Korean term: 무쌍 (홑꺼풀)
What are monolids
EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology) defines a single eyelid as an eyelid without an apparent crease. A 2022 paper in Annals of Plastic Surgery says it is not considered a disorder and is common in East Asians, with a reported prevalence of 16.9% to 63.9% across studies, against about 2% in White patients. EyeWiki adds that single eyelids also exist outside Asian populations. A review in Seminars in Plastic Surgery calls the epicanthal fold, a skin fold at the inner corner of the eye, a common Asian feature.
Common causes
- A lower attachment of the lid-lifting tendon. EyeWiki says that in single eyelids the orbital septum (a thin membrane in the lid) joins the levator tendon (the lid-lifting muscle's tendon) below the upper edge of the tarsus, the lid's firm plate. A 2019 paper says few or no levator fibers reach the skin there.
- Fat that sits lower. EyeWiki says fat behind the septum then sits lower and may stop the fibrous bands reaching the skin high enough to form a crease.
- Thicker tissue. The 2019 paper says monolid eyelids are typically thicker, because of an enlarged orbicularis oculi muscle.
- Genes. A 2022 genome-wide study of 26,806 people in China reported four genetic associations with double eyelid.
Treatments clinics in Korea list for monolids
The card below shows what double eyelid surgery is, its downtime as described in the sources, and the lowest regular price a clinic in this directory publishes for it.
Double eyelid surgery
Surgery that creates a fold (crease) in the upper eyelid, with buried or removable stitches or through an incision.
Downtime (per the sources): Stitches out within about a week; swelling eases over 10–14 days; scars can take months to fade
From ₩700,000 (≈ US$529)Newline Plastic Surgery · Double eyelid surgery · VAT excluded
4 clinics in this directory list a regular price
All prices and clinicsWhat the sources say about results and limits
- Optional. EyeWiki says double eyelid surgery is done for aesthetic purposes and may also be indicated to improve the visual field.
- Two main methods. EyeWiki names stitches without a skin incision and an external incision. It lists partial or complete loss of the crease over time with stitches, and visible scarring with an incision. For both it lists dissatisfaction, a misplaced crease, asymmetry and bleeding.
- One Korean series. Of 250 buried-stitch operations in a single-center report, 3 patients (1.2%) needed revision for a loosening fold and 5 (2.0%) had asymmetry. Only 98 patients had long-term follow-up, up to 5 years.
Published prices
The table shows, for each clinic that lists a regular price, its lowest regular price for each treatment above; items, amounts and VAT basis differ between clinics.
| Clinic | Double eyelid surgery |
|---|---|
| Marble Plastic Surgery | ₩1,000,000 (≈ US$755) VAT excluded · Eye surgery (fee notice starting price) |
| Newline Plastic Surgery | ₩700,000 (≈ US$529) VAT excluded · Double eyelid surgery |
| NewRizz Skin Clinic | ₩700,000 (≈ US$529) VAT excluded · Non-incisional double-eyelid surgery (buried suture) |
| YUNO Plastic Surgery | ₩800,000 (≈ US$604) VAT not stated · Double eyelid surgery, natural adhesion (starting price) |
Lowest regular price each clinic lists, with its own item and VAT basis.
Questions to ask the clinic
- Which method will you use, and why for my eyelids?
- Is the inner-corner fold part of the plan, or a separate item?
- If the fold loosens or the eyes look uneven, is revision free, charged or time-limited? Please put it in writing.
- Who operates, and who gives the anesthesia?
- Does the quote cover both eyes and VAT? Is it a regular or an event price?
FAQ
Is a monolid a medical problem?
No. A 2022 paper in Annals of Plastic Surgery says a single eyelid is not considered a disorder, and EyeWiki says double eyelid surgery is done for aesthetic purposes. Surgery is a personal choice, not a treatment for a condition. A doctor can explain the options.
Does a monolid affect vision?
A small 2022 study of 20 Japanese patients found a smaller upper visual field with single eyelids than after surgery. Its authors call the single eyelid a variation associated with functional problems. EyeWiki says surgery may also be indicated to improve the visual field. An eye doctor can say whether this applies to you.
How long does a double eyelid crease last?
Our sources give no fixed time. EyeWiki says stitch surgery can lose the crease partly or fully over time. In a Korean series of 250 operations, 1.2% needed revision for a loosening fold, but only 39% had long-term follow-up. Ask the clinic about its revision terms.
Is there a way to get a crease without surgery?
Eyelid tape creates a temporary fold. In a four-week study of 29 women with single eyelids who wore tape at least eight hours a day, tear break-up time fell and eye-surface staining rose from normal to mild. The study had no control group.
Sources
- EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology): Single Fold/Double Fold Lid Surgery
- Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2022: Impact of Single Eyelid on Superior Visual Field (Kitazawa and Yuzuriha)
- Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 2015: The Asian Eyelid: Relevant Anatomy (Kiranantawat, Suhk and Nguyen)
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2019: Techniques, Principles and Benchmarks in Asian Blepharoplasty (Chen)
- Archives of Plastic Surgery, 2013: Modified Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty Using the Single-Knot Continuous Buried Non-Incisional Technique (Moon, Yoon and Lee)
- Frontiers in Genetics, 2022: Novel genetic associations with five aesthetic facial traits: a genome-wide association study in the Chinese population (Wang et al.)
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020: Double Eyelid Tape Wear Affects Anterior Ocular Health among Young Adult Women with Single Eyelids (Yong et al.)