There are three main goals with Asian blepharoplasty, or double eyelid surgery. First, many individuals of Asian descent desire an additional crease on their upper eyelids, and Asian eyelid surgery can do this.
Next, Asian blepharoplasty can alter the overall shape of the eye — potentially heightening or widening each individual eye. And finally, this procedure can often help to improve symmetry between the eyes.
Patients Choose Their Own Goals for Surgery
For each Asian blepharoplasty Asian patients are able to decide exactly what they would like to accomplish. You will explain to your plastic surgeon how you want your eyes to look after your procedure, and from there, your surgeon will assess your current eyes and make several measurements.
Depending on your goals, the presence of excess eyelid skin or excess fat on the upper lids may make a significant difference. This is because excess skin and fat may be causing the lack of an upper eyelid crease in the first place. By removing redundant skin, fat, and sometimes muscle, then suturing the upper lids at the ideal location for a crease, the patient’s goals can usually be accomplished.
Suture Fixation Only
In some cases, patients may only need to have their upper lids sutured, meaning excess skin and fat removal is unnecessary. If you take a look at a few galleries of Asian blepharoplasty before and after photos, you’ll notice that some patients require incisions and sutures while others require only sutures. The decision here is largely related to the patient’s natural anatomy and their unique goals for surgery.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Asian Blepharoplasty?
Patients who are unhappy with a lack of definition in their upper lid crease are typically good candidates for the double eyelid operation. The Asian upper eyelid is sometimes called a monolid (single eyelid) because it often lacks a defined crease.
If you have this type of lid or if you have a slight crease that you would like to make more defined, this can make you a good candidate for surgery. Of course, in addition to creating or defining a double eyelid crease — which typically opens the eye up vertically — Asian eyelid surgery can also extend the opening of the eye laterally.
This is typically achieved by opening up the superior palpebral fold, which covers the inner corner of the eye (toward the nose). Sometimes, an eyelid procedure can even extend the eyelid opening outward toward the ears. These specifics all depend on the unique goals of the patient.
Benefits of Asian Double Eyelid Surgery
Patients who undergo upper eyelid surgery to create a double eyelid can benefit from the following:
- Wider, more open looking eyes
- A more youthful appearance in the eyes
- More symmetry between the eyes
- Less puffy eyes
- Improved vision
- Increased confidence
- More options for applying makeup to the eyes
How Is Blepharoplasty for Asian Eyes Performed?
This depends on the specifics of the patient’s anatomy and their desired outcome. However, most Asian eyelid surgeries require a small incision made on the upper eyelid right where the desired crease will go.
Here, plastic surgeons frequently need to remove excess eyelid skin, fat, and/or muscle (again, depending on the patient’s anatomy). The removal of skin, fat, and muscle allows the eyelid skin to naturally crease because it is not being “puffed up” by the excess tissue there.
To ensure a defined crease, surgeons will also suture the lid skin and muscle along the new crease to the underlying structure of the eye. As a side note, in some cases, suture fixation is all that is needed fr this surgery.
FAQ: Blepharoplasty Asian Eyes
How long does Asian blepharoplasty last?
Choosing the right cosmetic surgeon for your Asian blepharoplasty is key to maintaining long-lasting results. If you do this and take care of your skin long-term by using the proper topical skincare products (plus staying out of the sun!), you should enjoy the benefits of your surgery for many years. Unfortunately, even eyelid surgery cannot prevent the natural effects of aging on the eyelid
tissues.
Is Asian blepharoplasty painful?
The cosmetic procedure itself is not painful because anesthesia will be used. However after surgery and once the anesthesia has worn off, patients will feel a bit sore around their eyes, forehead, and face. Prescription pain medication can be prescribed and is usually only needed for a short time during blepharoplasty recovery.
Can you get Asian eyelid surgery on the lower eyelids?
Sometimes orbicularis oculi muscle tightening (on the lower lids) can create a more youthful, becoming appearance, especially when specific loosening of this muscle is present. The surgery may benefit any patient with significant loss of fat and thinning eyelid skin in this area.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Steinberg Today
You deserve to look and feel your best. If you would like a more defined crease on your upper lids, successful corrective Asian blepharoplasty can provide this and give you a boost of self-confidence in the process.
Call today to learn more about blepharoplasty for Asian eyelids. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg performs this and other plastic surgery procedures at her Houston practice. We look forward to hearing from you.
