Just like other individuals, many Asian people are choosing to get plastic surgery. Many have a nose with thick skin and an abundance of fibro fatty tissue. Others have a low wide nasal bridge, along with small nasal bones and a poorly defined nasal tip. These people aim to change the overall look to enhance the beauty of their nose. If you are considering cosmetic plastic surgery, all prospective patients should choose a skilled surgeon with more than six years of surgical training experience. Some may try to find the most expensive physician thinking that they are the most skilled. Others look for the least expensive surgeon because they are on a budget. No matter what your selection criteria may be, all candidates should research several plastic surgeons.

After selecting a few plastic surgeons, find pictures in magazines to determine your desired results. Would you care for a more European nose? Do you want to change certain aspects of your nose? The more informed you are about your options, the greater the chances that you will be able to find the answers.

Make sure you ask plenty of questions to the doctor to discuss your uncertainties and fears. Does the doctor have experience working with Asian patients? Your interactions with your doctor can help determine if a future relationship is appropriate because patients are likely to continue working with a doctor that they have a good relationship with. This will allow the individual to be more confident with the surgeon’s abilities. Never feel obligated to work with a doctor if you do not feel comfortable working with them. Meet with the doctor in his or her office and never allow a doctor to perform the surgery in a non sterile environment such as a home or hotel room. Always chose a doctor who is board certified plastic surgeon.

Ask the plastic surgeon to provide you with the references from other patients who have undergone the same procedures. These individuals can tell you about the procedure, the doctor and the results. Do not just rely on before and after photos which can be downloaded from the Internet or manipulated. Make sure you feel comfortable with your surgeon because surgeries performed by inexperienced doctors can end up costing much more in the long run. If the surgeon is not qualified, then you may spend more time recovering from the surgery and suffer complications and pain.

If the surgery is performed improperly, the surgery revisions could possibly lead to life threatening complications. Work with a doctor that specializes in Rhinoplasty and has experience working with Asian patients, so that you get your desired results.

Rhinoplasty among Asians or Orientals is surgical procedure done  to enhance the features of the nose and can include 3 procedures(can be done at the same time): Nasal Dorsum Augmentation, Alar Base Trimming(Alar Plasty) or Tip Enhancement(Tip Plasty). The number of procedures to be done will depend on the patient’s nose. The procedure/s are usually done under local anesthesia. The patient will usually be also given oral sedation during the surgery to help him/her relax and be insensitive to pain.

Description

Nasal Dorsum Augmentation, also called dorsal augmentation, augmentation rhinoplasty, Oriental rhinoplasty, or noselift is a technique to increase the height of the dorsum of the nose, especially the bridge. This improves upon the feature of a low nose bridge seen in some patients. An incision is made just inside the nostril, and a space is created between the skin of the nose and the nasal bone and cartilages. A biocompatible material is placed in this space to elevate the nasal profile. One commonly used material is medical grade silicone elastomer, which is a firm, rubbery substance, but is well tolerated by the body. Other materials aside from silicone rubber may be placed, such as PTFE(Goretex), MedPor, SMAS, Scalp tissue, or Cartilage. However, our society cautions the public regarding the use of any injectable substances to augment the nasal dorsum. The results of this injections are very disappointing, and are difficult for plastic surgeons to correct.

Alar Base Trimming/Alar Plasty, may be done to change the shape of the nostrils, make the width of the alar base narrower and/or  to correct the overhanging of the alae. This is done under local anesthesia, and can be performed on its own, or with a Nasal Dorsal Augmentation. Wedge-shaped pieces of tissue are removed from the alar side wall, near its junction with the cheek. The remaining pieces are sutured together, and this results in a change in shape of the nostril, narrower inter-alar distance and columellar show. A secondary benefit is that it also lifts the nasal tip up a bit.

Nasal Tip Enhancement.  In the same operation, the surgeon can also modify the nasal tip by working on the tip cartilages(removing some cartilages that cause bulkiness at the tip area), and if needed, adding the cartilage grafts to the area.

RECOVERY: Expect some bruising and swelling during first few days and will subside in about 1 week.

LENGTH OF SURGERY: About 1-3 hours.

Every patient seeking possible cosmetic surgery services is strongly encouraged to consult with a board certified cosmetic plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed and popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. In many cases, patients want to make their noses appear smaller, reducing the bone and cartilage. Asian Americans more often request building up the bridge of the nose, creating a more aquiline appearance. This can be done by creating an implant for the nose, often harvesting cartilage from elsewhere on the body to create the tip. The implant will give the patient a more pronounced bridge. How successful the outcome will largely depend on the patient’s expectations and the characteristics of the nose. Sometimes only a small improvement is possible.

Depending on the extent of your surgery, Rhinoplasty can take two to three weeks of recovery. You may experience bruising, swelling, difficulty in breathing through your nose, and the possibility of black eyes. You might have to keep your head elevated to ease the swelling. Within one to two months of surgery, you will begin to see some results, but it can take up to two years for the nose to fully heal.

Another common procedure among Asian patients is Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery. The goal of this cosmetic surgery is to create a “double eyelid,” or the crease that appears above the lashes and below the eyebrow. The crease makes the eye appear bigger and brighter. Many women also find it easier to apply makeup. There are a few different options available for those interested in the procedure. You can choose how high you would like the crease to be and the shape of the line. Some prefer a gentle, even curve, while others may choose one that arches higher at the top and tapers down at the bottom. Discuss with your plastic surgeon what would be the most suitable for your features.

