Question 1

How is an Asian double eyelid performed?

Accepted Answer

This depends on your anatomy and your goals. In most younger patients, the incisionless suture technique will be the best option to create the double crease. There is practically no scars, and very minimal swelling or bruising afterward. The recover is short (1-2 days at most). The sutures recreate the fibrous attachment that naturally exist in people with natural double eyelid (between the tarsal plate, and the soft tissue structures of the levators and skin). The result lasts from 5-15 years usually.

In cases where you need more fat removal, a small incision (5-6mm) might be needed to remove that fat. The recovery will be longer at 3-4 days because more work was done.

In older patients with excess fat and skin, skin removal is needed. Because of this, we need to create the incision to remove the excess skin. The incision heals very well, and after a few months, most incisions are very hard to see at conversational distant. Healing will be 1 week.

We do the surgery with local anesthetics and have you sit up and look at yourself during the surgery. IV sedation can also be added if you prefer.

Question 2

Am I a good candidate for Asian double eyelid surgery?

Accepted Answer

Your eyelid covers a significant portion of your iris (the darker part of your eye), or you're displeased with its shape.
There's surplus fat in your eyelids, resulting in a puffy appearance.
When you open your eyes, your upper eyelid folds inward, leading to eyelash contact with the cornea, causing irritation and potential damage.

Question 3

What to expect after double eyelid surgery?

Accepted Answer

Post-surgery, most patients report minimal discomfort.
Swelling varies among patients, depending on the procedure performed, with procedures involving fat and skin removal causing more swelling.
Stitches for incisional methods are typically taken out within 4-6 days.
Bruising typically subsides around the 1-2-week mark.
Return to desk work is generally ok after 1-4 days.
Driving can typically be resumed within 1-2 weeks.
Gradual resumption of physical activities is recommended 2-4 weeks post-surgery.

Question 4

What are the risks to double eyelid surgery?

Accepted Answer

Major complications are extremely rare.
Some degree of asymmetry between the two sides is expected, but any major asymmetry is not expected as we do the surgery with local anesthetics and have you sit up and look at yourself during the surgery. 
There is always a chance you might need revision surgery. This might be more common in patients with ptosis or protruding eyes.
Minor eye irritation and need to use eyedrops temporarily might be needed. 
Your eye might need a period of 1-2 weeks to adjust to the new eyelid position. 
You will still be able to close your eye when you sleep. But in cases of ptosis repair, there might be a period of 1-2 weeks where you need eye ointment while your eye slowly close over time. 
Infection is very rare. 
Bruising is expected, but usually very minimal. 
Bleeding is very rare but can occur and might need another procedure. 
Blindless is exceedingly rare.

Question 5

What is ‘fold failure’ and why does it happen?

Accepted Answer

Double eyelid surgeries may result in fold failure due to various reasons.
Incisional methods may fail due to limited dissection or improper skin/muscle attachment.
Dr. Boonipat addresses this by securing skin to the tarsal plate and levator tendon in anchor blepharoplasty.
Traditional suture techniques can fail because sutures can tear through soft tissue.
Eye anatomies prone to fold failure include deep-set eyes and patients with eyelid ptosis.
Deep-set eyes strain incision lines, increasing the risk of breakage.
Ptosis patients have difficulty forming a firm crease, making it prone to breaking.

Question 6

What is ptosis?

Accepted Answer

A droopy eyelid can result from either a congenital weak eyelid muscle or muscle detachment from the tarsus, typically due to aging.
Ptosis, particularly among Asians, affects around half of patients undergoing asian eyelid surgery.
Treatment depends on the cause: reattachment of the muscle if detached or strengthening/shortening the muscle to position the eyelid correctly at rest.

Question 7

Cost?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us about cost as the exact procedure you needed is tailored to your goals and anatomy. 
Insurance typically doesn't cover asian eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons, but it may cover corrective procedures in certain cases.
Ptosis, a condition where a drooping eyelid affects vision, can qualify for insurance coverage.
Ptosis may result from a weakened levator muscle, common in congenital ptosis in younger patients.
Another cause is levator dehiscence from the tarsus, often occurring in older patients due to aging.
A visual field test can assess the severity of ptosis and determine if insurance covers corrective surgery

Asian Double Eyelid