How far the inner corner should open is the decision that matters most in epicanthoplasty, because the small fold over the caruncle is easy to release and hard to put back. Choosing a surgeon in Korea means finding one who measures your fold and the distance between your eyes first. At ENTER Plastic Surgery in Seoul, Dr. Jang Jin-woo, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon, operates.
How to choose
Seven epicanthoplasty questions to put to every surgeon
Epicanthoplasty is a short operation on a few millimeters of skin, so the differences between surgeons show up in the planning. Send a close front photo of both eyes, open and relaxed, and ask each one these questions.
How strong is my fold?
Ask how much of the pink caruncle the fold covers now and how much will show afterward.
Medial, upper or both?
Medial epicanthoplasty opens the inner corner sideways, while upper epicanthoplasty works on the fold where it joins the upper lid. Ask which one your eyes need and why.
Distance between the eyes
Opening the corner brings the eyes visually closer. Ask the surgeon to show how far is too far for your face.
The technique and its scar
No single method is standard. Ask which technique is planned and where its scar will fall.
Combined eyelid work
If you also want a double eyelid, ask how the inner corner and the crease will be designed together.
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is used here, with IV sedation as an option. Ask which applies.
Revision
Ask what can be done if the corner opens more than you wanted, since restoring a fold is harder than releasing it.
Clinic types
Best Epicanthoplasty in Seoul: How the Settings Differ
Inner-corner surgery is offered by many eyelid practices in Seoul, and it is easy to add to a booking without much discussion. The setting shapes how much planning you get.
| Setting | How epicanthoplasty is offered | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic surgery clinic centered on eyelid surgery | Planned together with the lid and crease by the operating surgeon | Does the surgeon who designs the corner also operate? |
| Large hospital with an eye team | Corner and lid may be handled by different surgeons | Who decides how far the corner is opened? |
| Practice selling eyelid packages | Inner corner bundled with double eyelid surgery | Can I book the crease without the corner? |
| Agency for overseas visitors | Dates, transfers and translated messages | Which day are the stitches out, and who removes them? |
A plan worth comparing states which corner work is planned, the expected scar position and the stitch-removal day.
Prices
Epicanthoplasty cost at ENTER Plastic Surgery, corner by corner
Medial and upper epicanthoplasty are priced one at a time on the clinic's list. The card shows the fee for each one, so a plan that includes both shows two lines. IV sedation is optional and, when used, appears as a separate line beside the surgery fee.
Both cards are excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). If double eyelid surgery is added, ask for it as a separate item, and ask for the deposit rules and cancellation terms to be written into the quote.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Before & after
Epicanthoplasty photos at ENTER Plastic Surgery
BEFORE
AFTER
Your doctor
Chief Director · Korean board-certified plastic surgeon
“Natural, yet clearly visible change.”Eyelid and facelift surgery at ENTER is planned and performed by Dr. Jang himself.
- NowChief Director, ENTER Plastic Surgery
- TrainingPlastic surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- FormerChief Director, Jang Plastic Surgery
- FormerDirector, Secret Plastic Surgery
- MemberKSPRS · KSAPS · ISAPS · ESOPRS · ASPS
Corner surgery
Medial and upper epicanthoplasty next to lateral canthoplasty
Corner surgery is named by which corner is changed. Knowing the terms helps you read a quote correctly.
| Point | Medial epicanthoplasty | Upper epicanthoplasty | Lateral canthoplasty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it works | The fold covering the inner corner | The fold where it meets the upper lid | The outer corner of the eye |
| Visible change | More of the caruncle shows | The crease runs more smoothly into the inner corner | The eye looks longer toward the temple |
| Main thing to discuss | Distance between the eyes | Fit with the double eyelid line | How much the corner can move |
| Pricing on the clinic list | Per corner type | Per corner type | Its own operation |
Lateral canthoplasty has its own page and price; it is shown here so the terms are not mixed up.
Your stay
Planning your days in Seoul after epicanthoplasty
The clinic's aftercare for this operation gives these steps. Surgery takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Local anesthesia, or IV sedation if chosen; you leave the same day |
| Days 1–2 | A small amount of blood at the corner is expected |
| Days 1–3 | Cold compresses |
| Days 3–7 | Bruising and swelling go down |
| From day 4 | Warm compresses: 30 seconds on, then a 5-minute break |
| Days 5–7 | The one clinic visit: stitch removal; flying home after this |
| First two weeks | No nose blowing; take care when sneezing |
| Months 2–3 | The corner shape and scar settle |
Plan the flight after the stitch visit, not before it. If redness spreads or the corner swells more each day, contact the clinic before you travel.
