I travelled to Seoul for lower blepharoplasty after years of managing under-eye bags with tear trough filler. The procedure I ultimately underwent was a transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with fat repositioning and targeted fat transfer. This article explores why I ultimately chose surgery in South Korea, my experience with ROI Plastic Surgery and Dr Youngkee You, how the surgical approach differed from what I was offered in Australia, what recovery felt like, where I stayed in Gangnam and how the results have settled nearly a year later. The outcome feels natural, structurally balanced and, in ways I did not fully anticipate at the time, quietly transformative.
Long-term filler maintenance
For most of my adult life, the area beneath my eyes was something I quietly maintained rather than actively worried about. The bags were always there. A genetic feature rather than a sudden change. From my early thirties, tear trough filler became part of that maintenance, small periodic treatments that kept the area looking rested and in balance.
Over time, it became routine. Not a fixation, just another aspect of how I cared for my appearance. I had never experienced complications and had little reason to question the process.
The tear trough filler complication
That changed when I experienced a markedly different outcome following what was intended to be a routine treatment at a clinic I had been attending for around two years. The under-eye area was significantly overfilled, altering the natural contour in a way that felt unfamiliar and visually heavy.
At the same time, I developed the Tyndall effect, a bluish discolouration that can occur when filler sits too superficially beneath the skin. These were distinct issues, but together they created an aesthetic result that felt increasingly difficult to correct through incremental intervention.
Resolving the situation required multiple sessions of dissolving the filler, each spaced across several weeks. What had previously been framed as simple maintenance became a prolonged period of correction.
For the first time in more than a decade, I was seeing the natural structure beneath my eyes without any volume support. The skin appeared more deflated than I was accustomed to, and the underlying eye bags felt more pronounced.
What became clear was that the issue lay with the eye bags themselves. Once the filler had been removed, I could see the underlying anatomy with a clarity I had not experienced in years. What had previously been softened through ongoing maintenance now felt structurally unresolved. It was no longer something that could be subtly managed, but something that required a more definitive solution.
During this period, I sought guidance from my long-term Sydney clinic, whose emphasis on skin integrity and measured assessment reinforced that non-surgical treatments would not deliver the level of structural change I was beginning to realise I wanted.
Not long after dissolving the filler, I became pregnant. In many ways, this created a natural pause. It gave me time to step back from immediate decision-making and to consider the next steps more carefully. Over the following year, I was able to research the procedure in depth and understand the different surgical approaches available.
From maintenance to structural solution
What began as a corrective phase gradually became a turning point. Maintenance had always allowed me to soften the appearance of this area, but I was now confronting the limits of that approach. The experience shifted my perspective from managing surface appearance to understanding underlying anatomy.
Lower blepharoplasty was not a decision I made quickly. It emerged from an extended period of research into how different surgeons approach the balance between fat removal, repositioning and augmentation. What initially appeared to be a relatively straightforward procedure revealed itself to be technically nuanced and philosophically varied.
As I explored surgical options more deeply, it became clear that outcomes were shaped as much by methodology as by skill. The question was no longer whether to pursue surgery, but where and how it should be performed.
Finding ROI Plastic Surgery
My introduction to ROI Plastic Surgery came through Korean-American creator Sara Yoon, whose detailed documentation of her own lower blepharoplasty formed part of my broader research process. While her experience was not the sole basis of my decision, it provided a practical starting point for understanding how surgical approaches in Korea can differ from those commonly offered in Australia.
From there, I began examining the clinic’s methodology, outcomes and surgical philosophy more closely. What appealed to me immediately was that ROI is Dr Youngkee You’s practice specifically, and that he is the only surgeon operating there. This continuity felt important. The consultation, procedure and follow-up would all be managed by the same practitioner, rather than distributed across a larger surgical team.
Dr You is board-certified and trained in the United States, which was evident in both the clarity of his communication and the structure of the clinical information provided. As I reviewed case documentation and patient experiences, it became increasingly clear that his approach aligned with the outcome I was hoping to achieve.
The decision to travel wasn’t driven by a single factor. It developed gradually through research, comparison and reflection, and by the time I contacted the clinic directly, it felt considered rather than impulsive.