During eyelid surgery, an incision will be made above the eye and the muscles and skin will be repositioned to perform the desired crease height and shape. The incision is then sewn back together. You will need to recover for a week or two. Expect bruising and tenderness for the first week, which should gradually heal. Results are visible in four months, but it can take up to a year until the final crease has taken shape.

Cosmetic surgery doesn’t change your heritage or uniqueness, but rather enhances your natural beauty. Reasonable expectations and open communication with your cosmetic surgeon will help ensure the best possible results. Find a surgeon you are comfortable with and who has specialized experience with similar cases. If he/she is board certified and experienced, you can expect positive and effective results.

However, an increasing number of minorities are opting to have “ethnic plastic surgery”, or procedures which some people see as being done solely to erase ethnic characteristics and make them conform more closely to the perceived white ideal. From nose jobs to narrow an African nose to eyelid operations to make an Asian eye appear more rounded, these procedures are gaining in popularity – although they are widely contested.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the following operations are the most popular among ethnic minority groups:
Nose-reshaping: the most common op among African-Americans and Hispanics
Breast augmentation: the second most popular procedure among Hispanics
Breast reduction: the second most popular among Africa-Americans
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery: the second most popular cosmetic operation among Asians

Asian Double Eyelid Surgery

It is estimated that about 50 percent of all people of Asian descent have what is known as a “single fold” eye or mono-lid, with the existence of the crease often dependent on the country of origin. In Asia, double eyelid surgery is the most popular cosmetic procedure, although it takes third place among Asian-Americans in the US, just behind nose and boob jobs.

Several tried-and-tested techniques are used to achieve this double eyelid, including:

Suture method. A series of tiny incisions along the crease line, and then tight sutures under the skin. When the skin is lifted and folded back a not completely natural-looking crease is made. Although this method is cheap and has good results, they are not permanent.

Full incision method. The surgeon makes an incision in a the shape of a half moon along the incision line, then strips of muscle, orbital septum and occasionally fat are taken out (these are also removed in traditional eyelid surgery). The two sides are then sewn permanently together, so the result is long-lasting and looks more natural, especially when the patient blinks.

Double Standard Twist (DST) method. Best of both worlds (in the immortal words of Hannah Montana). Fat is removed through incisions while sutures lift the lid. Less-invasive and can results can last as long as a decade.

Laser Surgery. Sutures create a new crease but lasers are used to take away excess fat, tissue and muscle. No cutting required and less bruising than with other methods.

Please note that there are risks and side-effects no matter what type of procedure you choose. These include infection, initial bruising and swelling, itching, eye gumminess and light sensitivity. Scarring can take up to six months to disappear – or more.

Why Do It?

Plastic surgeons who advertise double eyelid surgery are often quick to point out that they are not helping their patients look more Caucasian, but helping them to feel more confident and create a better personal look for them as individuals. Typically, they say that Asians approach them because they want to look more “bright-eyed”, with eyes that appear wider.

According to some plastic surgeons, a single crease means the eye appears to be “taut and heavy”, making the person appear older than they really are – even if they are in their twenties. They also say that having a single-fold eye means that make-up is more difficult to apply, and that it makes the eyelashes less visible.

“Many prospective patients say a single eyelid makes them look sleepy or tired and that it makes their eyes look too small,” according to PlasticSurgery.com, which claims the first operation of the kind took place in Japan way back in 1896. “Most Asian patients don’t want to change the natural almond shape of their eyes, but just have eyelids that are less heavy looking, with brighter eyes.”

People who are opposed to double eyelid surgery, however, say that the goal is to make one’s ethnicity appear less obvious. “Double eyelid surgery is unnatural and people who do it are buying into a beauty myth that is not Asian-based,” says Martin Wong, editor of Asian art and culture magazine Giant Robot.

“It’s really just self-mutilation and a lot of it sadly is interjected by parents and their ideas. It’s heartbreaking that these young girls don’t have cultural pride; that they’re ashamed of who they are and how they look.”

Others agree. “It’s clear to me that any person of color seeking to change their features to alter features associated with a particular ethnicity is trying to change their ethnic appearance,” writes a self-acclaimed “angry Asian American woman” on her personal and political blog called Reappropriate. “As an Asian/Asian American woman, trying to enlarge one’s eyes (whether one is successful or not) is just a manifestation of racial/ethnic self-hate.”

More Than Meets The Eye

While there is definitely more to beauty than meets the eye, the number of Asians having double eyelid surgery can attest to the fact that Asian blepharoplasty is here to stay. Some people continue to use eyelid glue or tape to achieve a crease, but why do that when surgery is available?

“Asian blepharoplasty is not a Westernizing surgery, but more of a feminizing procedure,” writes Dr Benson Chen at AsianEyeMD.com. “This also explains why some men seek the procedure to make them appear more “friendly”, and perhaps less masculine.” Ummm, that makes sense!

If you are considering Asian blepharoplasty yourself, the choice is up to you. But no matter what you choose, make sure you do your homework and use only a Board-certified surgeon, preferably one who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) or its equivalent, who has carried out the procedure countless times before. Hopefully, you’ll be happy with the results!

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care an appropriate health care provider.