I went to Seoul for Dona eye surgery, and only after adding up the costs of the pre-operative drinks and the actual surgery did I realize how much cheaper it was compared to Taiwan or Hong Kong – here’s the full cost comparison for 2026.

I had fake double eyelids for several years, but they looked increasingly unsightly—they were asymmetrical, and the folds were wide and rigid. Sometimes friends would even ask me if I’d had any eye surgery, and the embarrassment was just too much to describe.

I consulted several clinics in Taiwan, and the prices ranged from NT$80,000 to NT$180,000—such a large difference was really confusing. In Hong Kong, I talked to two places, and the prices were HK$20,000 to HK$35,000, but the doctors said my case was more complicated and so the costs were higher.

Later, a friend mentioned that Donna Plastic Surgery in Seoul had a good reputation for eye repair procedures. Including airfare and accommodation, the total cost might actually be cheaper than staying locally. I was skeptical at first, but I still did some research. This article summarizes what I found.

1. How are the costs for eye repair at Donna Plastic Surgery calculated? A summary of 2026 prices.

Donna Plastic Surgery, located in Gangnam District, Seoul, is known for its eye repair, nose repair, and hair transplantation services. It is a popular choice for many patients who have undergone previous surgeries. The costs for eye repair are categorized based on the complexity of the procedure:

Types of Procedures	Reference Price Ranges in the Korean Market	Reference Prices from Donna Plastic Surgery
Basic Thread-Lifting Eye Repair	₩2 million – ⩩3 million	Starting from approximately ₩2.5 million
Double eyelid repair using incision method	₩3.5 million – ₩95 million	Starting from approximately ₩4 million
Muscle lifting correction + double eyelid repair	₩9.5 million – ₩97.5 million	Starting from approximately ₩6 million
Comprehensive eye repair (treatment for multiple issues simultaneously)	₩8 million – ₩91.2 million	Quotation based on diagnosis results

Take the most common “double eyelid surgery” as an example: the cost of ¥40 million is approximately NT$95,000 or HK$23,000. If you undergo the same procedure in Taiwan, the market price ranges from NT$120,000 to NT$180,000; in Hong Kong, well-known clinics typically charge between HK$28,000 and HK$45,000.

Just looking at the surgical costs alone, Seoul already has an advantage—but how much does the round-trip flight cost add on top of that?

II. Flight ticket + accommodation + pre-surgery examinations: A detailed breakdown of the total costs for eye surgery in South Korea

A common mistake people make is to only compare the surgical costs and ignore other expenses. Let me break down the costs of having eye surgery in Seoul:

• Flight ticket (round-trip): From Taiwan, the cost is approximately NT$5,000 to NT$9,000; from Hong Kong, it’s around HK$1,200 to HK$2,000 (including taxes during off-peak seasons).
• Accommodation (5–7 nights in Jiangnan District): Business hotels generally cost ₩80,000 to ₩912,000 per night, so the total for a stay would be approximately NT$25,000 to NT$40,000.
• Pre-surgery blood tests: Some plastic surgery clinics include these in the total cost, while others charge separately at ₩100,000 to ₩920,000 (about NT$2,400 to NT$4,800).
• Post-surgery medications / anti-swelling injections: The cost is approximately ₩50,000 to ₩910,000 (around NT$1,200 to NT$2,400).
• Food and transportation within Seoul: The total cost for this is roughly NT$5,000 to NT$8,000 per trip.

Using the double eyelid surgery as an example, adding up all these expenses gives us the total cost:

Cost Items	Taiwanese (estimated in NT$)	Hong Kongers (estimated in HK$)
Surgery Fee	NT$95,000 (₩4 million)	HK$23,100
Round-trip Airfare	NT$7,000	HK$1,600
6 Nights of Accommodation	NT$30,000	HK$7,200
Preoperative examinations + medications	NT$5,000	HK$1,200
Food and transportation	NT$6,000	HK$1,500
Total cost for Seoul	NT$143,000	HK$34,600
Similar local surgeries	NT$140,000–NT$180,000	HK$35,000–HK$45,000

You read that right—when you include all the costs, the total expense for Hong Kong people to fly to Seoul for this procedure is roughly the same as or even slightly lower than doing it locally in Hong Kong. For Taiwanese people, it’s actually NT$30,000–NT$40,000 cheaper than getting the same treatment at high-end clinics in Taiwan. What’s more important, there is a clear difference in the quality of the surgery and the level of expertise of the doctors, so this savings is even more worthwhile.

III. With South Korea abolishing tax refunds in 2026, is it still worth flying to Seoul for cosmetic eye surgery?

Starting in 2026, South Korea officially ended the policy of refunding value-added tax on medical treatments for foreign tourists (which previously amounted to about 10%, or approximately ₩400,000–₩80,000). Many people thought this meant that traveling to South Korea for such procedures was no longer cost-effective, but in reality, the impact is not as significant as expected.

