A plastic surgery clinic in Korea can be judged on paper before you fly: ask for the operating surgeon's specialist certificate, a quote that shows IV sedation and 10% VAT as separate lines, and the stitch-removal date for your operation. At ENTER Plastic Surgery on Gangnam-daero in Seoul, Dr. Jang Jin-woo, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon, performs the eyelid and facelift surgery.
How to choose
What to verify before choosing a plastic surgery clinic in Korea
Clinic websites in Seoul look alike, and photos say little about who will operate on you. The points below can be checked in writing, by message, weeks before a flight is booked.
A specialty that matches the operation
Eyelid, brow and facelift surgery fall under the Korean specialist certification in plastic surgery. Ask for the surgeon's full name, license number and certificate, then make sure the same name appears on the consent form.
A named surgeon in the operating room
The person who explains the plan and the person who operates can differ. Ask directly who performs the surgery from start to finish.
The approach and the incision site
A good explanation names the route: inside the lower eyelid for transconjunctival surgery, the upper-lid crease for upper blepharoplasty, small cuts behind the hairline for an endoscopic forehead lift, and lines around the ear for a facelift.
The anesthesia plan
Local anesthesia, IV sedation and general anesthesia are different services with different staffing. For general anesthesia, ask whether an anesthesiologist gives it.
Every line of the price
The surgery fee, sedation, tax and any follow-up costs should each appear on the quote, so that two quotes can be set side by side.
Stitches, check-ups and the flight
The stitch type and removal day decide how long you stay. Ask for the dates in writing and plan the return flight around them.
Risks named before the surgery day
Swelling, asymmetry, lid position changes after eyelid surgery, and bleeding under the skin (hematoma) after a facelift should be explained with their actual names.
Clinic types
Best Plastic Surgery in Gangnam and Seoul: Clinic Types
Seoul has several formats of practice offering the same operations. The format alone does not tell you whether a plan is sound, so the table lists what each one tends to look like from outside and what to ask in each case.
| Format | What you see | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist-led plastic surgery clinic | One named surgeon plans and operates | Certificate, license number, name on consent form |
| Large hospital with several doctors | Many departments and doctor profiles | Who operates on you, and who sees you after |
| Skin and injectables clinic | Mostly lasers, fillers and Botox | Whether surgery is done there, and by whom |
| Booking through a patient agency | A coordinator abroad arranges dates | The clinic's own quote and the surgeon's name |
Whatever the format, the answers to the seven points above should come back clear and in writing. A practice that cannot name the operating surgeon or itemize the price has not yet given you enough to decide.
Prices
Plastic surgery cost in South Korea for eyelid and facelift operations
The cards list the clinic's own fee for each operation, excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). At ENTER Plastic Surgery, IV sedation is listed as its own line, apart from the surgery fee, so ask which lines apply to your plan before comparing totals with a quote from home.
For the same puffy lower lid, the plan may be under-eye fat repositioning or lower blepharoplasty, depending on whether bulging fat or loose skin is the main issue. The surgeon chooses after examining the lids, and your written quote follows that plan.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Before & after
Eyelid and facelift outcomes at ENTER Plastic Surgery
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
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
Your stay
How each operation shapes your days in Seoul
Length of stay follows the stitches. The table uses the clinic's own guidance for each operation; your surgeon may adjust the dates after seeing how you heal.
| Operation | Anesthesia | Stitches | Flight home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-eye fat repositioning | IV sedation, local if needed | Dissolving, inside the lid | After the one-week check |
| Upper blepharoplasty | Local, IV sedation if needed | Removed after about 5–7 days | About 7 days after surgery |
| Lower blepharoplasty | IV sedation, local if needed | Skin cut: out at 5–7 days; inner lid: dissolving | About 7 days after surgery |
| Endoscopic forehead lift | IV sedation or general | Removal date given at consultation | 7–10 days, after removal |
| SMAS mini facelift | IV sedation | Removal date given at consultation | 7–10 days, after removal |
| Full SMAS facelift | General, by an anesthesiologist | Removal date given at consultation | 10–14 days after surgery |
Swelling runs on a separate clock. After under-eye fat repositioning, swelling and bruising take about 1–2 weeks to ease and the contour settles over roughly 1–3 months; the clinic suggests leaving 2–3 weeks before photos or events. After a full facelift, swelling lasts about 2–3 weeks and the result settles over 3–6 months.
When you book flights, place the return after the stitch or check-up visit and keep the dates flexible enough to move by a day if your surgeon asks.
Risks
Questions that show how a surgeon talks about risk
Eyelid surgery is less uniform than it sounds. Upper-lid surgery centers on removing skin and setting the crease, while lower-lid surgery deals with deeper structures such as the lid-cheek junction, the tear trough and bulging fat, which can be removed selectively or repositioned (Drolet, 2014). A surgeon who explains which of these applies to your lids is giving you something you can check.
