Home > Bibliographies > AAST298J (Spring 2004)

Asian American Cosmetic Surgery by Sara Chung

Book Articles or Chapters

• Kaw, Eugenia. "'Opening' Faces: the Politics of Cosmetic Surgery and Asian American Women." Many Mirrors; Body Image and Social Relations. Ed. Nicole Sault. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1994. 241-265.

  Eugenia Kaw discusses several reasons why Asian Americans have plastic surgery. Some believe their ethnic features are undesirable. Doctors often report that some patients simply want their features to be balanced. Another reason Asian Americans undergo surgery is an attempt to break the stereotype that Asians have "small, slanty eyes, and a flat nose." Finally, some state that individuals undergoing surgery want to look more Caucasian. The author argues that Asian Americans who view their facial features as negative have been influenced by Westerners. Finally, Kaw notes that plastic surgery is an indicator of one's wealth. Plastic surgery is not cheap and those who receive surgery are usually wealthy.

• Zane, Kathleen. "Reflections on a Yellow Eye: Asian I(eye)cons and Cosmetic Surgery." Talking Visions: Multicultural Feminism in a Transnational Age. Ed. Ella Shohat. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1998. 161- 186.

  Kathleen Zane's essay highlights different viewpoints on the topic of eyelid surgery. In order to organize these different perspectives, she divides the essay up into four parts: "Eyeing Asians: Asian (eyes)ing Authenticity," "Eye-Conography: Reading in the Yellow Eye," "Cross-Secting Lids: Race for Beauty/Culture for Style," and "Talking Lids: Hybrid-Eyed Entities." The first part labels Asians who undergo surgery as self-hating and wanting to look more Western. The next section says that many Asians naturally have a double eyelid and therefore those getting the surgery are participating in "ethnic pride movements" and maintaining "natural looks." "Cross-Secting Lids: Race for Beauty/Culture for Style" presents the viewpoint that surgery is considered a rite of passage or status symbol. Eyelid surgery indicates one's social status because those who can afford surgery are affluent. Therefore, others get the surgery in order to visually distinguish themselves from the lower class. The final portion of the essay compares eyelid surgery to getting one's teeth straightened and remarks that eyelid surgery is just another way to adhere to cultural expectations of beauty and not just racial ideals.

Newspaper or Magazine Articles

• Poblete, Pati. "The Price to Pay for an 'American' Nose or Eye is More Than $2,500." San Francisco Chronicle 24 Feb. 2002, late ed.: E1.

  Asian parents of newborn babies are worried about the physical appearance of their children. They hope for higher nose bridges and eyelid creases. If these features do not develop, some resort to plastic surgery. Most common among Asians and Asian Americans are blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and rhinoplasty (nose surgery). Many Asians and Asian Americans feel pressured by society to undergo one or both of these surgical procedures. Because of this, these operations are common and accepted, especially among young women. These surgeries are not cheap costing between $2,500-$3,500.

• Young, Wes. "Taking a Second Look." A. Magazine Aug./Sept. 1997: 24-25.

  Many Asian Americans receive blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery. According to Dr. Wes Young, many people understand these surgeries as strategies to look more Caucasian. However, this concept of "Occidentalization of Asian eyelids" or "Westernization of Asian eyelids" is flawed because almost half of all Asians are born with eyelid creases. Therefore, the surgery gives them an Asian eyelid, not a Caucasian one. Another reason one might undergo this surgery is to address asymmetry between eyelids. For Asians who dislike their Oriental look and "seek blepharoplasty to look "less Asian," Dr. Don Liu recommends psychological counseling.

Newspaper or Magazine Articles on the Internet

• Inoue, Todd S. "Roundabout Looks." MetroActive June 27, 1996. Date Accessed: 10 August 2006. <http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.27.96/asian-eyes-9626.html>.
• Lee, Charles S. "Audrey's Mailbox: About Face." Audrey Aug./Sept. 2003. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.audreymagazine.com/Aug2003/Mailbox.asp>.

  Charles Lee, a plastic surgeon, refutes the notion that Asians undergo double-eyelid surgery to become more westernized. Rather, the "goal of eyelid crease surgery is to recreate an eyelid fold that occurs naturally in other Asians." Proof for this claim comes from the fact that the "Caucasian fold and the Asian fold differ in size and configuration." Therefore, Asians getting eyelid surgery are not doing it in order to look more Caucasian. In conclusion, Lee asserts that everyone wants to be beautiful and for Asians, eyelid surgery is just another way to achieve an aesthetic rooted in Asian culture.

• Lin, Shirley. "In the Eye of the Beholder?: Eyelid Surgery and Asian American Women." Wiretap March 6, 2001. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/10557/>.

  Eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, is traditionally used to remove excess eyelid skin or to reduce signs of aging. Recently however, more young Asian American women undergo surgery to create a crease in their eyelid. It was reported that 142,000 blepharoplasties were performed in 1999, but this figure is bound to increase due to advances in surgical techniques and easily accessible plastic surgery clinics in Asia. The procedure is encouraged by narrow beauty standards and the lack of Asians in the media. Moreover, most Asian faces we see in the media already have double eyelids. As a result of the prevalence of blepharoplasty other surgeries are also becoming popular among Asians and Asian Americans, such as nose restructuring and breast augmentation.