Why fat transfer mattered
As my research deepened, it became increasingly clear that lower blepharoplasty is not a single standardised procedure. The technical differences between removing fat, repositioning it or supplementing it through transfer can significantly influence long-term outcomes.
Through patient case studies, surgical literature and outcome documentation, I noticed a recurring pattern. Many people were satisfied that lower blepharoplasty had improved the prominence of under-eye bags, yet still felt that the overall contour of the under-eye area remained unresolved.
My concern was not simply the presence of eye bags, but the transition between the lower eyelid and the cheek. I wanted a result that felt structurally integrated rather than corrected in isolation.
During this period of research, I became increasingly aware that repositioning existing fat alone may not address deeper anatomical hollowing. A combined approach that included targeted fat transfer appeared more aligned with the outcome I was hoping to achieve.
The quote I received in Sydney was approximately AUD$ 13,000 and did not include fat transfer. By comparison, the procedure at ROI Plastic Surgery cost approximately AUD $1,700 in total, including sedation and post-operative care. While the financial difference was significant, the more decisive factor for me was surgical philosophy and technique.
At the time of writing, ROI has indicated that readers who mention my name when booking may be offered a similar promotional rate. Further details on pricing and logistics are outlined in the FAQ section below.
This distinction ultimately reframed my decision. It was not about choosing a cheaper option, but about choosing the approach that most closely aligned with how I had come to understand facial ageing and anatomical harmony.
Arrival in Seoul
I arrived in Seoul in early April after a daytime flight from Sydney, landing in the evening and reaching my hotel in Gangnam at around 10pm. The timing created a sense of compressed momentum. My consultation and procedure were scheduled for the following morning, leaving little space for anticipation to settle into anxiety.
Consultation and surgery at ROI Plastic Surgery
The consultation at ROI Plastic Surgery took place at 11am the next day and was followed by the procedure later that afternoon. The clinic is Dr Youngkee You’s practice specifically, and he is the only surgeon operating there, which meant that consultation, surgical planning and surgery itself were all conducted by the same practitioner.
Dr You spoke fluent English and his clinical assessment closely aligned with what I had previously been told in Australia. I did not require skin removal, but he strongly recommended fat transfer to achieve the smoothest possible structural contour. The procedure performed was transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with septum-preserving fat repositioning and targeted micro-fat transfer harvested from the abdomen.
The surgery was performed under intravenous sedation and lasted approximately one hour.
The reveal
Five days after surgery, the larger dressings were removed. I had undergone the procedure on a Tuesday, and by Saturday the clinic replaced the initial silicone patches with much smaller coverings positioned discreetly over each incision site. It felt, in a subtle way, like a moment of unveiling.
Even with residual swelling, the structural change was immediately apparent. The eye bags that had dominated my perception of this area over the preceding year were no longer visible. More unexpectedly, the fine lines that had become pronounced after filler dissolution appeared significantly softened. The transition between eyelid and cheek was noticeably smoother.
For much of my adult life, this region had been managed rather than resolved. Tear trough filler had concealed the underlying anatomy, and when that support was removed, the contrast felt stark.
I trusted the process throughout recovery and never experienced a period of regret. The improvement felt both immediate and structurally coherent, aligning with what I had hoped the surgery might achieve.
Early recovery in Seoul
Swelling developed gradually over the first few days and, reviewing my photos later, appeared to peak around day three. The dominant sensation was not pain but pressure. The area beneath my eyes felt tight and heavy, accompanied by the visual distortion that swelling inevitably brings. Silicone patches covered the incision sites, meaning the results themselves were not yet visible.
In the first 24 hours, there was also a degree of post-operative discharge, which is typical following internal eyelid surgery. Overnight, this caused my eyelashes to adhere together, creating a moment of disorientation that felt more confronting than the physical discomfort itself. Once gently cleaned, this settled quickly and did not recur in the same way.
What surprised me most was how functional recovery felt from the outset. The day after surgery, I was already moving through Gangnam at a gentle pace, visiting beauty stores, pharmacies and neighbourhood cafés. Cosmetic procedures in Seoul exist within the rhythm of everyday life rather than being set apart from it.
As the days progressed, I gradually explored other areas of the city. I spent time in Seongsu-dong, visited Dosan Park for the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami pop-up and stopped at the expansive Gentle Monster flagship. I also purchased a bag at Archivépke, a brand I had long admired. These moments felt less like distraction and more like quiet markers of returning normality.
