What Asian blepharoplasty is
Asian blepharoplasty creates the upper eyelid crease. The care after surgery is the same as after an upper blepharoplasty: sutures come out at your Day 5 visit, and most patients fly home that day or the next.
The height and shape of the crease are planned with you at your consultation, so the result suits your own eyes and heritage rather than a template.
Every procedure is performed at True Surgical Center, our AAAHC-accredited surgical center in Beverly Hills. About True Surgical Center
Who it is for
Your surgeon tells you at your consultation whether Asian blepharoplasty fits your goals, and says so when another approach would serve you better.
Asian Blepharoplasty in Beverly Hills: the essentials
- Where
- True Surgical Center, the AAAHC-accredited surgical center at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 220, Beverly Hills.
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia with MAC (monitored anesthesia care) and IV sedation, given and watched throughout by a board-certified anesthesiologist. Someone takes you home or to your hotel and stays nearby the first day.
- Sutures
- Tape on the tail of your sutures; your surgeon or our physician assistant removes them at your Day 5 visit.
- If you travel
- You can typically fly home the day your sutures come out or the day after.
- Swelling
- Expect to be very swollen for about 6 days; acute swelling typically resolves within 2 weeks. Swelling can make the crease look high or heavy at first and may last weeks to months.
- Makeup and contacts
- Eye makeup and contact lenses at Day 10. Aquaphor on the incisions until 1 month.
- Exercise
- Light cardio may resume at 2 weeks. Strenuous exercise: typically 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you.
- Final result
- Full healing may take up to 6 months, with a check-up 3 months after surgery.
Every plan is personal, so your surgeon confirms each of these for you at your consultation. Recovery, week by week
What happens on the day
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01Before you go in
Your surgeon plans the crease with you at your consultation, and you follow the Pre-Op General Instructions.
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02Creating the crease
The crease is made through an incision in the upper eyelid, at the height planned with you, and closed with fine sutures.
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03Going home
Tape is placed on the tail of your sutures. You go home or to your hotel the same day, sleep on your back with your head raised on 2 to 3 pillows, and ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for 5 days to a week.
Preparing for surgery · Out-of-town patients · Post-operative care guide
Recovery, week by week
This comes from the written instructions our patients receive before surgery, so it changes only when those instructions change.
Your eyes may feel tired and be bruised, and you can expect to be very swollen for about six days. One eye may be more swollen or discolored than the other; one eye much more painful or swollen than the other means call us right away. Clean the incisions 2 to 3 times a day with soap and water only (no peroxide near the eyes), then apply Aquaphor. Sutures out at your Day 5 visit.
Itching at the incisions is a normal part of healing. Acute swelling typically resolves within 2 weeks. Contact lenses and eye makeup from Day 10. Light cardio at 2 weeks, and light lymphatic massage away from the incisions; strenuous exercise typically at 3 weeks, once your surgeon clears you.
Wear SPF 50, add a hat whenever possible, and limit direct sun. Avoid rubbing or itching your eyelids until fully healed. A scar that becomes thick, raised or painful, or stays itchy after the first few weeks, can be an early keloid. Call us: a steroid injection given early prevents it.
Full healing may take up to 6 months, and a final check-up is advisable 3 months after surgery.
Difficulty breathing, chest pain, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure means call 911. For anything else that worries you, call us at (424) 363-4112, day or night. When to call us right away
Asian Blepharoplasty risks, and how we keep you safe
Every procedure carries risk. Your surgeon goes through the risks that apply to your plan at your consultation, and each one is written in the consent you read and sign. For Asian blepharoplasty, the consent lists:
- Crease Asymmetry. The two creases may differ, or a crease may sit higher, lower or deeper than planned, and a revision may be needed.
- Fading Crease. The crease may fade over time.
- Prolonged Swelling. Swelling of the upper eyelids, which can make the crease look high or heavy at first, may last weeks to months.
- Chemosis. Chemosis is possible: swelling of the clear lining over the white of the eye, so the white looks puffy or jelly-like and the eye may not close fully. If it happens, keep the eye moist with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). It usually resolves over the first couple of weeks.
- Dry Eye. Dry eye or irritation is possible, and a dry eye you already have may worsen; it may be temporary or permanent and may need treatment.
- Difficulty Closing the Eyes. Difficulty closing the eyes fully (lagophthalmos) is possible; it may improve over weeks to months or need treatment.
