San Francisco Asian-Americans Want Westernized Eyes: New Data

The City by the Bay. Fog City. The Paris of the West.  San Francisco is known by many names. Here's the latest moniker: the U.S. city most interested in Asian double-eyelid surgery.

New RealSelf data shows that San Francisco ranks tops in the U.S. when it comes to researching Asian Eyelid Surgery - specifically, 199% higher than the national average*. The city is known for its sizeable Asian-American community.  

Double-eyelid surgery [Asian blepharoplasty] is performed to change an Asian appearance to a more Caucasian, “Westernized” look and creates a natural crease in the eyelid that appears when the eyes are open.

The surgery also is sought as a way to increase the appearance of eyelashes.  "Often, the skin of a single (fold) eyelid overhangs the eyelashes, thus making them appear shorter. With double eyelid surgery, the excess skin overhanging the eyelash is either pushed into the new crease and/or removed so much more of the eyelashes can be seen, thus making them appear longer," explains LA Oculoplastic Surgeon, Melanie Ho Erb.

The surgery has an average cost of $2,700, and so far, has a low Worth It Rating - out of 23 reviews, only 33% rated it as Worth It. 

Photo courtesy of Dr. Kun Kim

* Source: RealSelf national data, January 2011