Eye surgery in Gwangju

“Eye surgery” covers double-eyelid surgery, ptosis correction (adjusting eye-opening) and epicanthoplasty (widening the eye), among others. Even within it, creating a crease, adjusting the opening strength, and lengthening the eye each call for a different approach.

You might consider a consultation if you have no crease or an uneven one, if the eyes look small or sleepy, or if drooping eyelids make the field of view feel heavy. The consultation starts by assessing your current condition and discussing suitable options.

The amount of eyelid skin and fat, eye-opening strength, left–right asymmetry, eyebrow position and any previous eye surgery are reviewed. These can change which methods are usable and the expected recovery. Whether there is an existing crease and its line, and the epicanthal fold (whether epicanthoplasty is needed), are also checked.

In general it proceeds as consultation and design, anaesthesia, surgery and recovery. The anaesthesia and surgery time depend on the method and extent. At Cejong it is done under sedation, usually takes about 1 hour, and you go home the same day.

Swelling and bruising ease over time, and the crease settles naturally over a period. When stitches are removed and when you can return to daily life, washing and make-up varies from person to person. Stitches are usually removed after about 5–7 days; washing and light daily activity resume after about 2–7 days and make-up after about 7–10 days. The main swelling usually goes down over 1–2 weeks.

During recovery, avoid irritating or rubbing the eye area and adjust washing, make-up and contact-lens use as advised. Smoking, alcohol and some medications can affect recovery, so confirm these at the consultation. Avoid contact lenses and rubbing the eyes for about 1 week after the suture method, 2 weeks after the incisional method and about 1 month after ptosis correction. Use cold compresses for about 72 hours; we advise avoiding smoking for about 2–4 weeks, alcohol for about 2 weeks, and sauna and strenuous exercise for about 4 weeks.

As with any surgery, eye surgery carries possible side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, a crease fading or loosening, and infection; their degree and course differ between people. It is important to be fully informed about the possible risks and how they are managed at the consultation.

While double-eyelid surgery focuses on creating a crease, ptosis correction addresses eye-opening and upper blepharoplasty addresses an ageing, drooping upper lid. The suitability of each is judged at the consultation by your current eyes; see each page under “Related content”.

The non-incisional method fixes the crease with sutures and no incision, while the incisional method creates the crease through an incision. Which suits you depends on the eyelid's skin and fat and the durability you want, and is decided at the consultation.

They have different goals. Double-eyelid surgery creates a crease, while ptosis correction adjusts weakened eye-opening for a clearer look. The two are sometimes combined, judged by your current condition.

Swelling is most noticeable right after surgery and then eases; a natural crease can take longer to settle. The course varies between people. The main swelling usually goes down over 1–2 weeks.

The timing depends on when tissue stabilises after the previous surgery and on your current eyes. The consultation reviews what was done before together with your current condition. The timing is decided individually by age and current condition.

The natural-adhesion method is one way of forming a crease, guiding the skin and inner tissue to adhere naturally. Whether it suits you depends on the eyelid and is confirmed at the consultation. Cejong performs the natural-adhesion method when the eyelid suits it.