A non-incision double eyelid creates the upper-lid crease with buried sutures rather than a skin incision, so swelling is lighter and there is no visible scar line. At Garnet it is planned and performed by one board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. In-Soo Baek, from consultation through every follow-up.
A non-incision double eyelid is an eyelid procedure that creates the upper-lid crease using buried sutures passed between the skin and the underlying levator mechanism, without cutting the skin. Because the fold is held by suture fixation rather than by a healed incision, the result causes less swelling and leaves no external scar line, and it can be adjusted more readily than an incisional crease.
Many Asian upper lids have a single eyelid (no crease) or a low, uneven one because the fibres that connect the lid-opening muscle to the overlying skin are weak or set low. A double-eyelid procedure recreates that connection so a defined crease forms each time the eye opens. The non-incision method does this with buried sutures rather than by opening the lid.
Through tiny puncture points, fine sutures are passed to link the deeper lid tissue to the skin at the chosen crease height, then knotted and buried out of sight. Because no skin or muscle is removed, swelling is lighter, the early result appears sooner, and the crease can be released or re-set more easily than a cut crease — which is why it suits thinner lids without much excess skin or fat.
At Garnet this is a single-surgeon procedure. Dr. Baek plans the crease design at the consultation, performs it himself, and reviews healing at set intervals; the clinic keeps an unhurried, one-patient-at-a-time schedule. The stated aim is a crease that suits your eye and opening, not the deepest possible fold.
From crease design and suture placement to the buried knots — every step by Dr. Baek.
A single surgeon, start to finish. Dr. Baek plans the case, performs the operation himself and reviews every follow-up. The clinic caps the day at two surgeries, so each operation has unhurried time.
A non-incision double eyelid typically takes about 20–40 minutes and is usually done under local anaesthesia, with light sedation added if appropriate for comfort; the approach is confirmed with you at the consultation after your history is reviewed. The steps below outline how the procedure is carried out at Garnet.
Dr. Baek assesses the lid in person — skin thickness, any excess skin or fat, lid opening and symmetry — and agrees the crease height and shape with you. He also confirms whether a buried-suture approach suits your lid or an incisional method would hold better.
The crease line is marked to your eye shape and tested with you sitting up, so the height and curve match both eyes and your natural opening before anything is done.
Through small puncture points, fine sutures are passed to link the skin to the deeper levator mechanism at the marked crease height, without cutting the skin open.
The sutures are tensioned to form the crease, and the fold is checked open and closed for height, symmetry and a natural line before the knots are set.
The knots are tied and buried out of sight. Where the consultation shows it, the crease is planned alongside inner-corner or other eye work to balance the result, rather than added unnecessarily.
A brief check that both creases match, then aftercare guidance. Because Garnet is single-surgeon, Dr. Baek reviews you himself before you leave and at each follow-up.
The upper-lid crease appears where fibres from the levator aponeurosis (the sheet that lifts the lid) reach forward to attach to the skin; when the eye opens, the skin above those attachments folds over them. In lids without a natural crease these forward attachments are absent or low, so no consistent fold forms. Recreating a reliable, well-positioned attachment is the goal of any double-eyelid technique (Arch Plast Surg 2013; DOI 10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.409).
A buried-suture technique re-establishes that skin-to-levator link with sutures instead of a scar. Because the connection is held by knots rather than by an incision's adhesion, it disturbs the tissue less and is more easily revised — but it also depends on those sutures holding, which is why suitability is judged by lid thickness and skin excess. Where there is heavier skin or fat, an incision double eyelid or upper blepharoplasty may hold the crease more dependably; Dr. Baek advises which approach fits your lid.
| Non-incision | Partial-incision | Incision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin opened | No (buried suture) | Short opening | Full lid opening |
| External scar | None visible | Short, fades | Fine crease-line scar |
| Swelling / downtime | Lightest | Moderate | Most |
| Removes skin / fat | No | Limited | Yes, where needed |
| Best lid type | Thin, little excess | Mild excess | Thicker skin / fat / excess |
Mini- and partial-incision methods were developed to bridge the two approaches, combining a less visible scar with a more durable crease (Aesthetic Surg J 2010; DOI 10.1177/1090820X10374094). The right choice depends on your lid — Dr. Baek advises at consultation, and the incision double eyelid page covers the cut approach in detail.
A non-incision double eyelid is usually performed under local anaesthesia, sometimes with light sedation for comfort, decided with you after your medical history is reviewed. You can typically cooperate during the procedure so the crease can be checked while you open and close the eye.
