Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery clinic specializing in eye revision surgery.
From incisional revision and buried suture removal to severe multiple upper eyelid creases and asymmetry correction,
all seven types of revision surgery are diagnosed and performed personally by a single surgeon.
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■ The Bottom Line
Double eyelid revision surgery is far more complex than primary surgery.
Tissue that has already undergone one or more operations contains scarring and adhesions,
and accurately judging how much can be corrected within that tissue is what determines the outcome.
Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery clinic that places eye revision surgery at the center of its practice.
Incisional double eyelid revision, lowering of overly thick double eyelid folds, eyelid retraction surgery, early revision,
buried suture removal, correction of asymmetric eyes, and severe multiple upper eyelid creases:
Chief Director Choi Dong-il personally handles all seven types of revision surgery, from consultation through to the operation itself.
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■ Why Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery Focuses on Revision Surgery
Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery Clinic is located near Sinsa Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul,
and specializes in eyelid surgery and eyelid revision surgery.
Most of our patients are people who are dissatisfied with their primary double eyelid surgery
or who developed problems after surgery at another clinic.
Because we treat such a wide variety of revision cases again and again,
revision surgery has naturally become the core of the clinic.
There is one reason we focus on revision surgery:
primary surgery and revision surgery are entirely different operations.
As revision experience accumulates, primary surgery is also planned more carefully,
and it becomes clearer which operations make revision avoidable in the first place.
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■ Chief Director Choi Dong-il: Personally Involved from Consultation to Surgery
At Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery, Chief Director Choi Dong-il
personally handles every stage: consultation, surgical planning, the operation itself, and postoperative care.
Having performed eyelid surgery for 23 years since obtaining board certification in plastic surgery,
Chief Director Choi notably published a paper in 2018 on monolid-preserving ptosis correction in men in the American aesthetic plastic surgery journal
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
It was the world's first SCI-indexed paper on monolid-preserving ptosis correction in men.
Having the same doctor conduct the consultation and perform the surgery
is especially important in operations such as revision surgery, which require precise, individually tailored planning.
This is because the plan agreed upon during consultation can be carried out exactly as intended in surgery.
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■ Seven Types of Double Eyelid Revision Surgery at Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery
Here is an overview of the types of eye revision surgery performed at Gangnam Seoyon.
The appropriate revision procedure depends on what kind of problem has occurred.
[ ① Incisional Double Eyelid Revision ]
This applies when the fold height, shape, or asymmetry of a double eyelid created by the incisional method is the problem.
The existing scar tissue is meticulously dissected and the fold line is redesigned.
The approach is determined based on the previous surgical technique and the time elapsed since surgery.
[ ② Lowering an Overly Thick Double Eyelid Fold (Scar-Preserving High Fold Correction, the "two-line" technique) ]
This applies when the double eyelid fold looks too high or too thick and appears overdone.
The fold is redesigned at a lower, more natural position.
This requires meticulous handling of tissue with accumulated adhesions.
[ ③ Eyelid Retraction Surgery ]
This applies when the eyelid is pulled upward after surgery or there is excessive scleral show.
It is often accompanied by a feeling that the eyes do not fully close, dry-eye symptoms, and similar complaints.
[ ④ Early Double Eyelid Revision ]
This applies when fold loss, asymmetry, or dissatisfaction with the result occurs within a few weeks to a few months after surgery.
In some cases, correction is easier the sooner it is addressed, before the tissue firms up.
[ ⑤ Undoing Non-Incisional Double Eyelid Surgery (Buried Suture Removal) ]
This procedure removes the sutures from a non-incisional (buried suture) double eyelid to reverse it or to relieve foreign-body sensation.
At Gangnam Seoyon, the sutures are precisely traced and removed through tiny punctures alone, without any incision.
This technique is not something Director Choi Dong-il learned at another institution;
rather, it is based on know-how acquired firsthand.
During the procedure, the suture removal is photographed and the images are kept on record.
[ ⑥ Correction of Asymmetric Eyes (Asymmetry Correction) ]
This applies when the left and right folds differ in height or shape, or the eyes differ in size.
Simple asymmetry is distinguished from complex asymmetry involving the conjoint fascial sheath,
and each is approached differently.
[ ⑦ Correction of Severe Multiple Upper Eyelid Creases ]
This applies when unintended creases form above the double eyelid fold, making the eyelid appear to have multiple upper eyelid creases.
The adhesions are meticulously released by dissection, and measures to prevent re-adhesion are carried out at the same time.
Without adding combined procedures such as ptosis correction or fat grafting,
Gangnam Seoyon's principle is to correct the problem through dissection and re-adhesion prevention alone.
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■ When Is the Right Time for Revision Surgery?
In general, the appropriate time is 6 months to 1 year after the primary surgery.
By this point, the scar tissue has softened, making dissection easier,
and the final result can be assessed accurately.