The published record also has gaps. A 2018 review of more than ten thousand lower blepharoplasty patients reported low complication rates, yet found little photographic evidence on how long the result lasts (Wilson, 2018). For facelifts, a review of safety measures lists hematoma and facial nerve injury among the complications that planning tries to prevent (Wan, 2019). A 2025 meta-analysis put hematoma at 2.7% across 31 studies and found no added method clearly ahead of the rest; those studies covered a different facelift technique from the multi-vector SMAS facelift used at ENTER Plastic Surgery (Azzi, 2025).
Useful questions to bring:
- Which operation fits my concern, and which would not?
- Where will each incision sit, and how will it be closed?
- What are the main risks for this operation, by name?
- What signs after surgery mean I should call the clinic?
- Who answers my questions once I am back home?
At ENTER
How ENTER Plastic Surgery answers these checks
Dr. Jang Jin-woo trained in plastic surgery at Kyung Hee University Medical Center and is a member of societies including ISAPS, ESOPRS and ASPS. Surgery at the clinic centers on the upper face (eyelids, brow and forehead) alongside the multi-vector SMAS facelift, and Dr. Jang performs these operations personally.
Under-eye fat repositioning is done through the inside of the lower eyelid, with dissolving stitches and no outer skin incision. The endoscopic forehead lift uses small incisions inside the hairline, held with Endotine fixation. A full facelift is done under general anesthesia given by an anesthesiologist.
Botox, injections and pigment treatment are handled by Dr. Choi Yul, a family medicine specialist at the clinic.
English-speaking staff are available at the clinic, which sits on Gangnam-daero near Nonhyeon Station. To start, send the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp with photos and your travel window; we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Evidence-Based MedicinePlastic and Reconstructive Surgery · 2014 · Drolet B · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000000087
An evidence-based outline of what upper- and lower-lid surgery each address, including selective fat removal or repositioning in the lower lid.
- Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Does the Literature Support the Longevity of this Procedure?Aesthetic Surgery Journal · 2018 · Wilson S et al. · doi:10.1093/asj/sjy186
A review of lower blepharoplasty studies: reported complication rates were low, but evidence on how long results last was limited and follow-up reporting was weak.
- Safety and Adjuncts in Face LiftingPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery · 2019 · Wan D et al. · doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000005898
A review of facelift types and safety measures, covering incision placement, SMAS handling and prevention of hematoma and nerve injury.
- Prevention of Hematoma in Patients Undergoing Facelift (Rhytidectomy): A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisFacial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine · 2025 · Azzi J et al. · doi:10.1177/26893614251393166
A meta-analysis of hematoma after facelift: 2.7% overall, with no adjunct clearly superior. It studied a different technique from the clinic's SMAS facelift, so it is background only.
FAQ
Questions from people choosing a clinic in Korea
How do I choose a plastic surgery clinic in Korea from abroad?
Compare clinics on written answers. Ask each one for the operating surgeon's name and specialist certificate, an itemized quote with sedation and tax, the anesthesia plan, and the stitch and check-up dates. A clinic that answers all of these clearly gives you a fair basis for choosing.
Why is IV sedation listed apart from the surgery fee?
Because it is billed as its own line. At ENTER Plastic Surgery, IV sedation is listed separately at ₩300,000, and listed fees exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). Ask which lines your plan includes, then add them up to compare the total with a quote from home.
Is a large hospital safer than a smaller plastic surgery clinic?
Size alone does not settle it. What you can check is the specialty of the surgeon who operates, who gives the anesthesia, and how complications are handled after surgery. Ask the same questions in each setting and compare the written answers.
Which operations need the longest stay in Seoul?
A full facelift needs the longest. The clinic's guidance for flying home is about 10–14 days after a full SMAS facelift, 7–10 days after a forehead lift or SMAS mini facelift, and about one week after eyelid surgery such as upper blepharoplasty.
Can I book plastic surgery in Korea through a patient agency?
You can, but ask for the clinic's own details as well. Make sure you receive the surgeon's name, the clinic's itemized quote and the dates for surgery and stitch removal. You can also contact ENTER Plastic Surgery directly through the form on this page or WhatsApp.
Do I need to speak Korean at ENTER Plastic Surgery?
No. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic, and you can write in English through the form on this page or on WhatsApp before you travel. Send your questions with your preferred dates, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What should I send before a consultation for eyelid or facelift surgery?
Send clear photos of the area that bothers you, a short note on past surgery, current medicines and health conditions, and the dates you could travel. This lets the plan, the quote and the stitch schedule be discussed before you choose a flight.
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