Asian Eyelid Lift: Experience and Skills Your Plastic Surgeon Must Have

An Asian eyelid lift, also known as double eyelid surgery, helps make the eyes appear wider and brighter in people of East Asian ethnicity. The simple name is misleading, as subtle nuances to the procedure can enhance the appearance of a wide range of facial and eyelid characteristics. Because this is a highly customized procedure, and because both artistry and precise technical skill are needed to perform it well, it’s important to choose your plastic surgeon carefully.

Choose a Surgeon Who Understands the Variations in Asian Eyelids

Asian eyelids are generally thicker than those of other ethnicities, but there is tremendous variation among individuals. Some have an upper eyelid fold — which shows as a fine horizontal crease when the eyes are closed — and some don’t. Some have eyes that, when open, appear to be partially closed, the result of a variation in function of a small muscle, called a levator, that lifts the upper eyelid.

Depending on these variations, as well at the shape of your eyes and your desired look, a good plastic surgeon will tailor the procedure to enhance your ethnic beauty (or handsomeness), rather than imposing an aesthetic you may not like.

If you do not have an upper eyelid fold and want one, the procedure can be designed to create a natural-looking double eyelid crease. Subtle variations in the fold — how far it is above the edge of the eyelid, whether it parallels the curve of the eyelash line or flares from it or approaches it at either end — will change the look of your eyes. Planning the placement and shape of the fold should be a collaborative process between you and your surgeon. 

Ask the plastic surgeon for before-and-after pictures of similar surgeries that he’s performed. Look for sensitivity in tailoring the surgery to different eyelid types for natural-looking results. Pay special attention to pictures of people with eyes like your own.

Choose a Surgeon With Expertise in the Precision of Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery is among the most precise and demanding cosmetic procedures, and surgery on Asian eyelids can be particularly challenging. Creating an eyelid fold that is 6 millimeters above the eyelash line, rather than 7 or 8 millimeters, and that tapers toward the eyelash line at the nose and away from it at the outside of the eyes — if that is what the patient wants — requires both skill and artistry. Planning a procedure to enhance your appearance requires an understanding of ethnic facial aesthetics. Performing the procedure to deliver the desired results takes medical expertise and extensive surgical skill.

You’ll want to find a surgeon who has both a sensitivity to the unique features of your appearance and extensive experience in performing this type of surgery. When you consult with surgeons, ask about their experience with eyelid surgery in general and with Asian eyelid surgery in particular.

Choose a Surgeon Who Explains and Listens

Because there is so much variation in the natural appearance of all people’s eyelids, and so many subtle decisions to make when planning eyelid surgery to enhance your appearance, you’ll want to find a plastic surgeon who can explain your options and who will listen to and respect your wishes. Once you’ve narrowed your search, schedule a consultation with the surgeons you’re considering. Allow the doctors to examine your eyes and make recommendations. Discuss your hopes for the procedure. Ask to look at pictures of patients the doctor has treated who have eyes like your own. If it’s a good fit, by the end of the consultation you should feel that you can trust and work with the surgeon to create this important change in your appearance.  

Dr. Stephen Bresnick, M.D., in Encino, CA, is a board-certified plastic surgeon in the Los Angeles area with extensive experience in performing eyelid surgery on patients of all ethnicities. Call us at (818) 981-3333 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.

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