Asian Eyelid Surgery for a New Look

By Charles Downey © 2008
PlasticSurgery.com Staff Writer

Always wanting to have eyes that were "more open," S.A. (who asked to remain unidentified) took surgical steps to attaining a new look.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Many people of Asian descent are born with what are known as single eyelids, meaning that there is no noticeable crease in the middle of the upper eyelid. This natural-born trait is known to make a person's eyes appear smaller, thus influencing the desire to undergo Asian eyelid surgery.

"My mother and my sisters have big, open eyes while my father and I have single eyelids," S.A., a Malaysian, 44-year old woman, laments. "When I was a young girl, I did not think it was fair at all that I ended up with heavy, single eyelids."

But S.A.'s mother always told her: "When you are grown up, you can do whatever you want."

Board Certified Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

S.A. ended up finding the right physician. After learning that her family doctor's daughter was in a terrible accident and had to under facial reconstruction by a talented local plastic surgeon; the name - Ryan B. Tsujimura, M.D. - stuck.

A board certified Scottsdale plastic surgeon of Japanese ancestry who is also experienced in performing Asian "blepharoplasty," Dr. Tsujimura understands that the single eyelid operation is not always about making the eyes look more "Western" or "American." Many Asian patients seeking a new look with this procedure just want a more attractive, open eye; while maintaining their natural, almond shape.

Before and After Eyelid Surgery Photos

On the left, S.A. shows the appearance of her eyelids before the procedure, and on the right, she is pictured after she has healed. (Photo, courtesy, Dr. Tsujimara)

"I thought a plastic surgeon who was that respected and talented - and who is also of Asian ancestry - would understand the importance of double eyelids," S.A. says. "So I made an appointment with Dr. Tsujimura, looked at his many before and after pictures of previous patients and decided to go ahead with the double eyelid operation."

While S.A. admits to not doing well under anesthesia, she was pleased that her eyelids suffered very little swelling and bruising.

"But I did have to sleep sitting up for a while to make sure no additional swelling took place," S.A. says. "I went to Nordstrom eight days later to take part in a makeup demonstration and my eyes looked great."

At a later date, S.A. underwent a breast augmentation and a tummy tuck performed by Dr. Tsujimura.

"I wound up a 34C, which complements my body nicely; I had a lot of loose skin and fat on my tummy from having two pregnancies," she says. "After the tummy tuck, I dressed myself on the second day and got around fine, but I had to lean forward like an old woman so that I would put no pressure on the long incision across my lower abdomen.

But the best thing of all is that when my relatives look at the pictures of me taken after the double eyelid operation, they say I now look like my mother and sisters! They love the new open look of my eyes.

I couldn't be more pleased!"