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 Cosmetic eyelid surgery or Blepharoplasty is the most common elective procedure among people of Asian ethnicity in the United States and in Asia. The procedure can thin a full eyelid, alter the shape or height of the upper or lower eyelid, decrease a pronounced epicanthal fold (the flap of tissue on the nasal side of the eyelid), or create a natural-looking crease in a double eyelid, which only occurs in about 50-70% of the Asian population.
A common misconception is that blepharoplasty is performed to "Westernize" the eyes in an attempt to look "less Asian." While each person's reasons for having surgery are unique, this kind of cultural dissatisfaction is almost never a factor. Rather, the overall goal is to help the patient look and feel his or her best by changing the eyelid shape to achieve a more attractive or younger look, balance the facial features and boost self-confidence.
The procedure itself varies depending on the techniques used as well as the patient's goals and eyelid anatomy. Generally, the surgery is performed under local anesthesia. An incisional approach is usually taken for double eyelid surgery, in which the skin and sometimes muscle are trimmed and some fat may be removed. In some cases, particularly for lower eyelid surgery, a transconjunctival (minimally invasive) approach is possible. Occasionally, the physician may be able to employ a non-incisional method using permanent sutures. Incisions and sutures are carefully placed to minimize visible scarring.
The new crease will likely appear to be too high immediately following surgery, but it will lower as the skin heals and softens, and stabilizes at about 4-6 weeks. The last of the swelling should subside after six months.
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 Brow lifts, also known as Forehead lifts, can revitalize drooping brows and lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Using a minimally invasive (endoscopic) method, the muscles above the eyes are altered to smoothe lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.
In a traditional brow lift the surgeon makes a coronal incision behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top of the forehead. In a minimally invasive (endoscopic) brow lift the surgeon makes three to five short incisions; then an endoscope -- a slim instrument with a camera on the end -- is placed in one incision while the surgeon works through the other incisions. This modern technique leaves less scaring and results in a speedier recovery.
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 Chin surgery, also known as Mentoplasty, is a surgical procedure to reshape the chin either by enhancement with an implant or reduction surgery on the bone. Often, a plastic surgeon may recommend chin surgery to a patient having nose surgery in order to achieve facial proportion, as the size of the chin may magnify or minimize the perceived size of the nose. It is also commonly combined with a neck lift or facelift to make the neck angle appear sharper and the neck longer. Chin surgery helps provide a harmonious balance to one's facial features.
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Eyelid operation, known as Blepharoplasty, can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper eyelids. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia. Blepharoplasty can be combined with a brow lift or BOTOX® treatments to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
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Lower eyelids become baggy with excess fat and wrinkles and form dark circles with time. If the skin and muscle layers are not loose, only the extra fat is taken out through the inside of the eyelid without causing a scar. If they are loose, removal of the excess of skin and muscle is necessary. Fat removal is done cautiously to leave enough to make a youthful appearing contour of the eyelids. The muscle layer is often tightened to minimize the slack and reduce dark circles.
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 In time, gravity, sun exposure, and the stresses of daily life take their toll on our faces: deep creases appear beside the mouth, the jawline slackens, and folds and fat deposits appear on the neck. Facelifts counteract these problems by removing fat and tightening skin and muscles, giving one's face a fresher, youthful look. After surgery, some patients appear 10-15 years younger.
The procedure can be combined with a browlift, eyelid surgery, midface lift or chin augmentation for more dramatic results, or it can be restricted to the neck (necklift) if the patient's problems center there. Incisions are made in inconspicuous places such as behind the hairline and in natural folds of the face and ears, and scars fade to near invisibility in time. Results of a facelift do not last forever, but in another sense, the effects are permanent; years later, your face will continue to look better than if you had never had the procedure. This is one of the reasons why a facelift is enjoyed longer when done at an earlier age.
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 Nasal surgery or Rhinoplasty is performed to reshape, reduce or augment a person's nose. Only a part or the entire nose may require attention. Depending on the purpose, extra tissue is removed or volume added in the form of grafted tissue or an implant. With rhinoplasty, the shape of the nose becomes more refined and the overall balance with the face improved.
Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under either local or general anesthesia and lasts two to three hours.
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Midface lift rejuvenates the cheek and lower eyelid area which often shows age the most. It lifts sagged cheeks and fills the irregular depressions in the mid portion of the face - hence the name, midface lift. It is distinct from a facelift and can be done on a younger person to erase a tired appearance and recapture the smooth fullness of the youth. In older individuals, it is often combined with a facelift to obtain a natural appearance without a pulled look.
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