A surgical wink

Wednesday, February 24, 1999

A surgical wink

The rise in popularity of eyelid surgery has hit students as
well

By Mary Vuong

Daily Bruin Contributor

The eyes are the windows to the soul, some people say, because
they’re usually the first thing you notice about a person.

While more than 70 percent of Americans consider their eyes to
be their favorite feature, the number of people who are considering
facial plastic surgery is rising, according to the American Academy
of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is one of the common types of
procedures among young adults.

"It was difficult to meet people. The ends of my eyes used to go
up a little, which made strangers think that I was unfriendly,"
said Karen, a third-year student, of what it was like before she
had surgery.

Blepharoplasty used to be strictly defined as a procedure
performed to ease heavy eyelids or reduce lower lid puffiness.

But ‘Asian’ or ‘oriental’ blepharoplasty is a different story.
Instead of having the surgery for health – or age-related reasons –
some Asians seek it out to create double eyelids – that is, eyelids
with a crease in them.

The increase in this surgery’s popularity among Asians stems
from three reasons: the belief that the western appearance is more
acceptable, the desire to make the eyes appear more friendly and
sociable rather than angry and suspicious, and the hope that double
eyelids will increase a woman’s chances of marrying well, wrote Dr.
Khoo Boo-Chai, one of the pioneers in this field.

Karen also said that her family had a lot to do with her having
the surgery. Not only did they pay for it, they also encouraged
it.

"I was told that double eyelids would make me more attractive,
that I’d have an easier time finding a husband," she said. "I guess
that’s what my aunts and mom were taught when they were growing
up."

Seonah Jang, a second-year physiological science student who had
the surgery done in Korea when she was eight, was also influenced
by her mom.

But unlike Karen, Jang’s reasons were strictly medical.

"My older sister had it done because of medical problems," she
said, explaining that her sister’s eyelashes kept getting in her
eyes.

"My mom worried that her other daughters might have them too.
That’s why my other sister and I had it done," Jang said.

"In high school, interested girls would come up and ask me about
the procedure," she said. "But I tried to discourage them from
doing something so permanent. I don’t see it as a fashion trend at
all."

Other people, not just Asians, who consider having the surgery
done cite droopy eyelids, which can hinder one’s sight, as a reason
for the procedure.

Jang does understand why girls would want to have it done,
though.

"I knew this one girl who had really small eyes, and she was
always getting teased. I think that for some Asians who don’t
naturally have the double lids, they feel their eyes are very
plain," she said.

But whether you’re of Asian decent or not, the first step of the
surgery is a consultation.

"The initial session is for me to get to know the patient, and
to make sure they’re doing it for the right reasons," said Dr.
William Goldberg, an associate professor and practicing surgeon at
the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

"The patients bring in pictures of what they’d like, or they’ll
just draw it themselves." he added.

A second meeting is then scheduled to assess the patient’s
physical condition and family history to prevent medical
complications from arising.

Right before upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon draws along the
natural lines and creases of the eyes to ensure minimal scarring.
Then an incision is made and excess fat is removed. Close suturing
follows in order to create natural-looking lids.

The whole process usually lasts between one to two hours, and
only local anesthesia is used. Swelling and bruising will subside
after a week or so, but the eyes won’t look completely normal until
several months later, said Dr. Goldberg.

Those who can afford it may spend an average of $3,500 in the
United States, whereas the surgery is often less than $2,000 in
Asian countries like Korea.

Tracy, a first-year student who used to wear Scotch tape on her
eyes at night to get the double eyelid effect in the morning, said
that she had the surgery so make-up would be easier to apply.

"I didn’t do it to deny my culture or to look white," she said.
"I just think it’s like any other kind of enhancement that you do,
such as piercing your ears. It’s an effort to look and feel better
about yourself."

According to the Academy, more and more

young adults are considering and undergoing facial, plastic and
reconstructive surgery.

Physical appearance and self esteem go hand in hand, especially
for women, who often base their self-esteem on looks rather than on
thoughts or abilities. For many, problems may arise when they
compare themselves to others or try to live up to the images of
beauty portrayed in the media.

Like other plastic surgery patients, those who have eyelid
surgery often want to downplay the

fact that they have had surgery for fear of embarrassment or
harassment.

"I think people sometimes forget that everyone is so different,
from the way they look to how they act. Like on TV and movies, the
idea of female beauty seems to be a slim and attractive, blue-eyed
and blonde," said Jennifer, a second-year student still trying to
decide whether or not to go through with the surgery.

"I want to make sure I’m doing it for the right reasons, and not
just to fit in," she added.

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