East Asian blepharoplasty

East Asian blepharoplasty
A South Korean woman, before (left) and after (right) undergoing East Asian blepharoplasty
ICD-9-CM08

East Asian blepharoplasty, more commonly known as double eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that reshapes the skin around the eye to create a crease in an upper eyelid that naturally lacks one. This surgery is especially popular among individuals of East Asian descent, including those from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean backgrounds. The primary goal is to enhance the eyelid's appearance, making the eyes appear larger and, according to some cultural aesthetics, more attractive due to a 'wide eyed' and expressive appearance.[1]

Historical context[edit]

The procedure was first performed in 1896 by Dr. Kotaro Mikamo in Japan, a period marked by significant Western influence following the Meiji Restoration. This era in Japanese history was characterized by rapid modernization and integration of Western cultural and technological innovations. Mikamo's introduction of the surgery coincided with these broader social changes, reflecting evolving beauty ideals and greater exposure to Western aesthetics.[1]

Mikamo's introduction of the surgery has been interpreted in different ways. One perspective is that the procedure was intended to "westernize" the eyes of Japanese women, influenced by Western beauty standards that were becoming increasingly prevalent in Japan during the Meiji period.[2] However, Mikamo estimated that the majority of Japanese women actually have the double eyelid appearance, considering it a physiologically normative feature among the population. He described the single-eyelid look as being "monotonous and expressionless," suggesting that his motivation for the surgery was rooted in enhancing natural beauty rather than solely conforming to Western ideals.[3] According to this perspective, Mikamo was working within existing Japanese aesthetics and norms, aiming to accentuate a feature he believed was already prevalent and culturally appreciated in Japan.[4]

Modern trends[edit]

East Asian blepharoplasty have been reported to be the most common aesthetic procedure in Taiwan,[5] South Korea and other parts of East Asia and is also frequently performed in Northeast Indian states such as Assam. The procedure has been reported to have some risk of complications, but is generally quite safe if done by an expert plastic surgeon.[6] Practitioners of East Asian blepharoplasty include plastic surgeons (facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons), otolaryngologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and ophthalmologists (oculoplastic surgeons). A procedure to remove the epicanthal fold (i.e., an epicanthoplasty) is often performed in conjunction with an East Asian blepharoplasty.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ghali, Shadi (2016-08-01). Kalaskar, Deepak; Butler, Peter (eds.). Textbook of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. UCL Press. pp. 374–375. doi:10.14324/111.978191063394. ISBN 978-1-910634-39-4.
  2. ^ Shirakabe, Yukio; Kinugasa, Tetsuo; Kawata, Makio; Kishimoto, Takeshi; Shirakabe, Takehiro (September 1985). "The Double-Eyelid Operation in Japan: Its Evolution As Related to Cultural Changes". Annals of Plastic Surgery. 15 (3): 224–241. doi:10.1097/00000637-198509000-00006. ISSN 0148-7043.
  3. ^ Nguyen, Marilyn; Hsu, Patrick; Dinh, Tue (August 2009). "Asian Blepharoplasty". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 23 (03): 185–197. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1224798. ISSN 1535-2188. PMC 2884917. PMID 20676313.
  4. ^ Lam, Samuel M. (2002-07-01). "Mikamo's Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty and the Westernization of Japan". Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. 4 (3): 201–202. doi:10.1001/archfaci.4.3.201. ISSN 1521-2491.
  5. ^ Liao WC, Tung TC, Tsai TR, Wang CY, Lin CH (2005). "Celebrity arcade suture blepharoplasty for double eyelid". Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 29 (6): 540–5. doi:10.1007/s00266-005-0012-5. PMID 16237581. S2CID 11063260.
  6. ^ Chen SH, Mardini S, Chen HC, et al. (October 2004). "Strategies for a successful corrective Asian blepharoplasty after previously failed revisions". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 114 (5): 1270–77, discussion 1278–79. doi:10.1097/01.prs.0000135951.55118.59. PMID 15457048.
  7. ^ Yen MT, Jordan DR, Anderson RL (January 2002). "No-scar Asian epicanthoplasty: a subcutaneous approach". Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 18 (1): 40–4. doi:10.1097/00002341-200201000-00006. PMID 11910323. S2CID 42228889.