🇰🇷 South Korea · Plastic surgery
Ptosis Correction in South Korea
Surgery to lift a drooping upper eyelid by tightening the muscle that raises it, improving both appearance and field of vision.
Researched & fact-checked by the MedTraveling editorial teamLast reviewed 21 June 202626 sourced referencesNo rankings or leads sold
Unknown / europeana · PDM- Typical price
- $1,915–$4,835
- Clinics tracked
- 18
- Recovery
- 1–4 weeks
- Final results
- 1–3 months
Why South Korea for ptosis correction
South Korea has the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world, and Seoul's Gangnam district is the densest concentration of plastic surgery and dermatology clinics anywhere. The country is the global reference point for rhinoplasty, facial contouring, double-eyelid surgery and advanced skin treatment, backed by heavy investment in technology and a deep specialist workforce — supported by dedicated international patient centres at the larger hospitals.
World-leading cosmetic expertise
Unrivalled volume and specialisation in rhinoplasty, facial contouring and double-eyelid surgery.
Technology and precision
Heavy investment in advanced imaging, lasers and surgical technology, especially in dermatology and plastics.
International patient infrastructure
Larger hospitals run dedicated international healthcare centres with English-language coordination.
Aesthetic specialisation
A refined, detail-oriented aesthetic culture that many patients travel specifically to access.
Is ptosis correction in South Korea safe?
The single most-asked question — answered straight, with what to verify rather than reassurance.
Ptosis Correction carries the same core medical risks wherever it's performed — the variable that matters most is the provider, not the country. Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates. Verify the surgeon on the national medical register, confirm accreditation in the issuer's public registry (we link it on every clinic profile), and get the complication and revision policy in writing. We flag what each clinic does and doesn't disclose.
What ptosis correction involves
Ptosis correction repairs a drooping upper eyelid caused by a weak or stretched levator muscle. Beyond appearance, significant ptosis can obscure the upper field of vision, so the procedure can be functional as well as cosmetic. It is frequently combined with double-eyelid surgery in cosmetic practice, particularly in South Korea.
The operation tightens or reattaches the muscle that lifts the eyelid, and precise adjustment is critical — too little leaves residual droop, too much causes incomplete eye closure. Because the margin is small, the surgeon's experience with eyelid dynamics is the most important factor in a good result.
Why people seek it
- Lifts drooping eyelids
- Restores obscured field of vision
- More alert, symmetrical eyes
- Often combined with double-eyelid surgery
Techniques & options
Levator advancement
Tightening/reattaching the main lifting muscle — the standard repair.
Müller's muscle resection
A conjunctival approach for mild ptosis with no external scar.
Frontalis sling
For severe ptosis with poor muscle function, slinging the lid to the brow muscle.
The treatment process
- 1Assessment of eyelid height, muscle function and vision
- 2Local anaesthesia with light sedation
- 3Tightening or reattachment of the levator muscle
- 4Intra-operative height adjustment
- 5Fine sutures and brief recovery
Recovery timeline
Week 1
Swelling and bruising; stitches removed around day 5–7.
Weeks 2–4
Swelling settles; lid height becomes clearer.
Months 1–3
Final eyelid position and symmetry stabilise.
Ptosis Correction cost in South Korea
Published provider prices vary with technique, surgeon and what each package includes. Use these as a starting range — not a personalised quote.
Typical price range
$1,915–$4,835
Full spread $1,311–$9,700 across 6 provider quotes
Prices are published provider figures, not personalised quotes. Confirm inclusions directly.
South Korea (typical)
$3,380
$1,310–$9,700
Home (indicative)
$4,500
typical private price
You could save
$1,130
≈ 25% less
Home-country figures are indicative typical private list prices, not quotes. Destination figures are published provider prices we track. Add travel, accommodation and any revision cost before comparing — a low headline is not the full bill. Currency conversions are approximate.
| Provider | Published price (USD) | Typically includes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Returning Plastic Surgery | $1,311–$1,966 | 3D imaging, surgery, airport transfer | Provider-stated |
| Banobagi Plastic & Aesthetic Clinic | $1,660–$6,570 | surgery | Reported |
| HERSHE Plastic Surgery Korea | $1,830–$1,920 | surgery | Provider-stated |
| Seoul Miz Hospital | $2,000–$8,000 | surgery | Provider-stated |
| URBAN Plastic Surgery | $3,100 | surgery | Reported |
| JW Plastic Surgery Center | $8,000–$9,700 | revision blepharoplasty surgery | Reported |
What drives the price: Severity and technique · Combined with eyelid surgery · Surgeon's oculoplastic expertise · Clinic tier · Country. See the full cost guide →
What's included in South Korea ptosis correction packages
Most providers quote all-inclusive packages — but inclusions vary. Here's what tracked clinics typically cover, and what to budget separately.
