Asian Eyelid Surgery - "Double Eyelid Surgery"

What Is Asian Eyelid Surgery?

Asian Eyelid Surgery, also known as "Double Eyelid Surgery," is the most requested cosmetic surgery in the Asian population, both in Asia and the United States. However, the average age of those who undergo this surgery is generally younger than for eyelid surgery that is performed on "Occidental" patients.

Many Asians go to impressive lengths to create a crease without surgery. For example, some women sweep glue above their eyes, use a mini-fork to hike up their eyelids, and then press it into place. The goal is to create a larger, more attractive eye. Rather than endure this routine on a daily basis, many patients opt for surgery that creates a permanent crease.

While many regard this surgery as an attempt to appear more "Western," possibly a better definition of the goal is to have a more defined contouring of the skin above the lashes that is harmonious with other facial features. Often criticized as a rejection of cultural "norms," this surgery is in fact sought for the same reasons as are other procedures – to increase the patient's self confidence. It is not sought to look more Occidental. Rather, patients seek to conform to what is more widely regarded as aesthetically pleasing, whatever the culture. In other words, patients do not seek a more Western eye, but simply a prettier Asian one.

About half of all Asian patients have an upper eyelid with a low but defined eyelid crease. The other 50 percent of patients show little or no sign of a crease, i.e. a "single eyelid."

When present, the Asian crease differs from the typical Occidental crease in a number of ways. These include formation that is closer to the eyelashes, a different shape – with sometimes incomplete or multiple folds. The Asian upper eyelid appears fuller or "puffier" than the Occidental eyelid for many reasons, including a thicker eyebrow fat pad that projects lower into the eyelid, and a much thicker subcutaneous layer of fat that adds padding over the entire eyelid. This interferes with crease formation.

Also, because Asian eyelashes tend to bend downward, the area between the upper and lower eyelids appears more closed.

How Is Asian Eyelid Surgery Performed?

"Double Eyelid Surgery" patients are requesting the creation of a crease "from scratch," or a change in the height of an existing natural crease. Your cosmetic surgeon will select a "low," "medium," or "high" crease. For a discontinuous or incomplete crease, the surgeon's goal will be to "complete that crease without altering the shape and height that are inborn." However, creases that are poorly defined, or multi-fold, will be converted into a single dominant crease. The surgery creates a "double eyelid" fold by removing a crescent shaped piece of skin from the eyelid, some of the subcutaneous fat, and deep fixation of the lower edge of the Levator Aponeurosis to the superior edge of the Tarsal Plate. After wound closure, the scarring of the Levator Aponeurosis margin at the Tarsal Plate will create a new fold.

Non-Incisional Techniques also exist. In these procedures an incision is not made, but a permanent suture is made through a series of multiple stabs. The suture is then pulled under the skin in order to create a zone of scarring, and therefore a fold. This approach is not as successful as the Incisional Approach described earlier.

Epicanthoplasty is a procedure where the epicanthal fold by the middle corner of the eyelid is lengthened by a series of small "Z-plasty" incisions in order to make the eyelids appear more occidental. Although this procedure used to be very popular and was an integral part of Asian Eyelid Surgery, today it is no longer popular because it can make the Asian face appear unnatural.

Dr. Younai has had much experience in performing Asian Eyelid Surgery with an emphasis for getting natural looking eyes which still maintains patient's Asian ethnicity. During your consultation Dr. Younai will review with you your treatment options for Asian Eyelid or "Double Eyelid Surgery", including pros and cons of each procedure, potential risks and complications, recovery course, pre and post operative instructions, and esthetic outcomes. At that time he will also recommend if you might need additional procedures to correct Ectropion, eyelid Ptosis or other eyelid dysfunctions. There are also many before-and-after pictures and high resolution images of Facial Plastic Surgery and Eyelid Surgery available in our photo gallery.

Dr. Younai is a board certified plastic surgeon who receives patients at the California Center for Plastic Surgery from the Northern as well as the Southern California region. Some of these cities include Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, and Oxnard.

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Asian Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty - Q & A
Blepharoplasty Procedure
Surgeon Qualifications
Risks & Complications
Preparation for Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty Recovery
Unsatisfactory Results
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