However, in the following cases, we recommend coming in early rather than waiting 6 months:
- When fold loss or asymmetry after surgery is severe enough to interfere with daily life
- When eyelid retraction prevents the eyes from closing properly
- When you are unhappy with the result of non-incisional (buried suture) surgery and want the sutures removed early
Consultation is available even if you have already had multiple revision surgeries.
If you tell us the number of previous operations, the techniques used, and the time elapsed since surgery during your consultation,
we will explain the achievable range of correction based on the current condition of your tissue.
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■ Questions Worth Asking During Your Consultation
Consider asking about the following during your consultation at Gangnam Seoyon.
- "Which type of revision surgery does my problem fall under?"
- "Can you review my previous surgical technique and recovery course and plan my surgery accordingly?"
- "Can you tell me honestly what can be corrected and what the limitations are?"
- "Will the same doctor handle both the consultation and the surgery?"
If you have records from previous surgeries, bringing them with you allows for a more accurate consultation.
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■ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Does Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery perform only revision surgery?
A. No, we do not perform revision surgery exclusively.
Dynamic-fixation incisional double eyelid surgery (ptosis correction), non-incisional (buried suture) double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty,
men's eyelid surgery, eyelid surgery for middle-aged patients, lower blepharoplasty, and more:
we also perform primary eyelid surgery.
That said, eye revision surgery makes up a significant share of our practice,
and broad experience with a wide variety of revision cases is one of the clinic's strengths.
Q2. I have had several revision surgeries at other clinics. Can I still come in for a consultation?
A. Yes, you can.
It is true that the more revision surgeries you have had, the more complex the tissue condition becomes,
but that makes accurate diagnosis and careful planning all the more important.
If you share your previous surgical records, the techniques used, and the time elapsed since surgery during your consultation,
we will explain the achievable range of correction based on the current condition of your eyelids.
Q3. I am unhappy with the result of my non-incisional (buried suture) surgery. Can I have just the sutures removed, without incisional revision?
A. In many cases, yes.
At Gangnam Seoyon, buried sutures are removed through tiny punctures alone, without any incision.
In many cases, the eyes return to their original appearance after the sutures are removed,
and if you would like a new fold, suture removal and revision surgery can also be performed at the same time.
Q4. Is it all right not to have surgery after a consultation?
A. Of course.
Consultations are provided regardless of whether you decide to have surgery.
During the consultation, we explain the current condition of your eyelids, the achievable range of correction,
and the suitable methods and their limitations.
What matters most is making your decision based on sufficient information.
Q5. How long does recovery take after revision surgery?
A. It depends on the type of revision surgery.
After buried suture removal, many patients can return to daily activities within 3–7 days,
whereas incisional revision or complex corrections, including suture removal (at 4–12 days),
often require about 1–2 weeks.
The final result can be assessed after 3–6 months.
Q6. What happens if I am told there are limitations to revision surgery?
A. During the consultation, we tell you honestly what is possible and what is difficult.
In some cases, tissue damaged by previous surgery cannot be fully restored to its original state,
and in others, it may be difficult to achieve 100% of the result you want.
Clearly sharing these limitations before deciding whether to proceed with surgery
is the fundamental approach of consultations at Gangnam Seoyon.
Q7. Where is Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery located, and what are the clinic hours?
A. We are located at 20 Gangnam-daero 154-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (near Sinsa Station).
Clinic hours are 09:30–18:30 on weekdays and 09:30–16:30 on Saturdays,
and the clinic is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Consultations can be booked by phone (02-535-8889) or through our KakaoTalk channel.
Q8. Can I see before-and-after photos or cases?
A. On the Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery website (knsy.co.kr),
using the before-and-after photos, before-and-after videos, before-and-after GIFs, and similar-case finder features,
you can view actual surgical cases.
Reviewing cases with eyes similar to your own in advance
and then coming in for a consultation is also a good approach.
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* After surgery, side effects such as bleeding, infection, or inflammation may occur depending on the individual,
and subjective satisfaction may vary from person to person.
Accurate diagnosis and surgical planning should always be decided through an in-person consultation with a board-certified specialist.
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Director Choi Dong-il
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Current: Chief Director, Gangnam Seoyon Plastic Surgery (2015–present)
Former: Director, BK Plastic Surgery (2011–2013)
Former: Director, Regen Plastic Surgery (2013–2015)
Adjunct Clinical Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine
Chair of the Scientific Committee, Eyelid Plastic Surgery Research Society, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Adjunct Clinical Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital
Full Member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Full Member, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Full Member, Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Member, International Confederation of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS)
Full Member, Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand
Full Member, Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Member, Scientific Committee, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Expert Reviewer, Editorial Board, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Former Director of Finance and Current Director of Information, Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Member, Information and Communications Committee and Public Relations Committee, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Full Member, Eyelid Plastic Surgery Research Society, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Former General Affairs Director, Eyelid Plastic Surgery Research Society, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Full Member, Rhinoplasty Research Society, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
The photographs in this post were taken under identical conditions with the patient's prior consent.
In addition, side effects such as bleeding, infection, and inflammation may occur after plastic surgery or procedures depending on the individual, so caution is required.