Asian Eyelid Surgery Sydney
Your complete guide and quick links to everything you want to know about Asian Eyelid Surgery in Sydney!
What Is Asian ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery?
Most Asians have ‘Monolids’ which means that the upper eyelids have either a poorly defined crease or none at all. In contrast, an eyelid that does have a crease is known as a Double Eyelid.
This absence of a crease is simply due to the anatomical differences between Asian and Caucasian upper eyelids.
The aim of Asian ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery should never be to ‘Westernise’ the eyes but instead to make Asian eyes appear larger, brighter and even more attractive while still retaining their beautiful Asian shape.
It’s akin to putting a nice frame around a beautiful painting and making it look even more appealing!
An added bonus of creating an eyelid crease is the ability to more easily and stylishly apply eye makeup!
Asian ‘Double-Eyelid’ Surgery, sometimes called simply Asian Blepharoplasty or Asian Eyelid Surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to create an eyelid crease where there is only a weak crease or none at all.
It has become a very popular procedure worldwide but especially so in Asia.
‘Double-Eyelid’ Surgery will give your eyes a more continental Eurasian look, make your eyes appear larger and brighter as well as make applications of eye makeup much easier.
How Is Asian Eyelid Surgery Done?
In the best interests of patient comfort and safety, all ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery procedures are performed in a Licensed Day Hospital under either Twilight Sedation or General Anaesthesia administered by our Specialist Anaesthetist.
‘Double Upper Eyelid’ Surgery takes around 1-2 hours depending on which technique is used.
After careful pre-operative measurements and marking in a sitting position to determine exactly the location of the crease and any skin to be removed, you will be taken to Theatre.
When you have fallen asleep, your Surgeon will inject a local anaesthetic into the upper eyelid.
Following precisely the earlier skin markings, your doctor will create the required eyelid crease with either of two techniques: the Suture Technique or Incisional Technique – refer Table below.
You can go home 1½ hours after your procedure, but you cannot go home alone. You must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Post-operative discomfort is minimal and is easily relieved with pain relievers.
Two Different Techniques For Asian ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery
These are:
- The Suture Technique where the crease is created by inserting several sutures to anchor the eyelid skin to deeper tissue.
- The Incisional Technique: a more secure and permanent method where a crease is created through an eyelid skin incision.
The differences between the two techniques are summarised in the following table:
| Suture Method | Incisional Method | |
|---|---|---|
| 
|
|
| Incision | No incision is necessary. Instead, 3-5 small holes are made along the proposed crease to allow permanent sutures to be inserted and anchor the skin to deeper tissue. | The incision is made along the proposed upper eyelid crease approximately 6mm from the eyelid margin. |
| Duration of Correction | A less secure method because the sutures may fail to hold and cause the new crease to be lost. If the sutures fail, the procedure can be repeated or replaced with the Incisional Technique. | More reliable & permanent |
| Anaesthesia | Local Anaesthesia with Sedation or General Anaesthesia | Local Anaesthesia with Sedation or General Anaesthesia |
| Operating Time | 1 hour | 2 hours |
| Post-Operative Bruising & Swelling | Less | More |
| Scar | None | Usually fine and inconspicuous. |
At your Initial Consultation, our Surgeon will carefully assess your eyelids and advise whether you have a choice between the above two techniques or whether you should only consider the Incisional Technique.
For example, if you also need a small amount of skin or fat to be removed for an even nicer result, this can only be achieved with the Incisional Technique.
Recovery After Asian Eyelid Surgery
- Discomfort is usually mild after ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery and can be relieved by the pain-relievers your Surgeon will prescribe.
- Rest at home during the first 24 hours. Do not exert yourself and avoid strenuous activities or exercise during the first 2 weeks after surgery.
- Bruising and swelling after eyelid surgery is normal and expected. It is more pronounced the day after surgery but then settles over the next 2 weeks.
- Sleep on at least two pillows to keep your head elevated. This will help to reduce swelling.
- Apply cold compresses as often as possible during the first 48 hours to reduce swelling – 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off is recommended.
- Contact lenses can usually be worn after 14 days but only if they feel comfortable.
- Return to the Clinic after 7 days for removal of any sutures.
- Make-up: You can resume wearing makeup 48 hours after removal of any sutures.
‘Pros & Cons’ of Asian ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery
The Pros:
- ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery will make your eyes look brighter and more open while still retaining their attractive Asian shape.
- It is a short-duration procedure without the need for any hospital stay.
- Only minimal discomfort after surgery.
- With the Incisional Technique, the incision is located in the created crease thereby making most of the final scar hidden in the crease when fully healed.
The Cons:
- Although you may only need around 7-10 days of ‘downtime’, we recommend that you allow 2 weeks off work to allow the swelling and any bruising to largely disappear.
Potential Risks and Complications of Asian Eyelid Surgery
Surgery and anaesthesia nowadays are considered generally safe but both have potential risks and complications which include:
Specific to Asian Eyelid Surgery:
- Bruising and swelling of the eyelids. These are normal, expected and temporary.
- Bleeding from the incision lines.
- Infection requiring topical wound care and antibiotics.
- Abnormal scarring – pigmented, wide or thickened scars (hypertrophic or keloid) could occur.
- Numbness of the upper eyelid (usually temporary)
- Persistent pain
- Failure of the created eyelid crease to hold and the need for revision surgery.
- ‘Dry Eyes’ (treatable with lubricating eye drops)
- Lagopthalmos (inability to completely close the eye)
General Risks:
- Allergic reaction to medications, sutures, dressings, or antiseptic solutions.
- Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and its potential to cause life-threatening Pulmonary Embolism. To reduce the risk of DVT, Calf Massagers can be applied for the entire duration of your surgery to prevent the blood in your leg veins from pooling and clotting.
- Adverse Reactions to Anaesthesia or Medication: The safety of anaesthesia nowadays in Australia is well established. Nevertheless, potential risks exist with all anaesthesia and unexpected reactions can occur. These may include nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions ranging from minor to severe. Respiratory failure, heart failure, heart attack and stroke are rare but documented risks of any general anaesthesia.
The Cost of Asian Eyelid Surgery
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Asian Eyelid Surgery Sydney
The total cost of ‘Double Eyelid’ Surgery is made up of the following individual costs:
- Surgical Fee: $6,000 – $9,000 depending on the complexity.
- Hospital Fee: Hospitals differ in their hourly rates for Operating Theatres. Our doctor will advise you of the expected Theatre Fees once it has been determined which hospital you will be attending and how long your procedure will take.
- Anaesthetist Fee: This will basically depend on the duration of the surgery. Anaesthetic Fees are generally around $880/hour.