Asian blepharoplasty is a popular Asian eyelid surgery. Also called double eyelid surgery, this procedure aims to create a natural-looking upper eyelid crease.

The procedure can be executed either by using an incision or a suture (non-incision) technique to create a double eyelid fold. While most races have this fold, it isn’t present in about half of the Asian population.

In the suture technique, a stitch creates the fold. This noninvasive procedure works well for a very limited patient population. It’s a good solution for those with thin-skinned eyelids who aren’t looking for dramatic, full eyelid height.

The suture technique’s primary challenge is that there is a high incidence of failure and relapse. This is because the eye is an incredibly dynamic structure that opens and closes thousands of times, which weakens the sutures.

ESK Facial Plastic Surgery in New York City also practices a minimally invasive partial incision technique that uses two small incisions (6 to 8 millimeters in length) on each eyelid. This technique, while requiring a slightly longer recovery time than the suture method, creates better attachment and results in a more permanent and dramatic fold with more predictable long-term outcomes.

As with every procedure, patients interested in double eyelid surgery typically have questions about healing time and when they can return to work and social events. The partial incision technique requires just a slightly longer healing time than the suture procedure. Patients choosing the incision technique can expect swelling and bruising to disappear in under two weeks. In comparison, most people who opt for the suture procedure can return to work and social engagements within a week.

We invite you to make an appointment with ESK Facial Plastic Surgery in Manhattan to discuss both techniques and discover which is right for you.

The epicanthal fold is present during early infancy in all ethnic groups. However in most ethnic groups as the face grows this fold becomes less apparent. In adulthood, the epicanthal fold is a unique feature to the Asian eye.

The epicanthal fold is located on the middle portion of the Asian eyelid and is essentially redundant skin overlying the lacrimal lake (aka the pink portion of the central eyelid).

The shape of the epicanthal fold can vary considerably, with a prominent fold creating a smaller appearance to the eye.

An epicanthoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to change the shape of the epicanthal fold. This procedure is usually performed in conjunction with Asian double eyelid surgery.

Several various surgical techniques have been developed over the years, using various skin flap advancement techniques.

Like all techniques in plastic surgery, the best results are usually from careful preoperative evaluation and proper selection of an effective surgical technique.