A bulge of fat in the lower lid sitting over a hollow tear trough casts the shadow that reads as tiredness. Under-eye fat repositioning releases that fat pad through an incision inside the lid and spreads it into the groove below, and judging a surgeon in Korea comes down to how well they read that bulge-and-hollow pattern. At ENTER Plastic Surgery in Seoul the operation takes 30 minutes to an hour under IV sedation, with Dr. Jang Jin-woo, a Korean board-certified plastic surgeon, operating.
Four checks
Four checks that separate under-eye fat repositioning plans
Quotes for this operation can look alike on paper while describing quite different surgery. These four points show the difference, and each can be asked by message before you travel.
Bulge, hollow or both
Repositioning is meant for fat that pushes forward above a groove. If you have a hollow with no bulge, or loose skin is the main issue, ask what the surgeon would do instead and why.
Moved, trimmed or transferred
In repositioning the fat stays in the lower lid and is moved into the hollow beneath it. Under-eye fat transfer is a different operation that brings fat from another part of the body. Ask which one the quote describes, and whether any fat will also be trimmed.
An incision inside the lid
The clinic works through the conjunctiva, the lining inside the lower lid, so there is no cut on the outer skin. The incision closes with stitches that dissolve, so no removal visit is needed. Ask whether the same route is planned for both eyes.
Sedation and the person operating
Confirm that sedation is used, that local anesthesia is added if needed, and that the surgeon who reviews your photos is the one who operates on both lids.
Practice types
Best Under Eye Fat Repositioning in Seoul: How Practices Differ
Dark circles are treated in Seoul by surgeons, injectors and laser clinics alike, so the first reply you get depends heavily on where you ask.
| Type of practice | What it tends to offer | Question to put to it |
|---|---|---|
| Eyelid surgery clinic led by one plastic surgeon | Repositioning, lower blepharoplasty and related lid work | Which of these fits my lids, judged from my photos? |
| Multi-surgeon hospital | Several eyelid surgeons on rotation | Will one named surgeon handle both my eyes? |
| Injection and laser clinic | Tear trough filler, boosters or laser for pigment | Is my shadow from volume, color or a fat bulge? |
| Medical travel agency | Packaged dates and a translated quote | Is the operation named as repositioning or transfer? |
A plan worth comparing describes your own lids: where the bulge sits, how deep the groove is and what happens to the fat.
Prices
What under-eye fat repositioning costs at ENTER Plastic Surgery
The quote has a surgery card and a sedation card. Repositioning is priced per operation, and IV sedation appears beside the surgery fee as an entry of its own.
Each figure is shown before tax and excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). Your quote is the place to check whether follow-up visits or medicine appear as extra lines, and the deposit and cancellation terms should reach you in writing before you pay.
Prices exclude VAT (10% VAT is added at payment).
Before & after
Under-eye fat repositioning photos from ENTER Plastic Surgery
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
The first weeks
A week in Seoul after under-eye fat repositioning
The clinic's written guidance sets out the early days. Because the stitches inside the lid dissolve, the stay is shaped by swelling and a follow-up check, not by a stitch appointment.
| Timing | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Surgery day | 30 to 60 minutes under IV sedation |
| Days 1–2 | A small amount of blood on tissues is normal |
| Days 1–3 | Cold compresses on the lids |
| Day 4 onward | Switch to warmth: 30-second compress, 5-minute pause |
| First 2 weeks | No nose-blowing; sneeze gently |
| About 1 week | Check-up visit, then the flight home |
| 1 to 3 months | The lower lid settles into its final contour |
Bruising and swelling last one to two weeks. The clinic suggests waiting two to three weeks before photos or events, and plans one or two visits after surgery. Walking is fine early; jogging, weight training and heavy lifting are left for about two weeks under general eyelid-surgery guidance.
Evidence
Research on repositioning the lower-lid fat pad
The studies below are small or retrospective, so they frame the questions to ask rather than promise a result.
A systematic review pooled 33 studies and 4,671 patients who had lower-lid fat grafting or repositioning for the tear trough and lid-cheek junction. Overall complications were 11.2%, with under- or overcorrection and contour irregularity at 6.2% and reoperation at 2.4% (Xu, 2024). The authors asked for close monitoring and clear discussion with patients beforehand.
