| East Asian blepharoplasty | |
|---|---|
 A South Korean woman, before (left) and after (right) undergoing East Asian blepharoplasty | |
| ICD-9-CM | 08 |
East Asian blepharoplasty, also known as double eyelid surgery, is a type of cosmetic surgery where the skin around the eye is reshaped (blepharoplasty). The purpose of the procedure is to create an upper eyelid with a crease (i.e. "double eyelid") from an eyelid that is naturally without a crease (also known as a "single eyelid" or "monolid").[1]
Anatomically, there are a number of subtle differences in the upper eyelids of East Asians, compared with the eyelids of Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans.[2] While some East Asians have a double eyelid and some do not, there is also a large variation in the crease position (double eyelid size) of the East Asian upper eyelid.[citation needed] The upper lid fold can range from 1 mm (0.039 in) above the eyelash line to about 10 mm (0.39 in).[citation needed] Several methods can be used to create the double eyelid—including the full-incisional, partial incision and no incision methods (e.g. the DST method).[citation needed] Each has its advantages depending on the patient's anatomy and desires.[citation needed]
East Asian blepharoplasty have been reported to be the most common aesthetic procedure in Taiwan,[3] South Korea and other parts of East Asia and is also frequently performed in Northeast Indian states such as Assam.[4][better source needed] The procedure has been reported to have some risk of complications, but is generally quite safe if done by an expert plastic surgeon.[5] 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.[6]
