how many days you need to stay. A dedicated manager accompanies and interprets for you through consultation, surgery and stitch removal. We can also arrange a recovery hotel near the clinic and an airport pickup car.

Partner clinics offering this treatment

CARAMEL PLASTIC SURGERYGangnam, Seoul성형외과 · 눈성형 · 코성형 · 코 재수술 ICON PLASTIC SURGERYSeoul Apgujeong성형외과 · 눈성형 · 코성형 · 안면윤곽 NEXT Plastic Surgery ClinicGangnam, Seoul가슴성형 · 가슴재수술 · 체형 & 힙업 · 눈성형 IS-ON CLINICSeoul Apgujeong레이저와 리프팅 · 보톡스 · 필러 · 스킨부스터 등 비수술적 시술과 상안검을 비롯한 성형수술 IEUL SKIN CLINICGangnam, Seoul색소 미백 · 난치성 반점 · 탄력 개선 리프팅 · 여드름 흉터

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need to stay in Korea after ptosis correction?

For non-incisional, 5–7 days; for incisional, we recommend 7–10 days so that you fly home after stitches are removed on day 5–7. For revision surgery or when combined with canthoplasty, 10 days or more is safer.

How can I tell if I have ptosis?

If, with your eyes comfortably open, the upper eyelid covers a lot of the dark part of the eye, or you have to strain your forehead to open your eyes, ptosis is possible. A proper diagnosis requires an examination; send us photos and we will get a doctor's opinion first.

Which is better, non-incisional or incisional?

There is no single right answer. Non-incisional often suits mild ptosis and thin eyelids, while incisional often suits moderate or greater ptosis, thick or sagging skin, and revision surgery.

Do I have to have double eyelid surgery at the same time?

Not necessarily, but if you already have a crease or want one, it is often done in a single operation. Recovery is planned a little longer if you combine them.

Can contact lenses cause ptosis?

It is known that long-term wear of lenses such as hard lenses, with frequent pulling or rubbing of the eyelid, can loosen the membrane that connects the muscle. It is best to manage your lens habits after surgery as well.

What if my eyes do not close well after surgery?

Early on, your eyes may close slightly less fully during sleep and feel dry, which usually improves as swelling goes down. Manage it with artificial tears and eye ointment, and tell your manager right away if you have severe pain or redness.

If my eyes look uneven in height, will I need revision surgery?

Early asymmetry is often a difference in swelling, so we usually wait 3–6 months before deciding on re-correction.

Will my forehead wrinkles improve too?

As the habit of straining your forehead to open your eyes eases, forehead wrinkles sometimes become less pronounced, but this varies from person to person and cannot be guaranteed.

When can I fly after surgery?

For non-incisional, often a few days later; for incisional, after stitch removal once your doctor confirms. Cabins are dry, so bring artificial tears.

Can I have a ptosis correction done elsewhere redone?

Often it can, but it is trickier than a first surgery and needs an experienced doctor. Bring your previous surgery records and photos so the consultation can be accurate.