plastic surgery to look less ethnic?

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Nov 13 6:44 PM posted by Team Ricki

Some people bleach their skin to look more Caucasian, while others undergo a controversial procedure to look less ethnic.

On the “Extreme Beauty” episode airing November 14, meet Ashley, 24, who underwent Asian Upper Bleth Surgery – an eyelid surgery that would make her eyes bigger.  Ashley admits that as a child she wanted to look more Caucasion than Asian because of the constant teasing about her eyes.   Where To Watch

On the show, you’ll also meet Dr. Peter Newen, medical director of The Image Center in Huntington Beach, CA, who performed Ashley’s Upper Blepharoplasty surgery.  Dr. Newen explains what is involved in this kind of procedure and why many Asians choose this route.  

Would you go through surgery to alter your ethnic look?  Sound off below.

Explain the Asian Upper Blepharoplasty procedure?

In general, there is a portion of the Asian population born without double eyelids.  A double eyelid means there is an extra fold on the upper eyelid and because of the presence of the fold; it makes the eyes look bigger.  The surgery involves a small incision on the upper eye lid.  We then sew the muscle that is responsible for opening the eye to the skin.  And because of this attachment, when a patient opens his/her eyes the attachment would create a double eyelid fold just like the patients that are born with a double eyelid.  I would say 50% of Asians are born without the presence of a double eyelid fold.

What is the recovery period for this surgery?

When the patient leaves the operating room, the patient can open and close their eyes normally.  There may be some swelling and bruising.  They do not go home with bandages at all.  They can take showers and bathe normally.  I ask patients to come back in after 5 days for suture removal.  They can begin wearing makeup about a week after the surgery.  The patient will look really good in about a week.  It takes about 6 weeks for everything to settle in.

Are there risks involved with this particular surgery?

There are always risks with any surgery.  But with this surgery the risks are very minimal.  The main concern is asymmetry within the Asian community.  They want to look a lot better and have symmetric folds.  That is a very big deal.

 How often do you do the surgery?

It depends on the season.  I usually do 2 or 3 of these particular surgeries a week.  During the holiday season the number goes up because people have time off.

Do some people undergo this surgery to look less ethnic?

This has always been a claim by people who are against plastic surgery.  Most people want to look better with bigger eyes.  People can do this to look more Caucasian or western.  I can say in my experience there are individuals out there that want this surgery to look less Asian and more Caucasian.