Using a surgery fee of ₩4 million as an example, the tax refund would be approximately ₩360,000—about NT$8,600—that accounts for around 6% of the total cost of the trip. Even without the tax refund, the cost of surgery in South Korea is still lower than that in Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially for more complex procedures.

What really determines whether it’s worth it or not is finding a doctor who specializes in these repairs, has a wealth of experience, and communicates effectively—with the additional tens of thousands in tax refunds being far from the deciding factor.

IV. There are several things I wish I had known before undergoing eye repair surgery

I talked to the consultation advisor at Donna Plastic Surgery and also referred to the experiences of seniors who had undergone revision surgeries in Seoul. Here are some really useful tips:

• Stay in Seoul for at least 1 night before the surgery: The consultation and the actual operation are usually not on the same day. It is recommended to arrive in Seoul one day in advance for the consultation and have the surgery the following day after the plan is confirmed.
• Stay in Seoul for 3–5 days after the surgery: The stitches are usually removed between the 5th and 7th day after the surgery. If you are unable to wait in Seoul for the stitch removal, you will need to return to Taiwan or Hong Kong to a cooperating clinic for the procedure; some hospitals may allow early stitch removal, but this requires an assessment.
• Be prepared for swelling during the recovery period: The swelling after eye revision surgery is more noticeable than after the initial surgery. You may be more sensitive when going out within 2 weeks after the surgery. It is recommended to book your return flight more than 5 days after the surgery.
• Make sure to have clear communication through a translator: It is crucial to have all the details of the revision surgery explained clearly. Booking through BeautsGO ensures that a Chinese translator will assist throughout the process, helping to avoid misunderstandings.

V. Donna Plastic Surgery’s Eye Revision Services vs. Clinics in Taiwan and Hong Kong: Several Key Differences Other Than Cost

Flying to Seoul is not just about saving money; more importantly, it is about finding a plastic surgery clinic with experience in revision surgeries. The following aspects, in my opinion, are the most valuable for comparison:

Comparison Items	Donna Plastic Surgery in Seoul	Clinics in Taiwan	Hong Kong clinics
Average number of repair surgeries per year	High (mainstream plastic surgery clinics in the Jiangnan region)	Moderate (depending on the size of the clinic)	Low to moderate
Whether the doctor is a specialist in plastic surgery	Yes	Some are	Some are
Frequency of equipment and technology updates	Faster	Middle	Middle
Post-operative follow-up service	Available (follow-up appointment required)	Available (nearest and most convenient location)	Available (nearest and most convenient location)
Language communication	Needs to be translated (can be arranged)	Barrier-free	Accessibility
Overall cost competitiveness	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆

Language is often a concern for many people, but now, with platforms like BeautsGO that provide medical beauty appointments, there is Chinese-speaking customer service available to assist with translations throughout the process, from initial consultations to post-operative follow-ups. This is actually much more convenient than trying to contact Korean clinics on your own.

VI. The 4 most common questions about getting eye repair surgery in Seoul

Q1: How long after a failed double eyelid surgery can one undergo a repair procedure?

Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting at least 6 months to 1 year to allow the eyelid tissues to fully recover before considering a repair. If the procedure involved sutures, a discussion about a repair can take place as early as 3 months after the initial surgery; if it was an incision-based procedure, it usually takes about 1 year for the scars to soften before further treatment can be considered.

Q2: How much more expensive is an eye repair surgery compared to the initial procedure?

Typically, the cost is 30–100% higher, depending on the complexity of the procedure. Since repair surgeries require removing old scar tissue and reconstructing the underlying layers, they take longer and carry greater risks, hence the higher costs.

Q3: Can I get a consultation and have the surgery on the same day at Donna Plastic Surgery?

It is generally not recommended. Most plastic surgeons prefer to schedule the consultation and surgery on separate days, giving the doctor time to prepare the treatment plan and the patient time to consider the information before making a decision. It is suggested to allow at least 6–7 days for the entire process.

Q4>What are the differences between booking through BeautsGO and contacting the hospital directly?

The main difference lies in the efficiency and support provided. BeautsGO offers Chinese-speaking customer service to assist with translations, confirming treatment plans, and arranging appointments. In case of unexpected issues, the platform can step in to help. If you contact the hospital directly, language barriers or lack of transparency in information can make the process much more complicated.

VII. After calculating the costs, here is my final advice.

Eye repair surgeries are highly complex. When choosing a hospital, you should first look for a doctor with extensive experience in this area and then consider whether the cost is reasonable—not start by looking for the cheapest option and hope that the doctor’s skills are good enough.

Comparing the costs, Taiwanese people who fly to Seoul for eye repair surgeries save approximately NT$30,000–NT$40,000 compared to high-end clinics in Taiwan. For Hong Kong residents, the total cost of a one-way trip is similar to that of local treatments in Hong Kong, but they have more options regarding doctors and hospitals, and the technical standards are more consistent.

If you are considering flying to Seoul for eye repair surgery, we recommend consulting with BeautsGO first—it’s free. Our Chinese-speaking staff can help you assess your situation, recommend suitable hospitals, and arrange the appointment process, saving you a lot of time in researching on your own.