Beauty culture remained a constant thread. I visited Olive Young locations almost everywhere I went and checked multiple pharmacies in search of the viral PDRN cream, eventually managing to purchase several tubes. In Myeongdong, I spent time in sneaker stores selecting shoes for my son, a small but grounding reminder of life continuing beyond the context of surgery.
By day three I had my teeth whitened as well as additional non-surgical treatments including Rejuran and a titanium lift focused on the lower face rather than the surgical area. Throughout this period I wore glasses instead of contact lenses, a temporary adjustment that subtly reshaped my daily routines.
A single stitch in my belly button marked the site from which fat had been harvested. This was later removed by my GP in Sydney, but at the time served as a discreet reminder that the procedure had addressed structural volume rather than simply surface appearance.
Surgical technique and approach
The procedure performed was a transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty using a septum-preserving approach. Rather than removing the existing under-eye fat, the technique involves repositioning it while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding septal structures. This aims to support greater long-term stability and reduce the risk of hollowing that can sometimes occur with more reductive methods.
In addition to fat repositioning, targeted micro-fat transfer was used to address residual structural grooves beneath the eye. Because the septum remains intact, finely prepared fat can be placed within the natural anatomical compartment rather than superficially. This allows the transferred fat to integrate more seamlessly and may improve survival rates compared with conventional grafting techniques.
During the procedure, residual filler from previous treatments was also removed. This was necessary to ensure that the final contour reflected natural tissue rather than a combination of materials, and to minimise the risk of irregularity as healing progressed.
These technical distinctions may appear subtle, but they reflect a broader shift in surgical philosophy. Contemporary lower blepharoplasty increasingly focuses on structural harmonisation rather than simple reduction, aiming to restore continuity between the eyelid and mid-face rather than treating the eye bags in isolation.
Consulting an oculoplastic surgeon in Sydney
Despite growing interest in surgical approaches abroad, my initial preference was to undergo the procedure in Australia. It felt instinctively more straightforward, both logistically and psychologically, to pursue treatment locally. A few months after my son was born, once the intensity of the newborn period had begun to settle, I consulted with one of Sydney’s leading oculoplastic surgeons.
The consultation confirmed that I was an appropriate candidate for lower blepharoplasty. Both this surgeon and, later, my surgeon in Seoul agreed that I did not require skin removal. A skin pinch or external incision would not be necessary in my case, which aligned with my preference for a more conservative approach.
Where the perspectives differed was in the consideration of fat transfer. The recommendation in Sydney was for transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty without additional volume augmentation. At the time, I accepted this assessment without fully interrogating the reasoning behind it. I was still adjusting to the broader shift from non-surgical maintenance to surgical intervention.
The quoted cost was approximately AUD $13,000. While price was a consideration, the more significant distinction for me was the surgical philosophy. Through my research, I had become increasingly aware that addressing the protrusion of fat alone does not always resolve the underlying contour of the mid-face. Many patients reported improvement in eye bags, yet remained conscious of residual hollowing.
This consultation nonetheless played a crucial role in shaping my decision-making. It established clinical legitimacy for the procedure while also highlighting the variations in approach that would become increasingly relevant as I continued my research.
One year on
Nearly a year later, the most significant change is visual. The structural improvement to the under-eye area has remained stable, natural and consistent with the outcome I had hoped to achieve. The eye bags that became pronounced following the filler complication have not returned, and the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek feels smoother and more balanced than it ever did with maintenance treatments.
In hindsight, the filler complication prompted a necessary reassessment. It shifted my focus from ongoing maintenance toward a structural intervention that ultimately felt more aligned with the outcome I had been seeking.
I remain appreciative of Dr Youngkee You’s precision and clarity of surgical approach. The outcome aligned closely with what I had hoped to achieve and brought a sense of structural resolution to an area that had required ongoing management for many years.
The experience has also reshaped how I approach aesthetic care more broadly. What began as a single surgical decision has evolved into an ongoing relationship with Korea’s highly integrated beauty and medical culture. I am now preparing for what has become an annual return, combining treatments, exploration and the quieter rituals of self-maintenance that feel both intentional and restorative.
