qd eye surgery
Double eyelid surgery forms or defines a crease on the upper eyelid, and can be tailored with several methods — non-incision (buried suture), partial-incision and incision — plus options such as ptosis correction and corner-widening (epicanthoplasty and canthoplasty). At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the method is chosen to fit your eyelid thickness, skin and goals, under local anesthesia with optional light sedation. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- A monolid, or a faint, uneven or partial crease you would like defined
- A crease that varies day to day or has faded over time
- A sleepy-looking eye that may also involve mild ptosis
- Those revising an earlier eyelid result (assessed individually)
The right method — and whether ptosis correction or corner-widening is added — is decided after an eye assessment at consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
Skin thickness, how much fat there is, and what it takes for a line to hold
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all in one plan.
the
principle
Alongside shape, we examine how the eye opens and closes, the ocular surface, the fat, skin and adhesions, then set the incision and the extent of correction.
A double-eyelid crease forms where the skin is anchored to the deeper lid structures. In the non-incision (buried suture) method, fine sutures are passed through small puncture points to create that anchoring without a long cut, which suits thinner lids with little excess skin and generally recovers faster, though the crease can loosen over time. The partial-incision method uses a few small openings for slightly fuller lids. The incision method opens along the planned crease to adjust skin, muscle and fat and set a more durable line, suited to thicker lids or excess skin. Ptosis correction adjusts the lid-lifting muscle for a sleepy eye, while epicanthoplasty (medial) and lateral or lower canthoplasty adjust the eye corners. Revision is assessed individually.
How it works
01
A crease is an anchor point
A double-eyelid crease forms where the skin is anchored to the deeper lid structures; the surgery creates or reinforces that anchoring.
02
Non-incision, partial or full incision
Non-incision (buried suture) passes fine sutures through small punctures — suited to thinner lids, with faster recovery, though it can loosen over time. The incision method opens along the crease to adjust skin, muscle and fat for a more durable line; partial-incision sits in between.
03
Optional ptosis correction
Where a sleepy-looking eye involves mild ptosis, the lid-lifting muscle can be adjusted at the same time.
04
Optional corner adjustment
Epicanthoplasty opens the inner corner and lateral or lower canthoplasty adjusts the outer or lower corner. Performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Double eyelid surgery forms or defines a crease on the upper eyelid, and can be tailored with several methods — non-incision (buried suture), partial-incision and incision — plus options such as ptosis correction and corner-widening (epicanthoplasty and canthoplasty). At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the method is chosen to fit your eyelid thickness, skin and goals, under local anesthesia with optional light sedation. (Results vary by individual.)
Anatomy and function exam
We check the front and side views and expression, left-right differences, skin and deep tissue, and scars and function from earlier surgery.
Comparing scope and method
We compare incision and dissection, how much is removed, repositioned or fixed, the pros and cons of materials, and the option of no surgery at all.
Surgery and recovery plan
Anesthesia, preventing bleeding and infection, wound care, swelling and changes in sensation, and when to be seen again — all set out in one plan.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation, eye assessment and design of the crease and eye shape
- Local anesthesia (with optional light sedation)
- Chosen method — buried sutures, or a partial or full crease incision
- Added steps as planned — ptosis correction or corner-widening
- Closure where incised, recovery and aftercare guidance
Time: The procedure takes about 30–60 minutes depending on the method and any added steps.
Please read this before treatment
- Performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation; you can usually go home the same day.
- The non-incision method has no long external wound and recovers faster; incision and partial-incision methods use fine sutures usually removed at about 5–7 days.
- Swelling and possible bruising are greater with incision methods, easing over about 1–2 weeks, while the line settles over a few months; cold compresses and head elevation help.
- Side effects such as swelling, bruising, asymmetry, a crease that loosens, or scarring may occur and are explained at consultation.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary swelling and bruising, greater with incision methods
- Asymmetry, or a crease that sits unevenly
- A buried-suture line that loosens or fades over time
- Tightness or brief difficulty closing the eyes fully early on
- Scarring with incision methods, or rarely a small suture-related bump
When to take extra care
- Bleeding disorders or blood-thinning medication — tell your doctor
- A history of significant dry eye or thyroid eye disease
- A tendency to keloid or difficulty with wound healing
- Smoking, which can affect healing
- Unrealistic expectations, or a revision of previous eyelid surgery
what to expect
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
DAY 0
Surgery day
Performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with light sedation; you usually go home the same day.
DAY 1-3
Swelling & bruising
Swelling and possible bruising are usually most noticeable now, and greater with incision methods; cold compresses and head elevation help.
DAY 5-7
Suture removal
For incision and partial-incision methods, fine sutures are typically removed at about 5–7 days; the non-incision method has no external sutures.
WEEK 1-2
Settling
Much of the visible swelling eases over one to two weeks, though the line can still look higher or fuller than it will finally sit.
1-3 MONTHS
Crease settles
The crease continues to soften and settle over a few months; a buried-suture line can loosen over time. (Results vary by individual.)
Sessions & results
This is usually a single procedure. Early swelling settles over about 1–2 weeks and the crease continues to soften and settle over a few months; a buried-suture line can loosen over time and may be revised later. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
How it compares
These are the main methods of double eyelid surgery. They differ in how the crease is set, so the right one depends on your eyelid thickness and skin. This is not a ranking.
| Non-incision (buried) | Partial-incision | Incision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Buried sutures, no long cut | A few small openings | Full crease-line incision |
| Best for | Thinner lids with little excess skin | Slightly fuller lids wanting more durability | Thicker lids or excess skin |
| Anesthesia | Local, sometimes with light sedation | Local, sometimes with light sedation | Local, sometimes with light sedation |
| Recovery | Faster; no external sutures | Sutures ~5–7 days | Sutures ~5–7 days; more swelling |
| Longevity | Can loosen over time | More durable than a buried line | A more durable line |
Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
We base the decision on the thickness of your skin, how much fat sits in the eyelid and how far the lid has dropped. Thin skin with little fat usually holds the crease well with the non-incisional method, while thicker skin or a fuller lid lets the crease loosen more easily, so an incision may be needed. How much recovery time you can allow is weighed up together with all of this.
With the non-incisional method the crease may loosen over time, and how much it loosens depends on the condition of your eyelid and on your habits. Rubbing your eyes often or wearing contact lenses for long stretches can have an effect. We also explain in advance how a loosened crease can be revised.
A photo is a useful reference, but the result will not be an exact copy of it. Eye shape, eyelid thickness, the distance to the brow and the strength with which the eye opens differ from person to person, so the same crease design gives a different result on each face. We look at the photo with you and set out separately what is achievable and what is difficult.
It depends on the method. The non-incisional method is relatively quick, while swelling lasts longer after an incision. It takes a few weeks for the eyes to look natural to others and a few months for the crease to settle completely. If you have a date to work around, we discuss the timing to fit it.
Once the wound has healed and the swelling has gone down, and the timing varies from person to person. We look at how you are healing after surgery and then tell you exactly when. Before that point, rubbing or pressing hard on your eyes can change the crease or slow your recovery.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now