Partial incision or full incision eyelid surgery? (photos)

Hello thuuyvu, thank you for your question.  To decide whether to go for partial vs full incision depends on several factors.  If you would like a wider crease and you have skin redundancy from years of eyelid taping, then full incision might be a better option for you.  Partial incision tends to create more natural appearing crease and if you have excess skin, you may find the crease too subtle after the surgery.  As far as traveling to Korea for your surgery is concerned, just know that the regulations overseas are far less stringent than here in the US. While there are excellent surgeons over there, the lack of regulation also fosters growth of illegal clinics and incompetent surgeons trying to reap benefits from the growing industry.  Make sure you research thoroughly or find a board certified plastic surgeon here in the US who specializes in Asian blephs.  Good luck! 

Thank you for your question. I understand you’ve used eyelid tape for about two years. You’re thinking about getting eyelid surgery and considering having it in Korea. You’d like to know whether a partial or full incision would be more beneficial, and also if the procedure hurts.A bit of information about myself — I’m a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and Fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, practicing in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years. Asian eyelid surgery is a specialty of mine, so I can certainly give you some guidance on this.The eyelid crease is formed because of fibers that connect the skin of the eyelid to the levator muscle, which is the muscle that lifts the eyelid. When you use something like eyelid tape, you’re actually pushing the skin inwards to help create a similar effect by placing it in such a way that it follows the natural zone of what would have occurred if the connection was made naturally. Before I do an eyelid procedure for a case like this, I first determine if there a presence of extra skin and fat that could impede creating a crease. If the answer to both factors is no, then I generally recommend a non-incisional approach which basically entails making little openings in the skin to pass a stitch through, in a way that connects the skin to the levator muscle. If there is a certain amount of extra skin present, then it is appropriate to remove a small amount of skin; however, as a rule, I perform the non-incisional technique on younger people who don’t have a lot of excess skin or excess fat in their eyelids.There are also other ways to create an eyelid crease, including the partial incision method, but essentially, you’re measuring and placing marks in an area where you want to create an anchoring of the skin. I certainly understand the desire to travel somewhere to get the best procedure possible. In fact, many people come to us from all over the world for treatment related to eyelid surgery, face lifting surgery, and hair loss treatment. My only concern is whether you plan on returning to Korea within the first 6 months to a year for a follow up. When people have a procedure done abroad, the question of satisfaction with the procedure, potential for revision, and potential for complication have to be addressed. You need to consider these factors before travelling so you have a plan in mind. Certainly Asian eyelid surgery is going to be performed with significantly high levels of confidence in a place like Korea, but keep in mind that no matter how much a doctor performs a particular procedure, revision surgeries and complications always are something you’ll need to be ready for.I think you should meet with experienced doctors who specialize in Asian eyelid surgery and determine first whether or not there is extra skin and fat present, as this is something that can only be determined via a physical exam. After that, discuss what your options would be in those scenarios.I hope that was helpful and I wish you the best of luck!This personalized video answer to your question is posted on RealSelf and on YouTube. To provide you with a personal and expert response, we use the image(s) you submitted on RealSelf in the video, but with respect to your privacy, we only show the body feature in question so you are not personally identifiable. If you prefer not to have your video question visible on YouTube, please contact us.

thuuyvu,Looking at your pictures it appears that your double fold disappears at the junction of the dark part (iris) and the white part (sclera) of your eye (picture one).  Most incisional eyelid procedures travel the extent of the crease.  This insures a longer lasting crease.  In Korea, many surgeons use full thickness sutures to create a double fold.  I'm not sure Korean surgeons are any better than well trained Asian eyelid surgeons here in the U.S.  The lid surgery really only hurts at the beginning when the lid is injected with local anesthesia.  It usually only takes about 30-45 minutes to perform.  Good luck. Cheers