Because Garnet keeps an unhurried, one-patient-at-a-time schedule, the same surgeon who planned the crease performs it and reviews recovery — there is no separate operating doctor and no rotation of care.
Garnet is registered with Korea's foreign-patient programme; pre-procedure checks, scheduling and after-care are coordinated for international visitors in English.
If a buried-suture crease is not the most reliable option for your lid, or another approach suits better, that is said at the consultation. Photos can be reviewed before you travel.
Because no skin is cut, a non-incision double eyelid leaves no continuous scar line. The fine puncture points used to pass the sutures usually fade to near-invisibility, which is one of the reasons the buried-suture approach is chosen for thinner lids.
What you will notice early is swelling and sometimes light bruising around the crease, which settle over the first days to weeks; the crease itself looks slightly higher and tighter at first and softens as it settles. Healing varies by individual; Dr. Baek reviews the result at the 1-, 3- and 6-month visits.
Eyelid results are identifiable and individual, so non-incision double eyelid before/after sets are reviewed privately at consultation with consent rather than published here. Results, recovery and suitability vary by individual and are not guaranteed.
Keep the head elevated early, use cold compresses as advised, take medication as prescribed, keep the area clean and dry, and keep your follow-up visits.
Rubbing or pressing the eyes, eye make-up until cleared, strenuous exercise and bending early on, alcohol and smoking, and very hot showers or saunas while healing.
A buried-suture crease can last for many years, but because it is held by suture fixation rather than by a healed incision, a minority of patients see the fold loosen or fade over time. In long-term series of buried, continuous-suture techniques most creases held well, with a small proportion needing a touch-up or re-tie to restore symmetry (Arch Plast Surg 2013; DOI 10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.409).
How long a crease holds depends on lid thickness, skin excess and how the lid ages. Heavier lids put more load on the sutures, which is why thinner lids tend to keep a non-incision crease best. If a crease loosens, it can usually be re-set, or an incision double eyelid can give a more durable fold; Dr. Baek discusses the trade-offs at consultation.
A double-eyelid crease is often planned with an inner-corner (epicanthoplasty) or outer-corner opening where the consultation shows it balances the eye shape, rather than added by default.
Where the lid opening itself is weak, upper-lid work or ptosis correction may be advised so the crease and the opening match — assessed individually.
Under-eye fat repositioning addresses lower-lid bags and the tear-trough and is sometimes considered alongside upper-lid work for a more rested overall look.
For lower-lid skin and bags together, lower blepharoplasty targets the lower lid; it is a separate decision from the upper-lid crease.
Every procedure carries some risk. For buried-suture double eyelid the most relevant issues are loosening or fading of the crease, asymmetry between the two sides, and — less commonly — suture-related problems such as small skin nodules, a buried knot working loose, or, rarely, suture exposure that needs the stitch removed or revised (Facial Plast Surg 2020; DOI 10.1055/s-0040-1717147). These are explained individually at consultation.
Other possible effects include temporary swelling, light bruising, mild over- or under-correction of the crease height, and infection, which is uncommon. Because no tissue is removed, the result is generally easier to revise than an incisional crease.
What reduces risk in practice: careful crease design judged to your lid, sound suture technique, honest selection of who suits a buried-suture approach, and follow-up by the operating surgeon. Garnet's single-surgeon, unhurried model is built around exactly this kind of personal planning and after-care.
Most international patients plan a short stay for a non-incision double eyelid — commonly about 5–7 days — so sutures can be removed by the surgeon at around day 5 and the early swelling has begun to settle before travel. The coordinator confirms the timing for your specific plan.
Before you travel, send clear photos (eyes open, closed and looking up) and a note on the crease you have in mind and your dates through WhatsApp, LINE or the form below. You'll get an honest pre-assessment — including whether a buried-suture method suits your lid — rather than a hard sell.
Garnet is registered with Korea's foreign-patient programme and coordinates consultations, scheduling and after-care in English. After you return home, Dr. Baek can continue to review your recovery by messenger.
| Non-incision | Partial-incision | Incision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin opened | No (buried suture) | Short opening | Full lid opening |
| External scar | None visible | Short, fades | Fine crease-line scar |
| Swelling / downtime | Lightest | Moderate | Most |
| Removes skin / fat | No | Limited | Yes, where needed |
| Best lid type | Thin, little excess | Mild excess | Thicker skin / fat / excess |
Citations are provided for general education. This page is informational and does not replace an in-person consultation; suitability, technique and recovery are individual.
Send photos and your question before you travel. An English-speaking coordinator reviews every enquiry and replies with honest guidance on whether surgery is appropriate, the likely plan and timing.
Prefer to chat now? Reach the coordinator directly: