Every different type of ethnic background is known for certain facial and physical characteristics.  One particular characteristic that is common for people of Asian descent is the creasing of the upper eyelid.  For many Asians, no actual crease exists and thus the eyelid can appear to be set flat against the face or without any pocket for the eyelid to roll back into when open.  The lack of creasing, called having a single eyelid, can cause a patient of Asian descent to feel self conscious about their experience.  Fortunately, a procedure exists, called blepharoplasty, that can help to create a crease in the upper eyelid.

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty literally means double eyelid surgery.  For Asians who have no crease in their eye, they are augmented from what is considered a single eyelid to having a crease, which is considered to be a double eyelid.  Asian eyelid surgery is more commonly performed than similar surgery on people of other ethnic descent.  There are three types of blepharoplasty.  These are full incision blepharoplasty, partial incision blepharoplasty, and non-incision blepharoplasty. 

When a full incision is necessary, the entire eyelid becomes involved in the Asian eyelid surgery.  This method is employed when the greatest degree of flatness is present in the eyes and there is a complete lack of discernible crease.  When a small or partial crease is available, partial incision plepharoplasty is indicated, necessitating the least amount of surgical intervention necessary.  Incisions can be avoided entirely with one particular type of procedure is done.  Called a DST for short, this procedure is named double suture and twist.  Utilizing this method, no incision is necessary, but instead tiny surgical stitches are made to subtly twist the upper eyelid and create the appearance of a crease.

What are Drawbacks?

As with any surgery, there is the risk of complication and infection when a patient elects to undergo blepharoplasty.  Because the surgery is taking place in such close proximity to the patient's eyes, there is an increased risk to the patient's vision.  In all occasions, skilled plastic surgeons take every step necessary to ensure that complications to no cause temporary or permanent injury or discomfort or damage.  When the DST method of Asian eyelid surgery is performed, it must be noted that it is possible for the sutures to fail to hold the eyelid properly in place after a significant passage of time.