Under-Eye Fat Contouring

Under-Eye Fat Contouring in Busan, Korea

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Ki-tae, MD — Board-Certified Specialist in Plastic Surgery, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; Director and founder, TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic, Haeundae-gu, Busan

Under-eye fat contouring in Busan is listed by TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic as a comprehensive anti-aging solution that improves facial signs of aging by simultaneously performing under-eye fat correction and autologous fat grafting. It is carried out at the clinic's Haeundae-gu premises. What separates it from a single under-eye operation is scope: the graft is planned across facial areas rather than placed only where the bag was.

The clinic describes this as a high-difficulty procedure developed through its own know-how, and positions it as a solution that creates a naturally youthful face rather than a fix confined to one feature. That framing matters for anyone deciding between the clinic's under-eye services, because it sets the boundary between them.

International patients generally come to it wanting two things at once: visible under-eye bags and structural shadows reduced, and a smoother, less tired-looking eye area overall. Those are not always the same goal. Reducing a bag can leave the surrounding face looking flat if volume has been lost more widely, which is the situation this treatment is designed for. The judgement about whether that describes you is made at assessment rather than from a photograph.

What Is Under-Eye Fat Contouring?

Under-eye fat contouring is a combined treatment in which under-eye fat correction and autologous fat grafting are performed at the same time, as an anti-aging measure for the face rather than a correction limited to the lower lid.

• The two components run together in one operation, not as staged treatments.

• The clinic states it is effective regardless of age for those with a congenital lack of volume, a sunken facial appearance, or deep dark circles under the eyes.

• Grafting follows a 1:1 customized design based on each patient's individual under-eye and facial fat condition.

• Fat is transplanted according to a pre-designed plan, with the amount of injected fat adjusted by facial area rather than using a uniform injection method.

• The clinic states that it uses state-of-the-art equipment while adhering to fundamental surgical principles, to support safer procedures and faster recovery.

The relevant patient question is whether the tired appearance is a local bulge or a broader loss of facial volume that happens to show first under the eye. It is particularly relevant when the dark appearance is caused by fat protrusion and contour shadow rather than pigmentation alone. Patient-facing background on cosmetic treatments of the periorbital area is published by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Who Performs Under-Eye Fat Contouring at TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic

**Dr. Kim Ki-tae
**Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Under-Eye Fat Contouring is performed by Dr. Kim Ki-tae, the clinic's founder and sole doctor and the listed performing doctor for the parent Eye Plastic Surgery specialty.

Dr. Kim Ki-tae holds the Board-Certified Specialist designation in Plastic Surgery issued by the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He graduated from Inje University College of Medicine and trained as a Clinical Fellow in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Pusan National University from March 2003 to February 2004. He founded TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic in 2005 and has practised there ever since.

Because the design step is the substance of this treatment, the person drawing it matters. TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic is a single-doctor clinic, so the surgeon who assesses you is the surgeon who treats you. His published position on the under-eye reads:

"Under-eye fat repositioning and under-eye fat correction have similar names, but they differ in surgical approach and in process. Because every patient's anatomical structure and under-eye condition is different, it is important to set an appropriate surgical plan through sufficient consultation and diagnosis."

That principle applies with more force here than to a single-component operation, because the plan governs two things at once. His broader statement on the same theme is "In aesthetic medicine, the process of diagnosis is very important." Credentials and roles in full are on the doctor profile page.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Under-Eye Fat Contouring?

Generally suitable:

• Patients with prominent lower-eyelid or orbital fat.

• Patients with under-eye bags accompanied by tear-trough depression.

• Patients with a shadowed or tired appearance associated with the fat contour.

• Patients with a congenital lack of volume or a sunken facial appearance, at any age.

• Patients with deep dark circles under the eyes where contour rather than pigment is the cause.

• Patients with adequate skin elasticity.

Generally not suitable, or requiring review before proceeding:

• Patients with severe dry eye syndrome.

• Patients with uncontrolled glaucoma.

• Patients with active ocular inflammation.

• Patients with bleeding disorders.

• Patients with severe skin laxity that would require open resection.

TAE states that the patient's individual under-eye fat condition is evaluated and that treatment is customized rather than applying one technique to everyone. Assessment covers the amount and position of under-eye fat, tear-trough depth, skin thickness and quality, and lower-eyelid condition.

What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery, and Results Timeline

The clinic has not published an anaesthesia or pain-control protocol for this procedure, so none is described here; it is confirmed with the medical team before treatment.

Treatment time is approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, with the exact figure depending on how much of the face the graft design covers. Preparation involves securing prescription eye lubricants, arranging post-operative cold therapy supplies, undergoing blood clotting tests, and setting up an elevated sleeping position at home. Aspirin, NSAIDs, ginkgo, vitamin E, omega-3 supplements, nicotine and alcohol are avoided for fourteen days before surgery to reduce bleeding during the operation.

Point in recovery	What the clinic documents
Day 1–2	First post-operative check at the clinic
Day 5–7	Healing assessment visit; air travel is typically cleared once acute swelling subsides
Day 6–8	Recommended length of stay in Korea, ending with pre-departure clearance
Day 7–10	Initial bruising resolves
Day 10–14	Early structural change and reduction in bag projection become apparent
Week 2–3	Main internal tissue swelling subsides
Month 1–3	Complete soft-tissue settling
Month 6	Final lower-eyelid contour and mature skin transition over the tear trough

Expected side effects during that period include bruising around the eye, mild swelling of the conjunctiva, temporary tightness when looking upward, and transient dryness. Eye rubbing, bending forward below waist level, strenuous heavy lifting, contact lenses, eye makeup and heat saunas are avoided for three to four weeks. Two to three clinic visits are generally completed before departure.

