Glossary

DES (Double Eyelid Surgery)
Creating an upper-eyelid crease. The single most common procedure discussed in these communities.
Ptosis correction
Tightening the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid, for eyes that look sleepy or half-closed. Often bundled with DES.
Epi / Epicanthoplasty
Opening the inner corner of the eye to lengthen it horizontally. Hard to reverse and can scar visibly.
Canthoplasty
Altering the outer corner of the eye to widen or lower it. "Lateral" = outer, "lower" = downward.
V-line
Jaw surgery narrowing the lower face into a V shape, usually by shaving or cutting the jawbone.
Zygoma reduction
Reducing the cheekbones, typically by cutting and repositioning them inward.
Genioplasty
Chin surgery — sliding or reshaping the chin bone (distinct from a chin implant).
Two-jaw / Orthognathic
Repositioning both jaws. Major surgery with months of recovery; sometimes medically necessary.
Alarplasty
Narrowing the nostrils.
Tiplasty
Reshaping the nose tip only.
Septoplasty
Straightening the nasal septum — a functional (breathing) procedure often combined with cosmetic work.
Rib / Ear cartilage
Graft materials for the nose. Rib is used for bigger builds and revisions; ear is softer, for tips.
Fat repositioning
Moving under-eye fat down to fill hollows rather than removing it — common for eye bags.
Acculift
Laser-assisted small-volume liposuction, usually facial.
Ghost doctor
A different surgeon substituted after you are anaesthetised. A recurring Korean scandal — ask for CCTV and a named surgeon in writing.
Consultant / Coordinator
A salesperson, not a doctor. They often quote prices and recommend procedures; insist on speaking to the surgeon.
KRW / mil
Korean won. "6 mil" = 6,000,000 KRW. Roughly divide by 1,350 for a rough USD figure.
Petit surgery
Non-surgical treatments — filler, botox, threads, lasers.
Rejuran
Injectable "salmon-DNA" (polynucleotide) skin booster for texture and elasticity. A staple of Seoul skin clinics, usually sold as a course.
Ultherapy / HIFU
Focused-ultrasound skin tightening. Ulthera is the branded machine; HIFU covers cheaper equivalents. No downtime, results build over months.
Pico laser
Picosecond laser for pigmentation, melasma and tattoo removal. Gentler and faster-healing than older Q-switched lasers.
Skin booster
Micro-injections of hyaluronic acid or polynucleotides (e.g. Rejuran, Juvelook) for hydration and glow, rather than volume.
LASIK / LASEK
Laser vision correction. LASIK cuts a corneal flap and heals fast; LASEK/PRK work on the surface with a longer, more uncomfortable recovery but suit thinner corneas.
SMILE
Flapless laser vision correction (ReLEx SMILE / SMILE Pro) that removes a small lens of tissue through a tiny incision. Marketed for less post-op dry eye than LASIK.
ICL
Implantable Collamer Lens — a permanent contact-style lens placed inside the eye. Used for very high prescriptions or corneas too thin to laser.
Diopter / prescription
The strength of your short-sightedness (e.g. "-6.00"). Higher numbers narrow which vision-correction methods you qualify for.