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Double Eyelid Surgery

The Ultimate Guide to Double Eyelid Surgery

Discover background-checked surgeons around the world for double eyelid surgery and book your treatment with Medical Departures to guarantee the best prices online. 

What Is Double Eyelid Surgery?

Double eyelid surgery, also known as Asian blepharoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures undertaken by Asian patients.

Approximately half of all Asians are born with eyes that have no crease when the eyes are open. These ‘single eyelids’ tend to make the eyes look smaller, and extra fat and skin can exacerbate this, creating a heavy, hooded look.

Sometimes this may cause vision problems, or other issues such as eyelashes grazing the corneas (lenses).

Am I Suitable for Double Eyelid Surgery?

  • If you are one of the 50% of Asians who have single eyelids, you may be suitable for double eyelid surgery.
  • You must be over 18 and have reasonable expectations of the outcome.
  • Other types of eyelid surgery are sought by Westen patients who want to correct a certain condition, such as baggy eyelids. 

There are several techniques (as outlined below) that can be used; this is dependent on your own individual circumstances, aesthetic goals and your surgeon's preferred method.

The Double Eyelid Surgery Procedure

The procedure takes only between half an hour and an hour and can be carried out as an out-patient, meaning you won’t need to stay in hospital overnight. You will normally be given local anesthesia and sedation, which means most patients are able to return to their hotel after only a few hours at the clinic.

The double eyelid procedure can be performed using varying techniques based around either the incision or non-incision varieties, as summarized below:

Incision Technique:

This involves a small incision being made across the eyelid to form the double crease. It is most suitable for patients with thick or excessive eyelid skin, or fatty tissue. The advantage of the incision technique is that results are permanent, although it is worth noting that recovery times are longer and that scarring may be slightly more visible.

Non-Incision (Suture) Techniques:

These techniques are suitable for patients with thinner skin and who do not have obvious fatty deposits. Creases are formed by folding the eyelid skin and stitching the fold. The main advantage of suture techniques over the incision method is the downtime – many patients can return to work after a week – and little or no scarring. The disadvantage is that this is not a permanent solution; although results should last for several years, sometimes it is much less.

Read more about eyelid surgery and different techniques here. 

Double Eyelid Surgery Recovery Time

After surgery, you should expect to be swollen and bruised, and this may take a frustratingly long time to disappear. For the non-suture technique, it may take one or two weeks; for the incision technique, recovery may be twice as long.

  • Other post-surgery considerations are:
  • Stitches are typically removed between five and seven days after the procedure.
  • After that, you will be able to wear make-up which will help to disguise any swelling, bruising and scarring.
  • It will take a number of months before the tissue around your eyes settles down and starts to look natural, taking up to six months to a year before the healing process is entirely complete.
  • Always consult with your surgeon as to when you will be able to head back home following, especially if you have a long flight ahead.

How Much Can I Save on Double Eyelid Surgery Abroad?

Most Westerners can save at least 50% by heading abroad for double eyelid surgery.

In the United States, the average cost is around $5,000 - $6,000, compared to $2,000 - $3,000 in South Korea, for example. 

Note: These are averages at the time of writing. Check out some of the latest prices available at these global blepharoplasty clinics that have all received excellent reviews by our clients:

How Do I Get Started?

First, browse through our global list of double eyelid facilities, comparing prices and surgeon profiles. 

You can contact our Customer Care Team if you’ve any questions about double eyelid surgery. They can also help you with the booking process at any time of day or night. 

Sources:

Pietrangelo, Ann. What to Know About Double Eyelids: Surgical Options, Nonsurgical Techniques, and More. Healthline. 22 July 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/double-eyelid

William, Chen, P. D. MD. Techniques, Principles and Benchmarks in Asian Blepharoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open: May 2019 - Volume 7 - Issue 5. 2019. https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2019/05000/techniques,_principles_and_benchmarks_in_asian.6.aspx

Blepharoplasty. Mayo Clinic. Website accessed: 9 October 2020. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blepharoplasty/about/pac-20385174

Lu, T.Y., Kadir, K., Ngeow, W.C. et al. The Prevalence of Double Eyelid and the 3D Measurement of Orbital Soft Tissue in Malays and Chinese. Sci Rep 7, 14819 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14829-4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-14829-4