The Fad of Double Eyelid Surgery
Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eyelid's_suture.jpg
While braces is often times for cosmetic reasons, getting braces isn’t looked down upon, but getting double eyelid has some negative perceptions in the US. However, recently in Asia, getting double eyelid surgery is as easy as getting a haircut: you can walk into a doctor’s office in the evening and come out a few hours later with a new look.
I’d like to say that I know a lot about double eyelid surgery from reading ophthalmology textbooks, but the truth is, I learned about this procedure from delving deeper into the Korean drama industry. (I do want to discuss Asian dramas–the equivalent of soap operas or hispanic telenovelas, but that will have to wait until my next post.)
Asian Lids
It is funny to me how very familiar East Asian people are with the concept of eyelids. Asians of any ethnic background (Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) are used to hearing these terms in the home, but I’ll go over them just in case some of you are not familiar with this subject:
Single eyelid (mot mi): A person’s whose eyes have no crease on the upper eyelid, as pictured below.
Single Eyelid, Credit: Picture by Onetwo1 from wikipedia.org
Double eyelid (hai mi): A person with prominent fold (crease) above the eye.
Double eyelid, Credit: Sarang from Wikipedia
1.5 eyelid (mi lot): A person with a fold (crease) above the eyes when they close their eyes, but when their eyes are open, the crease is hidden. In the picture below, you can see the hidden lid above the eyes.
1.5 eyelid, Credit: Sarang from Wikipedia
Double Eyelid Surgery:
Many people of all ethnicity undergo blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery so that they can reduce signs of aging. However, Asians have been undergoing blepharoplasty for a completely different reason: to achieve the desirable double eyelid.
The double eyelid fashion:
I’ve been watching a lot of Asian dramas lately, and it has been rumored that many of these actresses undergo plastic surgery to make them more marketable in the Asian film industry.
While I do not know if this is true, I do know that there has been a dramatic movement to have double eyelid surgery. In Asia, many girls get plastic surgery as birthday/graduation day presents.
Why not single eyelids surgery?
The single eyelid gives Asian people the “chinky” eye look. The eyes appear smaller. People with single eyelids tend to be perceived as looking more tired and unhappy. Some people may even perceive people with single eyelids as looking less friendly.
Moreover, the double eyelid is a standard of beauty in Asian culture. All the Asian stars in “Asian Hollywood” tend to have double eyelids. It is an ingrained concept in many youths’ minds that this is the more preferable appearance. Therefore, single eyelids are less desirable.
Is it about westernization?
It is funny that people always think that the desire to have double eyelids is linked to the desire to look more westernized. The appearance of Asian eyes are very different than Caucasian eyes. I don’t believe people elect to have plastic surgery to look more westernize. I think they elect to do so to rise up to the Asian standard of beauty.
What are your opinion?
I am not sure what my opinion on double eyelid surgery is. On the one hand, I believe that you should do anything that makes you happier: if it means getting this minor procedure, then why not? On the other hand, I believe people should be confident in the way they look and how they are and resist the need to undergo plastic surgery to live up to a theoretical perception of beauty.
There is always a line to cosmetic surgery. Some people are way too fanatical while others elect to do minor procedures that drastically enhance their appearance and self-perception.
What are your opinions?
This article was made possible by our socially savvy sponsor: Plastic Surgery Guide.
Isabella is in a second year at Stanford School of Medicine. She graduated with honors from Harvard University, studying Neurobiology, Health Policy, and Spanish. At Harvard, Isabella served as the President of the Intercollegiate VIetnamese Student Association of New England and the Vice-Chairman of the Boston Tet Festival Committee. She was the Interim Editor-in-Chief for VTP from 2009-10.
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