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The most popular Asian cosmetic surgery
Asian double eyelid surgery
More Asians have double eyelid surgery than any other cosmetic procedure, including rhinoplasty, liposuction, and breast augmentation. It has become such a trend that non-medical personnel at salons have been found using “quick stitch” procedures, frequently with less than perfect results.
What is a double eyelid?
The vast majority of “western” or occidental people have a crease across the upper lid that divides the lid into two parts, thus the double lid. Approximately 50% of Asians lack this crease or have a poorly visible crease, giving the appearance of a single eyelid, or a “monolid”.
Double eyelid
Monolid
Why is double eyelid surgery done?
The eyelid crease frames the eye opening and makes the eyes appear to be more open, an often desired aesthetic feature for those without a crease. The procedure is generally aimed at preserving the Asian shape and features of the eyes, so it is not meant to Westernize the lids.
Is it only done in Asia?
The double eyelid procedure is extremely popular in China, Korea, Thailand, and Japan, but Asian-Americans have the surgery in the United States as well. As an oculoplastic surgeon in New York, I see a relatively large Asian patient base who are interested in double eyelids.
Immediately after double eyelid surgery
How the eyelid crease is made
There are 2 main methods of creating an eyelid crease.
1. The suture method: Disintegrating stitches are passed through the desired crease location and the lid is compressed in this area, allowing a scar to form as the skin heals. This method is less permanent than the second option.
2. The incision method: A fine cut is made across the eyelid crease and stitches are placed from the skin to the deeper eyelid and back to the skin. This approach has a longer scar but the surgeon has more control over the result.
Does this procedure have anything to do with those large contact lenses?
No, the circle lenses that have become a trend in Korea, Japan, and Singapore make the iris look larger (and often change the color of the iris) were inspired by anime characters and don’t actually change the eyelid shape. Circle lenses seem to be more of a pop-culture trend while double eyelid surgery has been around for decades and is unlikely to wane in popularity in the near future.
circle lenses
What type of crease do you have?
I’ve compiled an ebook on double eyelid surgery that includes a section to help determine what type of eyelid creases you have. You can download the free pdf file here.
This is what happens when you get an eyelift
What happens during eye lift surgery?
Eye lifts are done to make the eyes look younger, less tired, less heavy, and less baggy. It’s what I do the most of in my cosmetic practice in NYC. So what does the eyelift involve?
It’s an outpatient procedure
You don’t have to stay overnight, and it’s done in an accredited surgical suite. The total operating time for just the upper eyelids is under an hour, longer if the upper and lower eyelids are done together.
To make the upper eyelids look younger, a thin strip of skin is removed and the eyelid is sculpted on the inside by shaping the fat and muscle. Then stitches are used to close the skin and to improve the contours of the eyelids.
Downtime can be 1 – 2 weeks
Some people look great after a week (which is usually when any stitches are removed), but others may have bruising and swelling that lasts longer than a week. The vast majority of my patients use only Tylenol for some mild discomfort during the first week of healing after their eyelift.
Will an eyelift make me look strange?
A natural-looking eyelift surgery will only make you look strange during the early healing time- so perhaps a few weeks. Over-done eyelid lifts when too much skin or fat was removed can make your face look different. A key is finding a surgeon you trust and has specialized eyelid training. Their before and after photos should provide examples of results that match your goals. And they should be able to tell you if your expectations are realistic. These are issues I focus on when I see prospective clients in my offices in NY.
The goal of cosmetic eyelid surgery is to rejuvenate the eyes without calling attention to the fact that something was done. The results can be nothing short of amazing. Click here to see what I mean.