Many Asian girls believe double eyelids give the impression of bigger and brighter looking eyes. The Oculoplastic Department at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) shares how this procedure is done.
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Double eyelid surgery is the most common cosmetic surgery among Asians, says the Oculoplastic Department at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), a member of the
SingHealth group.
How Asian eyelids differ from Caucasians
The upper eyelid, controlled by the levator muscle, is attached to the skin above the eye. In Westerners, this forms a fold that results in a double eyelid but, in some Asians, this attachment does not occur.
In addition, some Asians have bulky fat tissue in their upper lids, resulting in protruding or puffy eyelids, which may even hide natural double eyelids. They also tend to have prominent skin folds (epicanthic folds) in the upper eyelids that cover the inner corners of the eyes. These folds can cover the upper eyelashes and part of the upper eyelids, making the eyes look "almond-shaped" and smaller.
While surgery may alter these physical traits, differences such as bone structure around the eyes, cannot be changed. Our specialists advise Asians with these characteristics to have realistic expectations.
"We cannot look like Angelina Jolie or Cindy Crawford because we don’t have deep-set eyes. But we can enhance what we have, even as we maintain our Asian features. Doing so allows our eyes to complement the rest of our face."
Surgery for double eyelids
The following surgical methods for double eyelid surgery are done under local anaesthesia.
Non-incision: Three small punctures are made and a thread is passed through the openings to create the double eyelid crease. This procedure can be done quickly. Recovery time is usually very short, but the results may not last as long. It is suitable for younger patients with thin skin.
Epicanthoplasty: An operation to reduce prominent epicanthic folds so the new double eyelid fold created is not hidden.
See the previous page to learn about
eye bags.
Ref. H24