Though the term comes up often, "Korean eyelid surgery" is not really a specific or unique operation but refers only to Asian double eyelid surgery performed in Korea.

Still, cosmetic eye surgery is of great importance to Korean plastic surgeons since it is the most common procedure performed on the face and accounts for a large percentage of all cosmetic operations undertaken in South Korea.

In contrast to the Japanese preference for more "petite" cosmetic care, most Korean double eyelid surgery is performed using the incisional technique. Compared to the United States, epicanthoplasty is offered almost routinely.

A number of secondary procedures have been introduced over the years by Korean eyelid surgeons and include Asian lateral canthoplasty, the Alloderm "love band" operation, and countless variations on epicanthoplasty.

In contrast to the United States where the concept of "ethnic preservation" is an often stated goal with cosmetic surgery, many Korean eyelid surgeons are quite open about offering aggressive surgery intended to "westernize." The recently described eye-o-plasty is an obvious example.