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.
Double eyelid (hai mi): A person with prominent fold (crease) above the eye.
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.
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.
I have a recording of a double eyelid surgery, from when I visited a double eyelid operation in China.
However, that was years ago, and you are behind the times. The new fad is triple and quadruple eyelid surgeries.
Indeed, I have even seen quintuple eyelid surgery, in conjunction with additional eye surgery.
dislike surgery. :]
What's next? Triple eyelids surgery?
Those who have undergone eyelid surgery look just weird…
Those who have undergone eyelid surgery look just weird…
just weird, why would people even do anything like this.
ow….. the wonders of technology at hand and in your eye. =)
generally speaking, I think that major of Vietnamese ppl have double eyelid, only very few do have single eyelid..And referring to actors/ actresses who need surgery to be more marketable, I believe most of them are Chinese (or some Japanese)…Anyway, to have double or single eyelid does not really change your life, it's to make ourself unhappy about nothing…I mean, there are many many much more important issues in the world (or even in one's life…) than eyelids..:)))
Whatever makes you happy… we shouldn't be wasting our time judging people on appearances, or preconceived notions of what appearances should be.
@Sharon: if only the world behaves as you said ….
I'm wondering if there's a surgery that can make humans become kind and helpful to each other???? No? So, any other surgery is useless.
People are entitled to their own opinion and perspective on beauty. Judging them prematurely does not make anyone any smarter, prettier, or healthier guys. Besides, if they want to make themselves look better, why judge?
@Thong: do you see anyone judging prematurely?? and what does it mean to u exactly?
I've seen girls undergoing eyelid surgeries to make their eyes larger. It's only temporary. After two or three years their eyes get smaller and smaller…
Eyelid surgery is simply cutting off pieces of your eyelid so that the eyeballs would be more revealing. However, the remaining eyelids would become tired because they have to stretch out to cover your eyes. The ppl who undergo eyelid often experience sore in the eyes and always look tired and kinda sulky.
Those eyelids would developed to their original size two or three years after the surgery.
I think what makes ppl feel confident, pls NO judge!
everyone is free to get surgery and free to judge 🙂 as long as they don't violate each other's property rights. it's hard to not have prejudice because not judging might be risky! imagine if you walk through a street 'famous' for robbing and try to think of everyone as nice. similarly, imagine walking through a nice place (paris) and think that no-one will steal your wallet. :O
" you should do anything that makes you happier…"I would be verry careful with that statement.
It's my nose and I can do whatever I want with it! Look at Michael Jackson. Oh, you're talking about eyelids? Nevermind.
In my opinion, I find it really weird and unnecessary. I also don't understand why Vietnamese girls would need double eye lid surgery (and be listed in the category that gets it done) since most of us DO have double eye lids.
If you hit the gym and engineer your diet properly, you should be able to achieve a healthy body, regardless of shape. Instead of going the easy way, chisel your body in the gym like every self-respecting person does and you will be beautiful regardless of your natural shape. But gym or no gym, I have never seen a self-respecting person that was not beautiful.
I am a male and I've double eyelid (I 'm not sure, never think of), I didn't know that eyelid surgery will make the eyes appear larger or revealing, I though it will look better:(
"you should do anything that makes you happier….." wow, big sentence indeed…but, can an eyelid surgery bring you happiness???!!! And can we actually do anything for what we think that is our own happiness?! Seriously, please! If you are just patronizing, just only say you respect the choice of ppl who take that cosmetic surgery, etc…don't say that it can make us happier/or we should do anything that makes us happier! It's too big! As for my own opinion, I choose to rely on inner beauty and rather work on my human qualities, just don't care about my eyes/noze, weight…And guess what, I'm happy the way my mother made me!
some people are very beautiful with their singlelip eye..especially when they smile..:(..it's unlucky when having two different eyes in one body like me :)) one 1,5 eyelids, one double eyelids :))..It can fix easy with cosmetic i think..
some people are very beautiful with their single eyelids ..especially when they smile..:(..it's unlucky when having two different eyes in one body like me :)) one 1,5 eyelid, one double eyelid :))..
Why are we posting this article again?
Asians are beautiful with single eyelids! Don’t change yourself to fit in, fit in by being you!
Why do we have this silly idea that people in other cultures always change their looks with westerners in mind? How silly.