An international trip for upper and lower eyelid surgery needs more than a procedure date. The first visit should establish whether either eyelid needs treatment, what alternatives exist, and how eye comfort and follow-up will be protected. A preliminary message or photograph cannot determine candidacy or a safe flight date.
Before leaving home: prepare two separate sets of questions
Write down what you notice about the upper lids and the lower lids separately. Mention dry or irritated eyes, contact lenses, difficulty closing the eyes, previous eyelid or eye operations, vision changes, medicines and relevant conditions. Bring operative records if available. The DI upper and lower blepharoplasty topic page identifies the area of care, while an in-person surgeon must decide whether any procedure is appropriate.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends discussing goals, eye problems, medical history, previous surgery, anesthesia, alternatives and risks at a blepharoplasty consultation. If an eye specialist assessment is advised, make room for it in the itinerary. Do not assume that a request for both lids means both should be operated on together.
Understanding upper and lower blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty assesses excess upper-eyelid skin and selected underlying tissues. Lower blepharoplasty assesses lower-lid skin, fat distribution and support. The two operations concern different anatomy, and an upper-lid crease treatment is not the same as a lower-lid operation.
A lower-eyelid bulge can coexist with a hollow junction below it. Depending on the findings, the surgeon may discuss fat repositioning rather than removal alone, and whether lid support or skin adjustment is needed. Brow descent and ptosis may require separate assessment when the upper lids feel heavy.
The plan should explain the incision position, whether fat is removed or repositioned, and how the eyelid’s resting position is protected. Share eye-surface problems and prior ophthalmic surgery. Ask specifically about dryness, difficulty closing the eye and lower-lid displacement rather than treating all eyelid operations as equivalent.
Build a flexible Seoul itinerary
Ask the clinic which assessment and follow-up visits may be needed before booking non-refundable travel. If surgery is proposed, obtain the planned technique, anesthesia, expected review schedule, after-hours contact and travel advice in writing. A generic recovery chart is not personal clearance to fly. Accommodation that can be extended is more useful than a fixed departure chosen before examination.
DI is in Gangnam, Seoul. Its consultation guide explains the distinction between an initial inquiry and an in-person medical decision, and its directions page helps plan a visit. Check actual appointment availability and transport before paying for flights or lodging.
Discuss risks and the return-home plan
Upper- and lower-lid approaches differ. Ask what examination finding supports each part of the plan, whether one area could be left untreated, what scar and asymmetry may be possible, and how eyelid position and eye-surface comfort will be considered. The NHS lists bruising, swelling, irritation or dryness, scarring and asymmetry among possible effects; uncommon but serious problems can include bleeding behind the eye and visual disturbance. These are general risks, not a prediction about an individual or a DI-specific complication rate.
Before leaving Seoul, confirm whom to contact for severe pain, unexpected visual symptoms, difficulty closing the eyes or other urgent concerns, and what records a clinician at home would need. The treating team—not a journal article—must set your personal aftercare and flight advice. Cost and recovery vary with the assessment, technique and individual circumstances. Ask for a written estimate of what is included; DI’s cost guide explains why an online price is not a confirmed quotation.
What the proposed procedure should specify
Confirm which eyelid is being treated and whether support, ptosis correction or fat repositioning is included in the quote.
Before consent, ask the clinician to name the operation and alternatives, explain the main objective and limitations, and confirm the person responsible for treatment and postoperative review. A schematic, a price item or a case video cannot establish suitability for an individual patient.
Verified DI price guide: KRW, VAT included
Source: DI 2026 English Price Guide, dated 11 September 2026, page 2; checked on 7 October 2026. The guide labels these as general prices in Korean won with VAT included.
The separately named procedure/package options below span KRW 1,750,000–2,100,000, VAT included. This range compares different scopes; it is not a promised total for one operation.
These rows are different procedures, packages or add-ons. An add-on is not the full operation price. The guide’s price does not establish which anesthesia, materials, tests, medicines, aftercare or additional procedures are included in your case. Request an itemized current quote before booking.
| Verified item | KRW, VAT included | Price scope |
|---|---|---|
| Upper blepharoplasty | KRW 1,750,000 | Listed procedure fee |
| Lower blepharoplasty | KRW 2,100,000 | Listed procedure fee |
A five-point planning checklist
- Send your medical and eye-health history before travel.
- Keep assessment, procedure and return dates changeable until confirmed.
- Ask what alternatives, including no surgery, are reasonable.
- Get risk, follow-up and urgent-contact instructions in writing.
- Arrange continuity of care at home if review may still be needed.
This article uses AI-generated editorial images only. It does not show real patients, DI clinicians, procedures or results. We did not republish a before-and-after pair: the designated DI gallery lists upper and lower blepharoplasty only within mixed-procedure cases, which cannot isolate the effect of those two operations.
Sources: DI upper and lower blepharoplasty topic; American Society of Plastic Surgeons consultation guide; NHS eyelid surgery guide; Cambridge University Hospitals patient information.
Preparation, aftercare and travel milestones
Before treatment, describe dry-eye symptoms, contact-lens use, previous eye procedures, medicines and allergies. Ask which examinations and anesthesia assessment are needed. Do not stop prescribed medicines on the basis of a blog; obtain instructions from the prescribing and treating clinicians.
After treatment, obtain the clinic’s instructions for wound care, eye care, prescribed medicines, sleep position, activity and makeup or contact-lens restrictions. Confirm whether there are removable sutures and when the first examination is due. An initial-recovery estimate does not mean that scars or swelling have fully settled.
For travel, leave time for required in-person review and suture care. Ask the surgeon when flying and strenuous activities are appropriate for your own procedure. Keep the clinic’s contact and emergency instructions available after returning home.
Risks and symptoms to discuss before consent
Discuss bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, dry eyes, difficulty closing the eye and possible revision. Eyelid surgery can also affect lid position or vision. A sudden visual change or severe unexpected eye pain requires urgent medical assessment.
Ask which risks are most relevant to your examination, how complications would be handled, and what alternatives include postponing or not having treatment. Obtain written instructions from the treating team; a general article cannot replace them.
Questions before surgery and travel
Are upper and lower blepharoplasty one combined price?
The verified guide lists them separately. If both are proposed, ask for a combined written quotation and the exact included steps.
Who confirms my final treatment plan and quotation?
The treating medical institution confirms suitability, the procedure, consent and the current itemized medical quotation. KOMD helps coordinate information and travel arrangements.
Does an early recovery estimate mean that I can fly?
No. Required reviews, wound or suture care and individual travel clearance must be confirmed by the treating clinician.
Procedure explanations and educational illustrations updated 7 October 2026. DI procedure information. Illustrations are AI-generated concepts, not actual patients or results. Medical decisions and current fees require clinic confirmation.