About half of the population in Asia is made up of people who were born with monolid eyes. Some people believe that such eyes are less attractive as compared to those with double eyelids. For this reason, thousands of young people in Asia undergo eyelid surgery each year to improve their looks. This operation is common in Japan, Korea, China and other countries in S.E Asia.
The surgery can be done in two ways; open incision technique and closed thread/suture technique. The second method is the most common one since it involves making simple stitches to create creases on the eyelids. Some individuals with double eyelids also undergo Asian Blepharoplasty to tighten the skin and increase eyelid exposure.
This controversial procedure makes your eyes look bigger by adding a fold in your eyelids. The number of operations has increased tremendously over the last few decades due to growing social acceptance and rising incomes. The following are some of the main reasons why eyelid surgery is common in Asian countries.
1) Celebrity culture
For a long period of time, beauty standards have favored models with big eyes. Many Asian celebrities believe that eyelid surgery can lead to success and improvement of their social lives. For this reason, there is a widespread advertisement of eyelid surgery throughout Asia.
Many K-pop singers and K-drama stars have undergone the surgery to get a pretty western look. The surgery makes them appear more alert and fashionable than those with monolids. A large percentage of youth in Asian countries try to achieve physical perfection by imitating their local celebrities and western models. This has increased the quest for wider eyes among Asian youth.
In Japan and South Korea, many people follow their favorite pop stars and emulate their behaviors. Someone can have the cut just because some musicians had the surgery. The booming music industry is playing a big role in increasing the demand for eyelid surgery.
2) To achieve a universal eye shape
It is believed that double eyelids are easier to apply make-up than monolids. Double eyelids allow ladies to use different eye shadows. In fact, you can use one color on the upper layer of your eyelid and another on the lower layer but still, look great. Ladies of Asiatic origin find it difficult to apply some varieties of eye makeup because it gets smudged on the skin. This is quite distressing since they cannot try out some western beauty products. Eyelid surgery is a common gift to Korean girls on their 18th birthday to make them look like other people with natural double eyelids, enhance their beauty and make them happy. The surgery creates creases on the eyelids which gives them eye shape that suits their face type. Wide eyes allow them to use a wide range of beauty products available on the market.
3) Getting a job
Some parents do their children’s eyelids to encourage them to perform better in acting school so that they can get absorbed quickly in the job market. The surgery not only improves their confidence, but it also makes them look energetic and pretty. Improving their looks immediately changes the way their friends and other people treat them. This increases the chances of getting more opportunities anywhere they go.
Studies indicate that individuals with high visibility jobs such as TV news anchors, teachers, and politicians need to look attractive and outgoing since they are role models. Statistics also indicate that looks impact employees’ salary. It is believed that less-skilled employees that look attractive get higher pay.
In Korea, some graduates that are trying to get a job go for the cut since it is believed to increase the chances of being employed. This is because most Korean employers look at both physical attractiveness and professional qualifications. In fact, most workplaces require applicants to attach their headshot to the resumes. This is because they believe that beauty and productivity are intertwined.
4) To fix sagging eyelids
Not everyone opts for Asian Blepharoplasty due to aesthetic reasons. Some individuals have eye problems which can only be fixed by surgery. There are many doctors who have specialized in this surgery across the world, for example Dr Valente in Australia performs the surgery on patients suffering from some childhood eye defects. The doctor also corrects drooping eyes in elderly people.
Excess skin overhangs over Asian eyelid margin obstructing vision in the vertical field of view. This problem is worse in older individuals since they tend to look tired all the time. Sagging eyes make some people lift their foreheads so that they can fully open their eyes.
Young people with this problem usually look older than they really are. This affects their vision and social/emotional development. Kids with this problem tend to have low self-esteem since they look shy and avoid eye contact. Eyelid surgery is a quick way to fix sagging eyes and improve vision.
5) Personal preference
Most people prefer undergoing surgery to highlight their eyebrows. Some young people don’t want the additional skin at the corner of their eyes. The surgery removes excess skin over the brow bone, thus lifting the eyelids. Others want excess fat to be removed from the skin to eliminate puffiness. Enlarging the eyes minimizes discriminatory comments from other people.
6) Eurocentric beauty ideas
The mainstream media mainly focuses on western beauty ideas which revolve around models double eyelids. Eyelids without folds are believed to lack emotions since they make one appear sleepy with a dull look. In the past, most people believed that it was some kind of discrimination, but it is now widely accepted in Asian societies.
Most Asians that have been exposed to western culture have emulated Eurocentric beauty ideas to fit into western societies. This is one of the main reasons why some young Asians have a cut before or after moving to the west. Pressure from family members and friends also make them engage in cosmetic surgeries. Asian Blepharoplasty has become a common thing due to the growing social acceptance in Asia. Most of the patients are young girls who want to have attractive eyes just like Western models. Most young people undergo the surgery to look fashionable, get a job easily, be happy, and improve their confidence.