Before-before-before / after-after-after-after I spent 10 years regretting that I had epicanthoplasty, then happened to see on YouTube that there was a surgery called epicanthoplasty restoration, so I got the surgery right away! While looking for clinics through Gangnam Unni and community cafes, Gangnam Mate Plastic Surgery was mentioned the most, so I had a consultation at Mate. It is a one-doctor clinic with only Director Kim Geun-sik. Many reviews said the waiting time was long, so I already knew that before going. Even though I went at my reserved time, I was not guided in right away, but it did not take that long.
*Things I wanted improved Excessive lacrimal caruncle exposure (too much visible inner-corner discharge area) Improvement of a fierce-looking impression (older-looking appearance) Sunken, unnatural epicanthoplasty line Distance between the eyes (to a distance that suits my face shape) Interrupted under-eye aegyo-sal
*Questions I asked during the consultation -Could my eyes become even more asymmetric when they are already asymmetric now? -If I have restoration, can my double-eyelid line connect naturally? -If I have surgery on Saturday, can I go to work on Monday? (for office work) -My wedding is in November; if I have surgery in April, will the swelling go down? -When it will settle completely -Since the epicanthoplasty lengths of both eyes are different, I want the amount of restoration to be different too (balance). My right eye is more opened up. -I can only come on weekends, so when can the stitches be removed? -Current distance between the eyes / expected distance after surgery -Length to close the epicanthoplasty
[Day of Surgery] I followed the pre-surgery precautions (no medications I was taking, including vitamins, for one week; fasting for 5 hours) and visited the clinic. I changed into surgical clothes, washed my face, then filled out the precautions, surgical consent form, etc., and waited. I went into the operating room, received a small amount of sedative anesthesia, and while under sedation received local anesthesia around the eyes. No pain at all. I regained consciousness and the surgery began. During the surgery, I opened my eyes while the director checked the eye length in detail and proceeded with the surgery. In other reviews, people said they showed you a mirror midway and showed the degree of restoration, so I wondered if that was really possible, but seeing it with my own eyes, although I could not estimate how it would look after the swelling went down, I could check the overall balance in person, so I trusted it. I opened and closed my eyes about a hundred times. I think the surgery took about 1 hour. After the surgery ended, I changed clothes in the recovery room, and once the dizziness got better, I got a brief explanation of simple aftercare at the counter and could go home. It was simpler than I expected and painless, so I really thought I should have done it much earlier. I immediately took an express bus home and kept applying cold compresses on the bus. It did not hurt even after the anesthesia wore off!
[1 Month] To help the tissue attach quickly at the epicanthoplasty restoration site, I had to change the recovery tape every day. But when changing the tape, to prevent the tape adhesive from pulling out the stitches, I had to soak gauze with saline, wet the tape, then remove and replace it. This was really difficult for me lol In fact, stitches sometimes came out stuck to the tape, so you have to be extremely careful. The bruising gradually got darker until day 3 and then gradually disappeared. You also cannot wash with water, and because you must not pull the skin in the restored area, you have to be careful. I could only visit the clinic on weekends, so I had my stitches removed at 1 week. Of course, it was possible after the director checked the condition and made the decision. Even after removing the stitches, I changed the regenerative tape every day. The swelling seemed to take about 2 weeks to go down, taking a longer estimate. One month after stitch removal, I visited the clinic and got skin-regeneration injections in the epicanthoplasty restoration area.
[2 Months] After one month, makeup is allowed, but in my case, the director said my recovery was slow, so we should postpone makeup a bit longer. Unexpectedly, the red scar in the restored area did not disappear easily. I could cover it with concealer, but when touching the surrounding skin, it did not hurt, but it felt sore? so I avoided touching it as much as possible. Since I only had to apply the tape at night while sleeping, I diligently kept applying it. As the swelling went down and it settled into place, looking in the mirror made me happy. I like it so much.
[3 Months] I can wear full makeup now, and the soreness in the skin around my eyes is almost gone. A friend I met after a long time told me I looked pretty. People around me do not know what changed. Even when I say I had epicanthoplasty restoration, they say they cannot tell the difference lol But because my impression changed so clearly, I personally am completely satisfied. I am alternating between scar ointment and regenerative tape. The redness has faded a lot, to the point that it does not bother me even when I go out bare-faced. I have ptosis, so I habitually open my eyes using forehead strength. Director Kim Geun-sik said that could cause the restored area to spread open, so he recommended forehead Botox once every 3 months. When I visited the clinic for skin-regeneration injections, I also got forehead Botox together. People with ptosis like me, please keep this in mind!
[Overall Review] My eyes became the kind no one would believe had epicanthoplasty and then restoration surgery lol If I have any regret, it is only that I wish I had done it much sooner. I like it that much. Also, I am a huge scaredy-cat who exaggerates pain a lot, but when giving injections, he spoke to me very kindly while performing the treatment. The nurse assisting beside him also held my hand tightly when I was lying down getting injections in my face, so I felt emotionally stable and grateful. I always came up alone from another region to go to the clinic, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am that I had surgery at such a kind and warm clinic. I really highly, highly recommend Mate Plastic Surgery
Epicanthoplasty Epicanthoplasty restoration Mate
This review is for a surgery review pursuing natural beauty.