Evidence
What epicanthoplasty studies say about scars and revisions
Research on inner-corner surgery is small and mostly from single centers, and it is candid about scars.
In 35 patients who had a Z-shaped medial epicanthoplasty, median satisfaction was 9 out of 10, but scar color change was frequent: 28.6% had lighter scars and 34.3% darker ones (Fatani, 2023). A review of the operation found no established standard technique; the method is chosen to fit the patient, and avoiding a visible scar depends on careful design, magnification and closure without tension (Baek, 2020).
Revision is a real demand. A report of 548 Asian patients who needed an earlier epicanthoplasty corrected described a reverse Z-plasty that satisfied most of them, with 6% going on to scar revision (Ha, 2021). Points to raise with your surgeon:
- Whether your skin type tends toward dark or light scars
- How the corner will look with eyes closed
- What happens if one corner opens more than the other
- What would be done if you wanted the fold partly restored
At ENTER
Epicanthoplasty with ENTER Plastic Surgery
Eyelid and forehead surgery make up the center of the clinic's operating list, so an inner-corner request is looked at with the crease, lid and brow in view. Dr. Jang Jin-woo performs the surgery; memberships include ISAPS, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and KSPRS in Korea.
One operation is the plan, with one follow-up visit for stitch removal. To start, send a close photo of both eyes looking straight ahead and one with the eyes closed, on WhatsApp or with the form on this page. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic, and the team will write back as soon as possible.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Cosmetic outcomes of epicanthoplasty for epicanthus tarsalisSaudi Journal of Ophthalmology · 2023 · Fatani D et al. · doi:10.4103/sjopt.sjopt_54_22
In 35 patients after Z-shaped medial epicanthoplasty, satisfaction was high but scar color change was frequent (28.6% lighter, 34.3% darker).
- Revisional Medial Epicanthoplasty Using Reverse Z-Plasty TechniqueAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2021 · Ha J et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjab091
Reverse Z-plasty in 548 Asian patients needing correction after epicanthoplasty satisfied most, with 6% having scar revision; it also shows the demand for reversal.
- Medial Epicanthoplasty: What Works and What Does NotFacial Plastic Surgery · 2020 · Baek J et al. · doi:10.1055/s-0040-1715617
A review finding no established standard epicanthoplasty technique and stressing careful design, magnification and tension-free closure to limit scarring; very low-level evidence.
FAQ
Epicanthoplasty in Korea: questions while you decide
What should I ask an epicanthoplasty surgeon before booking in Korea?
Ask how much of the caruncle will show, whether medial or upper work is planned, how the distance between your eyes is protected and where the scar will fall. Also ask who operates and what can be done if the corner opens more than you wanted.
If I want both medial and upper epicanthoplasty, is anaesthesia (UK spelling) or anything else extra?
Each one is priced separately at ₩1,300,000, so both means two lines. Local anesthesia is included in the operation, while IV sedation, if chosen, is ₩300,000. All are excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Will the inner-corner scar change color?
It can. In a study of Z-shaped medial epicanthoplasty, about a third of patients had darker scars and over a quarter lighter ones, even though satisfaction was high. Sun protection while the scar matures and early review of any darkening help.
How long until the inner corner looks settled?
About two to three months. The clinic's guidance is that bruising and swelling go down within three to seven days, while the final corner shape and scar take two to three months to settle, so early photos do not show the end result.
Is there one standard epicanthoplasty technique?
No. Published reviews describe no established standard; techniques such as Z-plasty and redraping are chosen to fit the fold and the patient. What matters more for the scar is careful design, magnification and closing the skin without tension.
How many clinic visits does epicanthoplasty need?
One after surgery. A single stitch-removal visit is planned on day five to seven, and you can fly once it is done. Bring your aftercare questions to it.
Can epicanthoplasty be undone if the corner looks too open?
Partly, with a second operation. A large series of revision cases used a reverse Z-plasty to restore the fold, and most patients were satisfied, but some needed further scar revision. Planning a modest opening the first time is the simpler route.
Google reviews
Reviews on Google Maps
Great experience! Dr. is very sweet and kind. He listened to what I wanted to fix and correct. He explained everything very well. Wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to sell anything extra. This isn’t a clinic that comes out on instagram, which I…
Jennifer LyuA month agoI came to Enter Plastic Surgery on a friend’s recommendation for under-eye fat repositioning. I was pretty nervous going in, but the doctor took the time to explain what would work for my under-eyes, what the procedure involved, and what…
Michael2 months agoThe staff are incredibly friendly, and the consultation was very thorough. I was very worried since it was my first procedure, but the director explained the aftercare in detail, so I felt completely confident trusting them!!
ROOHEUI SHIN (RHS)2 months ago · Translated by Google