Eyelid surgery is a common request among Asian patients. Western and Asian eyes are very different, which means that traditional eyelid surgeries do not work for the Asian population. Many Asian eyelids do not have the natural fold just above the eyelashes that Western eyes have. The absence of this fold means there is no upper eyelid crease. Asian eyelid surgery or double eyelid surgery from NYC surgeon Dr. Kwan can make the eyes appear more open and bright.
The goal of Asian eyelid surgery
In addition to the lack of double eyelid, many Asian eyelids appear fuller than Western eyelids because they contain an extra fat layer underneath the skin. The goal of Asian eyelid surgery is to create a brighter, more pleasing upper eyelid area, but still maintaining a natural-looking Asian appearance. Rather than trying to “westernize” an Asian eyelid, we simply try to accentuate and enhance the eyelid.
We tailor our eyelid surgery based on the patients’ desires, whether that’s well defined, higher creases, or simply a minimalistic refresh. In addition to the creation of the upper eyelid crease, we may also contour the eyelid by removing extra fat or skin.
The double eyelid procedure
There are two main ways we can create double eyelid in Asian eyelid surgery. The first is a suture technique that uses several sutures at specific points in the eyelid to contour the fold. The second technique involves an incision to remove some of the skin, fat, and muscle before making the strategic sutures. Patients who are younger and those without excessive fullness are best suited for the suture technique. Older patients and those with obvious asymmetry or excess skin and fat may require the incision.
The team at the office of Dr. Edmund Kwan in NYC is ready to answer any questions you have about Asian eyelid surgery. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please call our office at (212) 734-4488.
