Is Eye Surgery in Korea Affordable for Foreigners?
Swelling Stages After Eye Plastic Surgery
Swelling after eye plastic surgery is normal, expected, and temporary. In Korea, surgeons place strong emphasis on educating patients about swelling stages because eyelid healing is gradual and early appearance does not reflect final results.
Understanding each swelling phase helps prevent unnecessary anxiety and reduces the risk of premature revision concerns.
Why Swelling Happens After Eye Surgery
Eye surgery involves:
- Delicate skin
- Fine muscles (levator muscle)
- Fat compartments
- Dense blood supply
Even small adjustments can cause visible swelling. Because eyelid skin is thin, swelling appears more dramatic than it actually is, especially in the first two weeks.
Stage 1: Immediate Post-Surgery (Day 0–3)
This is the peak swelling phase.
What to expect:
- Significant puffiness
- Tight or heavy feeling
- Mild bruising (purple or reddish tones)
- Temporary asymmetry between eyes
- Difficulty judging crease height
What this means:
- This is inflammatory swelling, not your final result
- One eye often swells more than the other
- Creases may look too high or uneven
Korean surgeons consider this phase purely transitional.
Stage 2: Early Recovery (Day 4–7)
Swelling begins to gradually decrease, but is still noticeable.
What to expect:
- Puffiness starts softening
- Bruising may change color (yellow/green)
- Eyelid movement feels stiff
- Crease still looks higher than final
Important note:
- Many patients wrongly judge results at this stage
- Stitches are usually removed during this period (if incisional)
Surgeons in Korea strongly advise not evaluating symmetry yet.
Stage 3: Visible Improvement Phase (Week 2–3)
This is when patients start to feel more confident.
What to expect:
- Major swelling reduction
- Crease becomes more defined and natural
- Eyelids move more smoothly
- Asymmetry improves noticeably
At this stage:
- You look socially presentable
- Photos start to look normal
- Residual swelling is still present internally
Most Korean clinics consider this the “public recovery” phase.
Stage 4: Settling Phase (1–3 Months)
Swelling becomes subtle and localized.
What to expect:
- Eyelid thickness continues to decrease
- Crease height lowers gradually
- Eye shape refines
- Skin softens
This stage is critical because:
- Patients may think swelling is gone—but it’s not
- Final symmetry is still developing
- Overreaction here can lead to unnecessary revision requests
Korean surgeons typically say:
“Judge the result after 3 months, not before.”
Stage 5: Final Healing Phase (3–6 Months)
This is when results stabilize.
What to expect:
- Swelling fully resolves
- Eyelid movement feels natural
- Crease looks softer and more blended
- Final symmetry is achieved
For:
- Ptosis surgery → closer to 6 months
- Revision surgery → sometimes up to 12 months
This is when surgeons can accurately assess if any adjustment is needed.
Swelling Differences by Procedure Type
Non-incisional double eyelid surgery
- Faster swelling reduction
- Most swelling gone by 2–3 weeks
Incisional double eyelid surgery
- More swelling initially
- Takes longer to settle (up to 3 months)
Ptosis surgery
- Swelling lasts longer due to muscle work
- Tightness may persist for weeks
Lower eyelid surgery
- Swelling may descend into cheeks
- Can last longer but resolves naturally
Common Swelling Myths
β “If it’s still swollen after 2 weeks, something is wrong”
→ False. This is normal.
β “Uneven swelling means surgical failure”
→ False. Healing is rarely symmetrical.
β “Crease height at 1 week is final”
→ Very false. Creases always drop as swelling resolves.
How Korean Surgeons Help Minimize Swelling
Typical post-op care includes:
- Cold compresses (early phase)
- Proper head elevation
- Anti-inflammatory guidance
- Avoiding alcohol and intense exercise
- Gentle scar and swelling care instructions
Aggressive massage or early manipulation is usually discouraged.
When to Contact the Clinic
You should contact your clinic if you experience:
- Increasing pain (not decreasing)
- Sudden severe swelling on one side
- Signs of infection (fever, pus, worsening redness)
Normal swelling does not worsen after the first few days.
Final Thoughts
Swelling after eye plastic surgery follows a predictable, staged process. In Korea, surgeons design procedures expecting this timeline and plan crease height and eyelid position accordingly.
The most important rule:
Never judge eye surgery results during swelling.
Patience during healing is the key to appreciating a natural, balanced final outcome. When allowed to settle fully, Korean eye surgery results often look much softer and more natural than early post-op appearances suggest.
