Asian Eyelid Surgery

Asian eyelid surgery is a common surgery Dr. Eftekhari performs, given his training and background in which he spent time in Beverly Hills learning eyelid surgery. Upper eyelid anatomy in patients from Korea, Japan, China, and other countries in Asia and Southeast Asia is different than Western patients.

In Asian patients, the upper eyelid anatomy has different configurations of creases, upper eyelid skin folds, upper eyelid fat, and brow descent. Most importantly, the eyelid fat is closer to the skin, which leads to a lower or even invisible upper eyelid crease in Asian patients.

Dr. Eftekhari is a board-certified eyelid doctor who performs eyelid plastic surgery to rejuvenate the eyes and the face. He has completed specialized training in eyelid surgery and is a member of the prestigious American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, one of only 750 members in the world.

How is Asian eyelid surgery different?

Every eyelid surgery is unique. During your office consultation, Dr. Eftekhari will carefully examine your eyelids, take photographs, and design a customized treatment plan to reflect your unique facial and eyelid features. In Asian eyelid surgery, Dr. Eftekhari places special emphasis on the design of the upper eyelid crease, and will take careful notes on the desired crease formation. No results are guaranteed, but Dr. Eftekhari takes special care to meticulously meet your expectations.

Do you do a different procedure for Asian eyelid surgery?

In Asian eyelid surgery, the incision is often the same, designed in the natural upper eyelid crease. However, Dr. Eftekhari spends more time dividing the muscle, removing fat if needed, and carefully setting the eyelid crease at the desired location in Asian eyelid surgery.

In certain patients, Dr. Eftekhari has begun performing a new technique now common in Asia called sub-brow blepharoplasty. For patients that have significant sagging of the brow tissues, and patients who want to preserve their existing upper eyelid crease, they may be candidates for this new modification to upper eyelid surgery where the incision is designed just under the brow hair follicles to remove extra skin and refresh the appearance.

Many patients have Dr. Eftekhari perform blepharoplasty on the upper eyelids and lower eyelids in the same procedure, since the downtime for each surgery is the same. Combining both procedures saves patients from having to endure downtime twice and gives the best aesthetic result.

Is the aftercare for Asian eyelid surgery different?

The recovery after Asian upper eyelid surgery is the same. Dr. Eftekhari emphasizes scar prevention in his practice and this is especially true for Asian patients, where they may be more predisposed to hypertrophic and keloid scarring. During your consultation Dr. Eftekhari can discuss this with you.

Dr. Eftekhari’s focus as an eyelid specialist ensures that the rejuvenation he achieves will appear natural and not hollow. The skin is closed with sutures that are removed 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.

How should I prepare for upper eyelid lift surgery?

Upper lid lift surgery is minor surgery, so there is little needed to prepare for this procedure. You’ll need to stop taking blood thinners, anti-inflammatory medication, and most supplements for one week prior to your surgery with Dr. Eftekhari because these can worsen bruising. If you smoke, you’ll need to stop for at least two weeks prior to and following your procedure, as smoking inhibits wound healing.

What will my recovery be like after lid lift surgery?

Recovery from eyelid lift surgery is not difficult. After your surgery with Dr. Eftekhari, you will return home and begin cold compress and eye ointment. If you’re diligent with the compress, you can minimize bruising and swelling. Pain is not acute, and it is manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. At this point, your eyes will look great, and this is the majority of any recovery you need to plan for. You may have some light swelling at times moving forward, but this completely resolves in a few weeks. Most patients can return to work within 72 hours.

What are the risks with upper blepharoplasty?

This is a delicate surgery, and that’s where you’ll appreciate Dr. Eftekhari’s specialization and training in these procedures. He has extensive experience with the anatomy, muscular structure, and the best methods for rejuvenating the eyes. 

Still, as with any surgery, there are the potential risks and complications: infection, bleeding, and poor wound healing. 

What will my results be like after upper eyelid lift surgery?

These are very satisfying procedures for our patients. They deliver dramatic, yet completely natural-looking results. Unless you tell your friends and co-workers, they won’t have any idea you’ve had this surgery; they’ll only know that you somehow look refreshed, more alert, and younger. And we could all use a little bit of that!

Where will surgery be performed?

Surgery for Asian upper eyelids can be performed in the office or in an operating room under IV sedation. General anesthesia is usually not necessary. If surgery is performed in the office, Dr. Eftekhari will prescribe oral medications to help with relaxation. Regardless of whether surgery is performed in the office or in the Ear Nose and Throat Surgery Center, where Dr. Eftekhari performs most of his surgeries, you will still need someone to drive you home.

How can I make an appointment?

Click the Request Appointment button on our homepage, or fill out a contact form and someone from our office will help set you up for an in-person consultation with Dr. Eftekhari at any of our offices conveniently located in Downtown Salt Lake City, Draper, and Park City Utah.

For examples of Asian upper eyelid surgery, please visit our photo gallery page.

Asian Upper Blepharoplasty, Ptosis Repair, Lower Blepharoplasty

Asian Upper Blepharoplasty – Example 1

Asian Upper Blepharoplasty – Example 2