A realistic benefit is a visible improvement to the under-eye matched to the patient's starting anatomy, rather than a fixed, standard result. The degree of change depends on individual factors such as skin quality, tissue characteristics and how closely aftercare guidance is followed, and is discussed individually at consultation. Realistic outcomes include a smooth, continuous transition between the lower eyelid and cheek, and the removal of shadow-casting bulges. Because grafted fat settles and part of it is absorbed, under-eye volume continues to change during the settling period.

Combining Under-Eye Fat Contouring with Other Treatments

Combination is decided together with the treating doctor at consultation, based on the patient's specific anatomy and goals.

• Bespoke Eye Surgery — where an upper-eyelid or eye-shape concern is being planned in the same session.

• Autologous Fat Grafting for Aegyo-Sal — where definition of the roll beneath the lash line is a separate goal from the contour behind it.

• Thread Lifting — midface thread lifting, where laxity rather than volume is part of the picture.

• Fat Grafting & Anti-Aging — where the facial volume plan extends well beyond the periorbital area.

Safety, Precision, and Clinic Standards

TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic is a Registered Medical Institution for Attracting Foreign Patients, certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare under the Medical Overseas Expansion and Foreign Patients Attraction Act. Access is internal, through the conjunctival surface, rather than through a cut in the skin outside the eye. Precise micro-bipolar cauterization is used for hemostasis, according to the clinic.

The documented risks are as follows. Temporary swelling, bruising, tenderness, tightness and discomfort can occur around the eyes. The same effects can occur at the fat-graft donor site. Bleeding and infection are possible. Asymmetry is possible. Contour irregularities are possible. Overcorrection and undercorrection are both possible. Under-eye volume changes as the grafted fat settles or is absorbed. Fat necrosis is a recognized complication of fat grafting. Temporary numbness, dryness or irritation around the eyes may occur. Rare complications include retrobulbar hematoma, temporary double vision, injury to surrounding structures, and vision-related problems. The specific risks vary with the amount and location of fat treated or grafted, the surgical technique used, and the patient's individual condition.

The procedure does not address dark skin pigmentation, genetic fine skin crinkling, or left-to-right differences in facial bone structure. The clinic has not published an approved-claims list for this procedure and this market, so this page states no efficacy or outcome claim beyond what the clinic itself documents. TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic publishes neither case volumes nor complication rates for this procedure, and this page claims neither. The clinic has not published a price or a price range for this procedure, so none is stated here, and cost is confirmed at consultation. Independent background on eyelid procedures is available from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The Bottom Line

• This treatment runs under-eye fat correction and autologous fat grafting in the same operation, as a facial anti-aging measure.

• The graft is designed 1:1 and the injected volume varies by facial area instead of being uniform.

• The clinic lists it as effective regardless of age where the issue is congenital lack of volume, a sunken face, or deep dark circles.

• Grafted fat settles and partly absorbs, so volume keeps changing for months after surgery.

• Expect a six-to-eight-day stay in Korea and a final contour at around six months.

FAQ

Is this the same as under-eye fat correction? No. Under-eye fat correction is the under-eye operation on its own. Under-eye fat contouring performs that correction and an autologous fat graft together, with the graft designed across facial areas. The clinic keeps them as separate entries on its service list for that reason.

How long does the treatment take? Approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The variation depends on the extent of the designed graft and whether one or both sides are treated. The clinic confirms the expected duration at consultation.

How long should I plan to be in Korea? Six to eight days. That allows the day-one-to-two check, the healing assessment at day five to seven, and a final clearance review before you travel. Air travel is typically cleared five to seven days after surgery, once acute swelling has subsided.

When will I see the result? Early structural change and reduced bag projection appear around ten to fourteen days, as the acute swelling around the eye diminishes. Main internal swelling settles over two to three weeks. Soft tissue continues settling for one to three months, and the final contour is reached at about six months.

Does the grafted fat last? Some of it is absorbed, and how much varies between patients. Under-eye volume therefore keeps changing while the graft settles, which is why the result is judged at six months rather than at six weeks. The clinic does not promise a fixed retained volume.

What do I need to avoid afterwards? Avoid rubbing the eyes, bending forward below waist level, strenuous heavy lifting, contact lenses, eye makeup and heat saunas for three to four weeks. Sleeping with the head elevated is advised in early recovery. Written guidance covers the day-by-day detail.

I have quite loose under-eye skin. Does that rule me out? It may. Severe skin laxity that would require open resection is listed among the situations where this treatment should be avoided or postponed, because a graft-and-correction plan does not remove excess skin. Adequate skin elasticity is listed on the suitable side of the same assessment. Where laxity is the dominant finding, the doctor will say so at consultation and discuss what else is appropriate.

Which photographs should I send for an online consultation? High-resolution photographs taken in good lighting, showing frontal, 45-degree and side profile views, looking straight ahead, up, and down. Send your eye medical history with them. Online consultation is available on that basis.

Book a Consultation at TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic

Under-eye fat contouring is performed in Busan by Dr. Kim Ki-tae at the clinic's Haeundae-gu premises. English-speaking assistance is available for both online and in-person consultations, and consultations are arranged through the clinic's contact page. TAE Plastic Surgery Clinic is at 4th Floor, Gunam Building, 27 Gunam-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea, and opens Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00, closed Sundays and public holidays.

Disclaimer

This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Candidacy, technique, anaesthesia and outcome can only be determined in an in-person consultation with a qualified doctor. Individual results vary.

References

• American Academy of Dermatology — Cosmetic treatments

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Eyelid Surgery