A comparison of 339 lower blepharoplasties found that segmental fat grafting narrowed the tear trough more than fat repositioning, and blinded reviewers rated grafting superior in 47% of pairs and equal in 35%. Complications and reoperations did not differ between the groups (Hedén, 2021).
Eye movement is a quieter point. In nine patients (18 eyes), up-down and side-to-side eye movement measured worse three months after repositioning, with no significant difference from baseline at six months (Kokubo, 2021). Tell the surgeon about any squint or double vision in your history.
At ENTER
Under-eye fat repositioning at ENTER Plastic Surgery
The clinic's surgery centers on the upper face, with the eyes and forehead making up most of it, and repositioning is part of its lower-lid surgery. Dr. Jang Jin-woo operates on each patient in person and belongs to societies that include KSAPS, the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, as well as ESOPRS.
Seven to eight years or more is the expected span of the result in the clinic's guidance, with aging carrying on in the meantime. A second operation can be considered years later as the lids change.
For a first reply, take two close-ups of your lower lids, one looking straight ahead and one looking up, in daylight without makeup. Attach them to the form on this page or a WhatsApp message. We will get back to you as soon as possible. English-speaking staff are available at the clinic.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Effects of Fat Repositioning for Tear Trough Deformity on Eye MovementJournal of Craniofacial Surgery · 2021 · Kokubo K et al. · doi:10.1097/scs.0000000000007978
In nine patients, eye movement measured worse three months after tear-trough fat repositioning and was no longer significantly different at six months.
- Comparison of Fat Repositioning Versus Onlay Segmental Fat Grafting in Lower BlepharoplastyAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2021 · Hedén P · doi:10.1093/asj/sjab070
Across 339 lower blepharoplasties, segmental fat grafting narrowed the tear trough more than repositioning, with similar complication and reoperation rates.
- Complications of Fat Grafting and Repositioning for Correction of Lower Eyelid Pouch With Tear Trough Deformity or Lid-Cheek JunctionAnnals of Plastic Surgery · 2024 · Xu Z et al. · doi:10.1097/sap.0000000000004022
A meta-analysis of 33 studies (4,671 patients) on lower-lid fat grafting and repositioning reported an 11.2% overall complication rate and 2.4% reoperation.
FAQ
Under-eye fat repositioning in Korea: choosing questions
What should a surgeon in Korea tell me before under-eye fat repositioning?
They should say whether your shadow comes from a fat bulge, a hollow, loose skin or pigment, and plan for that cause. For repositioning, the reply should explain how the fat is shifted down into the groove from an inner-lid incision, the sedation used and who operates on both eyes.
Is under-eye fat transfer the same operation?
No. Repositioning keeps the lid's own fat pad in the lower lid and moves it into the hollow beneath. Fat transfer takes fat from another body area and injects it under the eye. They are separate operations, so check which name appears on your quote.
How many days should I stay in Korea after under-eye fat repositioning?
Plan about a week. There are no stitches to remove. In the clinic's guidance, you fly once the follow-up check at around one week is done. Swelling and bruising can still show on the journey, and photos or events are best left for two to three weeks.
Does the under-eye fat repositioning price include sedation?
No. The operation is ₩2,000,000 excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment), and IV sedation adds ₩300,000, also before VAT, as an extra item. Anything else your plan needs should appear as its own line on the written quote.
How long does swelling last after under-eye fat repositioning?
Bruising and swelling last one to two weeks, and the lower lid settles over one to three months. Cold compresses go on for the first three days and warm ones from day four. Swelling that keeps increasing, strong pain or a change in vision should be reported straight away.
Can moving the fat affect how my eyes move?
A small study found eye movement measured worse three months after repositioning, returning to no significant difference by six months. It involved nine patients, so the finding is limited. Mention any past squint, double vision or eye muscle surgery when you send your photos.
Will I need under-eye fat repositioning again later?
One operation is the plan. The clinic's guidance puts the result at seven to eight years or more, but the face keeps aging, so some people consider a second procedure years later. Sun protection and not smoking help the lower lid age more slowly.
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