Also known as blepharoplasty, double eyelid surgery is one of the most familiar procedures in Korea. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that it is the most trending plastic surgery procedure globally, with 1.43 million cases done in 2014. The fact that the Korean president had undergone this procedure during his tenure speaks a lot about the acceptance of this surgery in Korea.
Korean double eyelid surgery has been criticized for being a procedure that gives a less Asian look. On the other hand, supporters opine that while most Koreans have monolids, this operation simply gives you bigger eyes, improving beauty and attractiveness. According to experts, although females are more inclined to look beautiful, 20% of patients are males who are also concerned about their appearance.
Statistics and Facts
- According to statistics, the prevalence of plastic surgeries in South Korea is the highest, with an estimated 1 million procedures performed annually.
- One in every three women is found to have undergone some type of plastic surgical procedure, with blepharoplasty being the most prevalent.
- Most girls and boys go for this procedure before starting college. Of all females who undergo this procedure, fifty percent are in their twenties.
- Until now, the most prevalent type of surgery that Koreans go for is double eyelid surgery, states Dr. Choi Min of Answer Plastic Surgery in Gangnam.
- It has been reported in the Asian American: Historical Crossings of a Racial Frontier Stanford comparative literature that the trend of double eyelid escalated after World War II, when Japanese and Korean women got the procedure done to blend in with the westerners.
- Compared to other countries, the cost of Korean double eyelid surgery in Singapore is much more economical – about half of the cost in the United States.
Any double eyelid surgery procedure doesn’t take more than 90 minutes to 2 hours. It is a safe procedure with no serious side effects and risks.
Anatomy of Korean Eyes and Why People Undergo Double Eyelid Surgery
The majority of the population in South Korea are born with small eyes, with droopy eyelids devoid of a crease. Culturally, this is depicted as unattractive or uninviting. Big, round and well defined eyes are by far considered a benchmark of beauty.
Living in a society infatuated with cultural norms and plastic beauty, many youthful South Koreans feel the need to get bigger eyes through Korean double eyelid surgery.
So, the question arises, whether the Koreans go for double eyelid surgery just to enhance their beauty and have that ‘admired’ look, or are there other critical factors behind such statistics?
Typically, bigger-looking eyes are seen as a sign of beauty and confidence and become a source of more opportunities in the media and the corporate world alike. People want to generate more income, have their social status elevated, have a better job, get selected for a shoot, and find a better partner among other reasons.
Guided by factors like inclined ads, celebrity perceptions, etc., societal acceptance is, in a sense, biased towards accepting people who have western-looks rather than on better merit. Considering this, it’s not surprising why hordes of people opt for the surgery. Thus, most people resort to double eyelid surgery Singapore in anticipation of changing their fate.
Types of Korean Double Eyelid Surgery
Double eyelid surgery is a cosmetic procedure in which a crease is created on the mono-eyelid. The procedure is simple and helps modulate the shape of the eye, making them look more defined and awake.
Korean double eyelid surgery is performed using various techniques you can choose from, depending on your treatment needs and desires. These are as follows:
1. Dual Burial Method, Non- Incisional, Korean Double Eyelid Surgery Technique Offered in Dream Plastic Surgery Singapore
The dual Burial method is designed in Korea through trials and tests at the Dream Plastic Surgery to match your needs. It is a non-incisional suture technique unique to Dream that has been successfully used to create creases and bigger eyes for thousands of people. With this technique, there is a reduced risk of losing the crease completely, as opposed to the traditional non-incisional techniques.
Unlike other non-incisional double eyelid surgery, the Dual Burial Method involves the use of a single suture to create the crease. It does not use several knots over the eyelid, but a single suture is weaved in the upper eyelid skin that ends with a single knot. This leaves a uniform tension in the suture, creating an even crease. It can work for almost all people as it does not involve a cut and is performed as a chair-side procedure.
2. Non-Incisional Suture Method
Tiny sutures knotted across different points above your eyelids. Each knot pins the skin onto the eyelid muscles which helps to create a double eyelid crease. This procedure aims to create natural-looking double eyelids. The non-incisional technique takes only 20-60 minutes to complete and is done under light sedation.
3. Partial Incision Method
In the partial incisional technique, tiny incisions are made with gaps between them to reduce the fat and the skin tissue in the eyelid. Unlike the full incision method, the small or partial incisions extend only up to (not beyond) the last third of the eye.
4. Full Incisional Method
In the full incisional method, unwanted fat, muscle, and skin are entirely removed from the eyelids. The eyelid line is extended beyond the last third of the eye for a natural-looking crease. The eyelid tissue in this procedure is recontoured and redefined.
Benefits of Double Eyelid Surgery
There are various types of Korean double eyelid surgery. The non-incisional double eyelid surgery is generally suitable for people who have slightly drooping upper eyelids. Those with thinner eyelids with excess skin cannot opt for this technique. The incisional technique, on the contrary, is done in moderate to severe cases. The benefits of double eyelid surgery include:
1. Physical Benefits
- Minimum scarring
- Easy reversibility
- Not too invasive
- Quick recovery and downtime
- Minimal edema
- Quick procedure
- Bigger eyes are perceived to give people a brighter complexion
2. Psychological Benefits
- A more appealing look improves social life
- Bigger energetic eyes help improve overall performance
- Beautiful and attractive eyes boost one’s confidence
- Societal acceptance helps the patient land better opportunities and gives a sense of fulfillment and happiness
The Korean double eyelid surgery dates back to the 19th century when a Japanese physician, Mikamo, completed the first official procedure in Japan intending to make the Japanese facade “more attractive.” As in every culture, Korean celebrities have shaped the mindset of the youth, creating a sense of need to have an idealistic appearance for social and economic success.
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reports that one in five South Korean women undergo cosmetic surgery, compared to about one in 20 in the United States. Korean media idolize the golden proportionate face that has led Korean double eyelid surgery to become the most commonly asked-for procedure at Dream Plastic Surgery.
The increasing demand, especially rooted from Korean pop culture and celebrity trends, sparked the increasing stipulation for a perfect look. Some patients go as far as bringing photos of K-pop stars to reproduce similar results. This occurs due to the growing competition to get the best job, partner, and so on.
Korean dramas have regularly featured a culture where plastic surgeries have played a key role. This has remarkably influenced how people perceive the cosmetic procedures, hence casualizing their outlook of the operations.
Not only top Korean idols including Soyou, Kyuhyun, Uee, Koo Hara, and more who have undergone plastic surgery, K-pop celebs also act as representatives of several surgical companies and clinics.
Moreover, double eyelid surgery Singapore is a very in-demand procedure because of its natural-looking results. Subsequently, Koreans undergoing this procedure are aiming to simply enhance their facial features. It is not about wanting to look ‘less Asian’ or ‘more Caucasian,’ double eyelid surgery is meant to benefit individuals in terms of their enhanced beauty demands and improved social status desires.
Thinking Of Getting Natural Looking Double Eyelids?
The benefits of double eyelid surgery may differ from person to person, but it typically corresponds to appearance goals or confidence-boost. However, you should opt for this procedure with practical expectations of the final outcomes.
Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your case and understand what suits you best. This will not only help you make an informed decision but also produce long-term and safe results.
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
