Temple Lift (Fox Eye Lift) in Seoul

What is a temple lift (fox eye lift)?

A temple lift is a short-incision lifting procedure for the outer brow and the outer part of the eye area. A small incision is made inside the hairline at the temple, and the tissue between the temple and the outer eye is lifted and fixed to a strong deep layer.

Because the lift raises the outer brow and the outer eye corner together, it creates the slightly upswept, almond-shaped look that is often called a fox eye. It can also soften early drooping at the outer brow that makes the eyes look tired or sad.

Who is a temple lift suitable for?

A temple lift may suit you if you:

• have an outer brow that has started to drop or that sits lower than you would like;
• have a downturned or tired look at the outer corner of the eyes;
• want a lifted, elongated eye shape that looks natural rather than pulled;
• have mild to moderate changes and do not need a full forehead lift.

If the whole brow is low, or there is significant excess upper eyelid skin, a forehead lift, a sub-brow lift or eyelid surgery may be more effective. Dr. Kim will explain which applies to you.

How Dr. Kim designs the lift

The direction and amount of lift decide whether the result looks natural or overdone. Dr. Kim assesses the brow shape, the angle of the outer eye corner, the temple and the balance between the two sides of your face, which are rarely identical.

The lift is planned so that the outer brow and eye corner move upward and outward together, without changing the shape of the eye opening itself. The goal is a fresher, more lifted eye area that still looks like you, not a stretched or surprised appearance.

The technique

A short incision of a few centimetres is made inside the hairline above the ear, at the temple. Through it, the tissue towards the outer brow and eye corner is released in a safe deep plane. That plane is chosen to protect the small nerve branch that moves the forehead.

The lifted tissue is then anchored to the firm deep fascia of the temple with secure stitches, a small amount of excess scalp skin may be removed, and the incision is closed. Because the anchoring is to a strong structure rather than to skin alone, the lift holds far better than threads.

How to prepare

Dr. Kim reviews your medical history and any medicines or supplements that affect bleeding, some of which are paused before surgery; see the guide to medications and supplements to pause. Avoid smoking and nicotine before and after surgery.

Avoid eyelash extensions, brow tattooing and strong skin treatments around the eyes in the weeks before. Bring photos of eye shapes you like and dislike; they help Dr. Kim understand the direction and strength of lift you are hoping for.

What results can you expect?

The outer brow and eye corner look higher straight away, but early swelling can make the lift look stronger than the final result. Over the first weeks the tissue relaxes slightly into a softer, more natural position. Most people see their settled result at around 2 to 3 months.

A well-designed temple lift makes the eye area look fresher and more lifted at the outer edge. It does not remove excess eyelid skin, change the crease or lift the inner brow.

Anesthesia and time

A temple lift is usually performed under local anesthesia with sedation. Surgery takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, and you go home the same day.

The anesthesia options explained guide covers the choices, and the safety and anesthesia standards page explains how monitoring works at Will Be.

How long does recovery take?

A typical recovery looks like this:

• First 2–3 days: tightness at the temples and swelling around the eyes; sleep with your head raised.
• Days 3–7: bruising, if any, fades; gentle hair washing is usually allowed after the first check.
• Days 7–10: stitches are removed and most people return to everyday activities.
• Weeks 2–4: tightness eases and the outer corner settles; avoid chewing very hard food and strenuous exercise.
• Months 2–3: the result is close to final.

The guide to reducing swelling and bruising has practical tips.

Risks and how they are minimised

As with any surgery, there are risks. The main ones for a temple lift are:

• Asymmetry, reduced by careful planning of each side;
• Over-correction, avoided by choosing a moderate, natural direction of lift;
• Scar or hair loss at the incision, which is hidden in the hair and usually small;
• Temporary numbness or weakness of the forehead, reduced by working in the correct deep plane;
• bleeding and infection, which are uncommon.

The guide to eyelid surgery risks explains how complications around the eye area are managed at Will Be.

How long does a temple lift last?

Because the tissue is fixed to a firm deep layer, the lift typically lasts for many years. The face continues to age, so the brow and outer eye will gradually change again over time, but they start from a higher point.

By comparison, a thread-based fox eye lift usually softens within months to about a year, as the threads absorb.

Temple lift, thread fox eye or canthoplasty?

These options are often discussed together but do different things. A thread fox eye lift uses dissolving threads for a short-term lift with little downtime. A temple lift gives a surgical, longer-lasting lift of the outer brow and eye corner. A lateral canthoplasty changes the outer corner of the eye itself, lengthening the eye outward.

Dr. Kim will explain which, if any, fits your eye shape and goals. Sometimes a temple lift alone gives the look people expect from canthoplasty, with less change to the eye opening.

Combinations to consider

A temple lift is sometimes combined with:

• upper blepharoplasty when there is also excess eyelid skin;
• forehead reduction when the forehead is also tall;
• fat grafting to soften hollow temples.

The guide to combining procedures safely explains how Dr. Kim decides whether a combination is safe.

Staying in Korea as an international patient

For a temple lift, most international patients plan to stay in Seoul for about 7 days, so that stitches can be removed and Dr. Kim can check the result before you fly. Choose accommodation close to Sinsa so that follow-up visits are easy.

The page on how long to stay in Korea helps with planning, and after you return home, Dr. Kim continues to review your progress through photographs as described in follow-up care abroad.