Complications of Asian Upper Blepharoplasty and Their Solutions

Abstract

Asian blepharoplasty, also known as double eyelid surgery or eyelid crease fixation, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in Asia. Approximately 40–90% of Asians, particularly East and Southeast Asians, possess a “single eyelid” with no eyelid crease. Due to great differences in eyelid anatomy between Caucasian and Asian eyes, one cannot perform optimal Asian eyelid surgery from Western textbooks alone. The common complications after cosmetic upper blepharoplasty or double eyelid surgery include asymmetric eyelid creases, high lid crease deformity (westernized look of Asian eyelid), bifid crease, lagophthalmos, eyelash eversion or ectropion, and visible scarring. To avoid complications of upper blepharoplasty in the Asian patient, several distinct portions of the eyelid should be appreciated when examining a patient of Asian descent.