- Drooping Upper Eyelid. A drooping upper eyelid after surgery (ptosis) is possible.
- Skin or Fat Removed. Too much skin or fat removed can make the eyelid look hollow or keep it from closing fully; too little can leave the crease hidden.
- Visual Change and Eye Injury. Blurred vision for a few days is expected. A scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion), injury to the eye, or loss of vision from bleeding behind the eye is possible; a sudden change in vision means call us right away.
- Bleeding on the White of the Eye. Bleeding on the white of the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) is possible and clears within about 3 weeks.
- Watery Eyes. Watery eyes (tearing) are possible while healing and may last longer.
- Small Cysts. Small white cysts (milia) along the incision are possible and can be removed.
Risks of any operation
- Bleeding. Bleeding during or after surgery is possible. A collection of blood under the skin (hematoma) may need drainage or a return to the operating room, and severe bleeding may need emergency treatment or a blood transfusion.
- Infection. Infection is possible and may need antibiotics, drainage or further surgery.
- Bruising and Swelling. Bruising and swelling are expected. They may last several weeks, and swelling or discoloration may persist longer.
- Scarring. Every incision or entry point leaves a permanent scar. A scar may be raised, widened, darker, lighter or more visible than expected, and takes at least 3 months to mature.
- Keloid or Raised Scar. Itching, thickening, pain or a growth along any incision can be the first sign of a keloid (a thick, raised scar). Let us know right away so it can be injected with a steroid to stop the keloid from forming. A keloid is more likely if you have had one before and may need further injections or treatment.
- Change in Skin Sensation. Numbness, tingling or a change in skin sensation around the treated areas is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Delayed Healing. Delayed healing or separation of an incision is possible and much more likely with nicotine in any form.
- Allergic Reactions. Allergic reactions to tape, sutures, skin cleansers, latex or medications are possible.
- Blood Clots. Blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) are possible and more likely with longer surgery; your surgical team uses the clot-prevention plan chosen for you.
- Anesthesia. Risks of anesthesia and sedation are possible; the anesthesia provider reviews them with you separately.
- Pain. Pain after surgery is expected and should settle over several days; pain that lasts longer is possible.
- Result and Revision. A result that does not meet your expectations is possible: healing differs between people, no result is guaranteed, and a revision may be advised, with the fees described in your patient policy.
- Serious Complications. Serious complications, including death, are possible with any surgery or anesthesia.
- Heart and Lung Problems. Heart or lung problems, such as pneumonia or an irregular heartbeat, are possible after surgery and anesthesia.
- Medication Side Effects. Side effects of the medications used during and after surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness or trouble urinating, are possible.
- Injury to Deeper Structures. Injury to deeper structures, such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles or glands, is possible.
- Persistent Sutures. A deeper stitch may work its way to the surface and need to be removed.
When to call us right away · Before & after gallery · Request a consultation
Asian Blepharoplasty FAQ
Surgery that creates the upper eyelid crease. The care afterward is the same as after an upper blepharoplasty.
Swelling of the upper eyelids can make the crease look high or heavy at first. Acute swelling typically resolves within 2 weeks, and the consent notes that some swelling may last weeks to months.
Eye makeup and contact lenses can resume 10 days after surgery, once the skin is completely closed. Keep Aquaphor on your eyelid incisions until 1 month after surgery.
Your sutures come out at your Day 5 visit, and you can typically fly home that day or the day after.
The consent you read and sign lists these possible complications: creases that differ, or sit higher, lower or deeper than planned, which may need a revision; a crease that fades over time; swelling that may last weeks to months; chemosis (swelling of the clear lining over the white of the eye, treated with over-the-counter lubricating drops; it usually resolves over the first couple of weeks); dry eye, which may be temporary or permanent; difficulty closing the eyes fully; a drooping upper eyelid; too much or too little skin or fat removed; blurred vision for a few days, and a scratch on the eye, injury to the eye or loss of vision from bleeding behind the eye, so a sudden change in vision means call us right away; bleeding on the white of the eye; watery eyes; and small white cysts along the incision. It also lists the risks of any operation, including bleeding, infection, blood clots and the risks of anesthesia. Your surgeon reviews each one with you.
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Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday. International patients: WhatsApp (424) 363-4112.
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