Typically included
- ✓surgery
- ✓revision blepharoplasty surgery
- ✓3D imaging
- ✓airport transfer
- ✓interpreter
Usually excluded
- ×flights
- ×Flights
Always confirm the exact inclusions in writing — a low headline price often excludes hospital stay, medication, aftercare or revision.
Clinics offering ptosis correction in South Korea
18 tracked providers. Profiles list accreditation, named surgeons and sources.
ID Hospital
seoul
ID Hospital is one of South Korea's largest plastic surgery hospitals, located in the Gangnam area of Seoul and known internationally for facial bone contouring, two-jaw orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty. It operates a multilingual international patient department serving more than a dozen language groups.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare certification
- KHIDI recognition (facial bone contouring)
Banobagi Plastic & Aesthetic Clinic
seoul
Banobagi is a large plastic and aesthetic clinic on Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, reported to have roughly 30 plastic surgeons on staff. It runs a dedicated rhinoplasty unit and offers free interpreter services for international patients.
from $1,660–$6,570
JW Plastic Surgery Center
seoul
JW Plastic Surgery is a Gangnam cosmetic surgery clinic with more than two decades of operation, notable for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. Its lead surgeon Dr. Man Koon Suh is an internationally recognized rhinoplasty specialist and former president of the Korean Academic Association of Rhinoplasty Surgeons.
from $8,000–$9,700
JK Plastic Surgery Center
seoul
JK Plastic Surgery is a hospital-level cosmetic clinic in the Sinsa area of Gangnam, Seoul, reported to have treated patients from over 110 countries and to have been the first Korean plastic surgery hospital to pass KAHF accreditation for facilities serving foreign patients. It offers a full range of facial contouring, eye, nose, breast and body procedures.
- KAHF accreditation (hospitals serving foreign patients)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare international patient permit
VG Plastic Surgery
seoul
VG Plastic Surgery is a sought-after Gangnam clinic specializing in eye surgery, rhinoplasty and facial contouring, reporting patients from dozens of countries and multilingual coordination. It states it performs over 1,000 rhinoplasty procedures annually and uses tools such as 3D-CT scanning.
- KOIHA accreditation
- Seoul Mayor Healthcare Provider Certificate
Dream Medical Group (Dream Plastic Surgery)
seoul
Dream Medical Group is an Apgujeong/Gangnam plastic surgery group founded in 1999 by Dr. Park Yang-Soo and built around surgeons trained at Seoul National University. It has grown into a multi-surgeon practice that added dermatology and aesthetic dentistry, and is known for eyelid surgery, fat grafting and body contouring.
TL Plastic Surgery
seoul
TL Plastic Surgery is a Seoul clinic housed in a modern six-storey facility, founded by Yonsei Medical University alumni. It runs an exclusive facial contouring center offering square jaw reduction, zygoma reduction and chin osteotomy, alongside eye and nose surgery. Procedures are led by board-certified plastic surgeons.
Teuim Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
seoul
Teuim Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, located in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, specializes in eyelid, nose and facial fat grafting and anti-aging procedures. It is known for its patented 'Magic Epicanthoplasty' (Kwon's method) for minimal-scar inner corner correction. The clinic also performs closed and functional rhinoplasty.
1mm Plastic Surgery
seoul
1mm Plastic Surgery is a clinic on Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul (occupying floors 7-10 of the Youngshin Building), focused on eye surgery, rhinoplasty, lifting, fat transfer and revision surgery. It markets itself on precision detail and lists multiple academic presentations at Korean plastic-surgery societies. English-speaking support is available.
The Regen Plastic Surgery
seoul
The Regen Plastic Surgery is a 15-floor clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, whose head doctors are Seoul National University graduates and former professors. It covers two-jaw surgery, V-line and zygoma reduction, forehead reshaping, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast and body contouring, and stem-cell fat grafting.
ABC Plastic Surgery
busan
ABC Plastic Surgery is located in the ABC Medical Center on Gaya-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan. It performs 3D contouring rhinoplasty (including personalized and revision rhinoplasty), eye surgery (double eyelid, canthoplasty, ptosis correction) and facial contouring such as jaw reduction, cheekbone, underbite correction and chin augmentation.
SELFI Plastic Surgery
busan
SELFI Plastic Surgery is located in the Seomyeon area of Busan and offers a range of aesthetic procedures including eye surgery, rhinoplasty and lifting performed by experienced surgeons. It serves both local and international patients seeking facial cosmetic surgery outside Seoul.
HERSHE Plastic Surgery Korea
seoul
A long-established Gangnam (Cheongdam) aesthetic-surgery clinic operating for over 30 years, focused on anti-aging facial surgery and minimally invasive techniques. It is staffed by long-tenured senior surgeons and serves a multinational patient base.
- ASPS member
- Seoul Mayor healthcare-provider certificate
from $1,830–$1,920
INIQUE Plastic Surgery Clinic
seoul
A private aesthetic clinic reporting roughly 12,000 patients annually with 8 inpatient beds, led by board-certified surgeons trained at major Korean university hospitals. Its head doctor specializes in eyelid and revision-eyelid surgery.
