Double Eyelid Surgery Overview: Technique, Benefits, Cost, Downtime
Year after year the number of Asians undergoing double eyelid surgery continues to skyrocket. Myriads of young people visit certified clinics to fix their single eyelid problems. The craze for creases is real. This calls for a breakdown of the procedure, with its benefits and risks, and everything in between. If you are one of the many females looking to have eyelid surgery in Singapore, you need to know what you are getting yourself into. Because once you do it, there is no going back. This post will answer common questions about the treatment. Don’t miss it!
What Is Double Eyelid Surgery?
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It is a cosmetic procedure done to people with monolid eyes who want to create a natural eyelid crease. In medical language, that’s blepharoplasty. Apart from the aesthetic side of it, the surgery is also performed to fix disfigurations and defects on the lids. Unsurprisingly, women are predominantly more interested in it than men. There are two types of techniques.
Cutting method (incisional procedure)
The areas that can go through modifications are the lower and upper eyelids, alone or together. The plastic surgeon makes external incisions into the pre-marked areas. A small cut here and there adds a fold into the lid. Connective tissues, fat, and muscles are either removed or added, depending on the type of intervention required. In the end, any excess skin is disposed of and the incision site has to be sewn together.
The interesting part is that the crease will hide the scarring that is bound to occur once the wound heals. Overall, the operation lasts between 60 minutes and three hours. The patient is put on sedation the entire time.
Stitch method (non-incisional)
This one goes by the name canthopexy. Small holes are made into the skin. Six sutures are placed around the lower eyelid area to keep it fixated. The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes. It’s faster, yet the results are only temporary. Anaesthesia is used all the way through the treatment but is reduced towards the end. This allows the patient to wake up, enabling the doctor to see if the eyes are symmetrical.
There are two suture methods. As far as the first one is concerned, the stitches don’t need to be removed for they dissolve on their own over time. The second method demands that the sutures are removed by a specialist after some time.
Recovery time
Apparently, every surgery procedure requires some downtime. The length will depend on two things. One, whether you choose the cutting method (2-3 weeks) or stitching (a couple of days). And two, whether or not you want to have both upper and lower lids done. For the most part, upper blepharoplasty allows for a more rapid recovery than lower.
There is something else to consider. This is an outpatient procedure, so you can leave the clinic right after it’s over. However, it is recommended you have someone wait for you there. The thing is, you will feel sleepy and nauseous after the treatment, which means you won’t be able to drive yourself home. Do yourself a favour and ask a friend to accompany you to the beauty centre.
After that, you are allowed to return to your normal tasks as long as you feel like it. The full results will not be noticeable immediately, mostly because it takes time for the wound to heal and the initial swelling to disappear. Yes, the lids will look different right away, but this will not be the final outcome.
Results
If everything goes right, you will get a crease in the upper lid, which will make your eyes visually bigger. The treatment can also deal with some lines and wrinkles. When it comes to the invasive procedure, the effects will be visible for life. As for the stitching method, it will only last for a few years.
Now, the results are affected by many factors. The most common are the patient’s age, the quality of their skin, and the general condition of the eyelids. This is why the outcome is likely to vary from person to person. Keep in mind that how the procedure turns out for you may not be exactly how you imagined it. You need to narrow down on your expectations before you enter the operating theatre.
Cosmetic and Medical Risks
Before you step into the operating theatre, you need to be fully aware of the risks you are exposing yourself to. From a medical standpoint, different issues can happen. Think bleeding, difficulty closing eyes, and infection. The skin sensation may decrease, leading to numbness. Not to mention swelling and bruising.
From an aesthetic point of view, the two eyes might end up looking asymmetrical. The reason is very simple. Anatomically speaking, one lid is always slightly different from the other. This means that full symmetry is not possible to achieve as a whole. So, imagine what will happen if something goes wrong. One thing is for sure – the outcome will not be to your liking.
Why Do People Want to Have Double Eyelids?
Everybody has their own reasoning behind getting the surgery done. The majority of patients want to create the double eyelid effect just to be happy with themselves. But there also are people who believe it will help them land a job. Some individuals rush into the doctor’s office after observing the results a peer or relative got. It is not unusual for parents to urge their teenage girls to undergo the procedure.
Side Effects of Blepharoplasty
It is absolutely okay to experience mild bruising in the treated area. Swelling is another common side effect that will subside in about two weeks. In the meantime, you can wear makeup to camouflage anything that gives out you’ve recently had surgery. Using sunglasses is fine too.
Benefits of Blepharoplasty
Now, it is not just young people who undergo plastic surgery for the sake of getting the desired crease. People above the age of 40 can benefit from blepharoplasty a lot. Not only will it tighten the skin and get rid of wrinkles, but it can improve vision. Over time, the muscles around the upper eyelid get weaker. So, when the brow becomes droopy, the lid is not strong enough to lift it, which impairs vision.
In addition to that, blepharoplasty can eliminate excess eyelid skin and fat to give your face a more youthful look. There is a way to correct under eye bags and dark circles as well.
What Is the Cost of Eyelid Surgery Singapore?
Incisional surgery, the one that involves cutting, costs around $3,600-$4,500. Non-incisional is worth between $3,200 and $4,000.
The price of eyelid surgery around the world falls within similar ranges. It goes without saying that different factors influence the final cost. The location and expertise of the doctor, the type of procedure you need, and the country where it will take place all matter. Keep in mind that cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance.
Why Do Asian People Have Different Eyelids?
People of non-Asian descent come with natural double eyelids and don’t have to worry about it ever. Why is it like so, you would ask? Blame it on anatomy. First off, it is the shape of the orbital bones that is different. In Asians, the bone that sits at the eye’s outer corner is positioned more frontal than that in Caucasians and African-Americans. This impacts the angle of the lids. The form of the skull plays a role too.
Second, the Asian eyelid has an extra layer of fatty tissue, which helps separate the muscle from the skin. Interestingly, it is not found in African Americans or Caucasians. Third, the tarsus, which is the tissue surrounding both the lower and upper lid margins, is quite narrow – 6-8mm. In comparison, it is 10-12mm wide in people of a different descent.
Now, although Asians’ eyes look smaller, technically, they are not. It’s an optical illusion. The size of the eyeball is just the same as that of other people, but only a small part of it is revealed. The rest is hidden by the thick lids.
Choosing a Clinic
We cannot stress enough the importance of undergoing cosmetic surgery at a certified healthcare facility. Any procedure that involves cutting the skin can be risky. If anaesthesia is used, that makes the situation even more complicated. Go with a beauty centre which subspecialises in eye procedures. This means they should execute double eyelid surgery on a daily basis.
Make sure you are dealing with someone who is educated, skilled, and very professional. They also need to be friendly and patient. The doctor of your choosing should not pressure you to book their services. They should be able to explain the process and all possible complications. What is more, get them to show you some before and afters of people who’ve already been there. This will give you an idea of what your eyelids will look like when the procedure is over.
The results you are getting are mostly dependent on the method and technique used. If the doctor has no idea what they are doing, you risk disfiguring your face. That’s reason enough to start researching the clinics in your area and settle only for the ones that have proven track records.
Selecting a specialist is the hardest part, so be sure to take your time.