Research sources and acknowledgements
My initial awareness of ROI Plastic Surgery came through Korean-American creator Sara Yoon, whose detailed documentation of her own lower blepharoplasty formed part of my broader research process. Her content provided a useful starting point for understanding surgical approaches in Korea and the practical realities of undergoing the procedure as an international patient.
While her experience contributed to my early research, my decision was ultimately based on independent consultations, direct communication with the clinic and a considered evaluation of surgical outcomes and methodology. I will link to her content for readers who wish to explore additional perspectives on the procedure.
Important note
This article reflects a personal experience and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a recommendation to undergo cosmetic surgery. Surgical suitability, techniques and outcomes vary between individuals and should always be assessed through independent medical consultation.
All costs associated with the procedure were personally funded. At the time of surgery, I received a publicly available promotional first-time surgery rate. No payment, sponsorship or treatment was provided in exchange for editorial coverage.
Readers considering cosmetic surgery, whether in Australia or internationally, should conduct their own research and seek qualified medical advice before making decisions.
Frequently asked questions about lower blepharoplasty in Korea
What procedure did you have?
Transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with septum-preserving fat repositioning and targeted fat transfer. The incision was made inside the eyelid, meaning there was no visible external scar.
Did you need skin removal?
No. Both my consultation in Australia and my surgeon in Seoul agreed that a skin pinch or external incision was not necessary in my case.
Who performed your surgery?
Dr Youngkee You at ROI Plastic Surgery in Seoul. It is his clinic specifically and he is the only surgeon operating there.
How do you contact ROI Plastic Surgery?
The clinic communicates with international patients primarily through KakaoTalk. Initial enquiries usually involve submitting photographs of the under-eye area alongside relevant medical history. The clinic provides instructions on how to take suitable images for preliminary assessment.
Where can I view ROI Plastic Surgery’s surgical results and updates?
Many readers have asked where they can see the clinic’s work and learn more about their surgical approach. One of the most accessible ways to review before-and-after outcomes and clinic updates is through their official Instagram accounts.
• ROI Plastic Surgery before-and-after results
• ROI Plastic Surgery clinic account
• Dr Youngkee You’s professional account
As with any cosmetic procedure, social media should form only one part of the research process. Prospective patients should also seek independent medical consultations and review multiple sources before making decisions.
Where did you stay in Seoul?
I stayed at Hotel Anteroom in the Gangnam district. The location was convenient for clinic visits and early recovery while still allowing gentle movement around the neighbourhood.
How much did the surgery cost?
I paid for my surgery personally.
At the time of my procedure in April 2025, I was offered a promotional first-time surgery rate of 1,700,000 KRW (approximately AUD $1,700) for transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with fat repositioning and fat transfer. This included sedation and standard post-operative care.
Since then, the clinic has updated its pricing structure. As of 2026, the standard first-time surgery rate for the same procedure is approximately 2,640,000 KRW, although promotional pricing may be offered periodically at the clinic’s discretion.
The clinic has indicated that patients who reference my experience when making an enquiry may be offered a similar promotional rate, currently around 2,000,000 KRW. Pricing structures can change over time and should always be confirmed directly with the clinic prior to booking.
Revision procedures and more complex surgical histories are typically quoted differently.
How long did you stay in Korea?
Just under one week. This allowed time for consultation, surgery, early recovery and dressing removal before returning to Australia.
What was recovery like?
Swelling peaked around day three. Pain was minimal, with pressure being the dominant sensation. I was able to walk, shop and move around Seoul gently from the day after surgery.
Why did you choose Korea instead of Australia?
After extensive research, I became interested in the structural approach to fat repositioning and transfer that is commonly used in Korea. Cost was a factor, but surgical methodology and philosophy were more significant in my decision.
Did you consult in Australia first?
Yes. Consulting locally helped confirm my suitability for surgery and provided a valuable point of comparison when evaluating international options.
Did you have other treatments while in Korea?
Yes. I scheduled several non-surgical treatments during the same trip, including Rejuran, a titanium lifting treatment on the lower face, masseter Botox, tattoo removal and teeth whitening. These were performed on areas away from the surgical site and were approved by my surgeon. The lower blepharoplasty itself was the primary reason for the trip.