Returning Plastic Surgery
seoul
A surgeon-led Seoul clinic emphasizing endoscopic, minimal-scar techniques, with its lead doctor noted for a top score on the Korean plastic-surgery board exam. It offers 3D imaging, English interpreters, and airport transfers for international patients.
from $1,311–$1,966
Seoul Miz Hospital
seoul
A private multi-specialty hospital in Gangdong-gu (OB/GYN, aesthetic medicine, mammology, medical check-ups) serving roughly 200,000 patients annually, equipped with a Da Vinci surgical system. Aesthetic dermatology and eyelid surgery sit alongside women's health, with multilingual support for international patients.
- Seoul Mayor healthcare-provider certificate
from $2,000–$8,000
URBAN Plastic Surgery
seoul
A newer Gangnam clinic with three surgeons treating roughly 8,000 patients annually, including many from the USA and Canada, focused on facial surgery, breast augmentation, and body contouring. English-speaking staff and airport transfers are offered.
from $3,100
Star Be Plastic Surgery Clinic
busan
A Seomyeon (Busanjin-gu) eye- and nose-focused plastic-surgery clinic whose signature offering is under-eye fat repositioning, alongside 3D customized rhinoplasty, double-eyelid surgery, canthoplasty, and lifting. Its chief doctor is highly rated on the Unni platform.
Surgeons & specialists
Named clinicians associated with this procedure, drawn from clinic and registry sources.
Dr. Paik Hye-Won
Plastic Surgeon · Eye surgery, anti-aging
Dr. Park Yang-Soo
Chief Surgeon, Founder · Plastic surgery (blepharoplasty, facial surgery)
Dr. Yang Hae-Won
Head Doctor, Plastic Surgeon · Plastic surgery
Dr. Yong Woo Kim
Plastic Surgeon · Plastic surgery
Dr. Noh Seung-hyung
Plastic Surgeon · Plastic surgery
Ptosis Correction by city
What to verify before you book
Travelling shifts the burden of due diligence onto you. These are the checkable signals that matter most.
For this destination
- Premium pricing. Korea is a premium market; expect to pay more than in Turkey or Mexico for comparable cosmetic procedures.
- Broker and 'ghost surgery' risk. Confirm in writing that your named surgeon performs the operation — Korea has had documented 'ghost surgery' cases.
- Language and logistics. Outside international centres, English support varies; use clinics with formal international patient services.
Questions to ask
- ›Is my ptosis cosmetic or affecting my vision?
- ›Which technique suits my muscle function?
- ›How do you fine-tune lid height during surgery?
- ›What is your revision rate if adjustment is needed?
Accreditation context. Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates.
Risks & complications
- Under-correction (residual droop)
- Over-correction (incomplete closure)
- Asymmetry between eyes
- Dry eye
- Need for adjustment surgery
Take this with you
Everything to carry into a consultation — yours to print, no sign-up.
Patient decision kit
Ptosis Correction in South Korea — take this with you
Yours to keep. No sign-up, no contact details, nothing sold.
Questions to ask
- Is my ptosis cosmetic or affecting my vision?
- Which technique suits my muscle function?
- How do you fine-tune lid height during surgery?
- What is your revision rate if adjustment is needed?
Get these in writing
- The exact named surgeon who will operate — and their registration number
- A full itemised quote: what is and isn't included, in your currency
- The complication and revision policy, including who pays if something goes wrong
- The aftercare plan once you are home, and how follow-up is handled remotely
- Accreditation certificates and their expiry dates
Walk away if you see
- The surgeon who operates won't be named or confirmed in writing
- Pressure to pay a large deposit fast, or a 'today only' price
- No written complication or revision policy
- Accreditation claimed but no certificate or registry you can check
- Reviews only on the clinic's own site, none independent
- A quote far below every other provider with no explanation of what's excluded
How to verify claims
- Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates.
- Cross-check the surgeon on the national medical register, not just the clinic page
- Confirm accreditation currency in the issuer's public registry (we link to it on each profile)
- Ask for independent reviews and the source — not screenshots
MedTraveling is independent: we don't sell rankings or your details, and listing a provider is not an endorsement. This kit is decision support, not medical advice — confirm everything directly with a qualified clinician before treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is ptosis surgery cosmetic or medical?
It can be both — drooping that blocks vision is functional, while milder cases are cosmetic. Assessment determines which applies to you.
Is it often combined with double-eyelid surgery?
Yes — in cosmetic practice the two are frequently done together to both create a crease and lift the lid.
What if the height isn't right?
Because the margin for adjustment is small, some cases need a minor revision. Ask the surgeon about their revision rate.
How long is recovery?
Swelling and bruising settle over 1–4 weeks, with the final, symmetrical lid position clear within a few months.