Asian Blepharoplasty

In Asian eyelid surgery, the primary goal is to create a new eyelid crease where no crease exists or the enhancement of an inadequately defined, asymmetrical, or unstable crease by removal of skin and fat. The presence of a defined eyelid crease allows a more accurate and intense expression of emotion. In medical usage with reference to eyelid surgery, the term "Asian" is usually meant to designate the regions of Eastern Asia (previously called "the Orient") and Southeast Asia (sometimes called the "Far East"). The term "Occidental" is generally used to mean "Western" or non-Asian.

"Double eyelid surgery" is a quite recent operation developed on and for patients of Asian roots while "Blepharoplasty" is an older operation developed for patients of European and Occidental fall. Most Occidental patients requesting blepharoplasty are in their forties, fifties, and sixties, while majority of Asian patients requesting surgery are in their teens, twenties, and early thirties. The two operations share almost no features in common. Before the surgery the surgeon discuss with this patient about the final outcome he desires and about the structure of the new crease.

Operation Procedure: After making the eyelids numb by application of anesthetic cream small injections are then given to make the deeper tissues numb. Sedation is kept light so that the surgeon can check the developing crease by asking the patient to open the eyes. Generally there is no pain during surgery.

Technique Used: Sutures technique and the laser technique.

Suture technique: The sutures are passed in and out of the eyelid and are covered, and remain there permanently. There are no stitches outside on the skin. This is best in younger patients with thin eyelids with little fat.

Laser technique: The skin is cut with a special radio frequency tool (to avoid scarring), and the CO2 laser is then used to cut and remove a thin strip muscle and fat. Then two layers of stitches are used to make the crease and close the skin. The stitches on the skin dissolve by themselves after a week or 10 days.

The surgery takes about an hour. Patient can go home the same day.

Advantages: Surgery done through a skin incision creates a very long-lasting crease. The outcome of the surgery is quite natural.

Care and recovery: Asian eyelid skin may be more "reactive" than Occidental skin and thus may stay swollen for a longer time after surgery.

Risks and complications: Despite of the experience surgeons the surgery sometimes may result in asymmetrical eyelid crease, overly high eyelid crease, hollowness, multiple creases, prolonged swelling. While the list of problems may look long; the vast majority of the patients undergoing such surgery are pleased with the final outcome.

Asian Blepharoplasty costs a patient around $2500 complete.