• Oishi, Carly. "Audrey's Mailbox: Beauty at What Price?" Audrey May/Jun. 2003. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.audreymagazine.com/June2003/Mailbox.asp>.

  Carly Oishi is extremely elated by the publication of Audrey, a magazine geared toward Asian females. However, she expresses disappointment with ads advocating cosmetic surgery, specifically eyelid crease procedures. Oishi believes these ads are problematic because Western beauty is portrayed as the ideal and cosmetic surgery is offered as a means for looking less ethnic. Oishi suggests placing these ads in magazines targeting Asian American women is doubly dangerous because "eyelid crease surgery is an obviously ethnic-fueled cosmetic change" and therefore causes dissatisfaction in terms of appearance and ethnicity.

• Scheidnes, Jean Lee. "Asian Community Has Double Vision of Eyelid Surgery." Columbia News Service March 2000. Asian American Empowerment: ModelMinority.com. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://modelminority.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=740>.

  Typically, cosmetic eyelid surgery is used to reduce the signs of aging, but it is becoming popular among younger Asian Americans who most commonly undergo blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. Asian Americans who undergo eyelid surgery are often accused of masking their ethnicity. In response, proponents of eyelid surgery point out that many Asian Americans are born with creased eyelids and double-eyelids were desirable even before Western culture reached Asia. Moreover, many doctors say that none of their patients ever asked to look Caucasian but merely wanted to enhance their Asian eyes.

Websites

• "Asian Blepharoplasty." 2003. Toronto Eyelid Surgery. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.torontoeyelidsurgery.com/html/asian_blepharoplasty.html>.

  Many Asians are interested in blepharoplasty tailored to Asian patients giving the patients a more noticeable upper lid crease or fold. The Asian eyelid "has specific anatomical differences from the Western upper eyelid, so the surgery for Asians differs in techniques used and where the cuts are made for the fold."

• "Asian Blepharoplasty: Double-Eyelid Operation." Beautifuleyes.com. 2004. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.beautifuleyes.com/cosmetic-surgery/asian.html>.
• "Asian Eyelid Surgery." Yournaturalbeauty.com. Cosmetic Surgery Associates. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006 <http://www.yournaturalbeauty.com/asianeyes.asp>.

  This article gives a simplified overview of the steps to follow before undergoing eyelid surgery. First, potential patients must determine if they meet certain qualifications. Asians who have no fold above their upper eyelashes are the best candidates for surgery. Usually there is very little pain with this procedure. After the surgery, patients are advised to stay in an upright, reclined position to minimize swelling. Fortunately, eyelids heal very quickly and the stitches are removed in a few days. Bruising lasts for several weeks but within three to six months patients are completely healed.

• "Asian Eyelid Surgery (Double Eyelid Surgery)." Enhance Plastic Surgery. 2005. Enhance Medical Center. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.asiancosmeticsurgery.com/html/eyelids.html>.
• "Asian Nose Surgery." Maui Plastic Surgery. 2003. American Plastic Surgery, LLC. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.mauibody.com/asian_nose.html>.

  Asians, in general, have very distinct noses. Asian noses are typically flatter than European noses. Research shows this is a result of fewer "growth centers" in the middle of the face. In order to create more definition, the bridge of the nose can be given more height, using cartilage from the ear and adding it to the nose. Also, Asian patients may use an implant under the nose. As a result, the upper lip is pushed forward and this pushes the nose upward, giving it more definition.

• "Asian Upper Blepharoplasty (Double Eyelid Surgery)." 2006. Blepharoplasty Information Service. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.eyelids-blepharoplasty.com/in_upper/asian1.html>.
• Bermant, Michael. "Asian Rhinoplasty - Surgery of the Oriental Nose. " Ethnic Rhinoplasty - The Asian Nose. June 11, 2006. Bermant Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006 <http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com/procedure_folder/rhinoplasty_asian.html>.
• Chen, William P. "Asian Blepharoplasty: Update on Anatomy and Techniques." 2005. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006 <http://www.asianbleph.com/article.html>.
• Harbereder, Kris. "Wide Open: The Politics of Asian Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery." Asian Pacific American Visual & Cultural Studies. Loyola Marymount University. March 13, 2004. Date Accessed: 10 August 2006. <http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/apam/eFORUM/tina/site/myamerica/kris1.html>.

  Cosmetic eyelid surgery for Asian American women is usually understood as a way to Westernize (a means of assimilating) or simply as a physical change (like any other plastic surgery procedure). Regardless, eyelid surgery is becoming more popular among young Asian Americans. People usually get cosmetic eyelid surgery to reduce signs of aging. But for the younger Asian Americans who receive this operation, it is done to add a crease to the upper eyelid, which is deemed attractive by Asians. In order to learn more about the surgery, Kris Harbereder analyzes two films, Operculum and Two Lies. These films document the process of eyelid surgery. In conclusion, Harbereder feels that blepharoplasty ultimately causes Asian American patients to "lose a part of themselves" as well as their culture.

• Honrado, Carlo. "Facial Plastic Surgery in Asian Patients." eMedicine. Aug. 5, 2005. WebMD. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic680.htm>.
• "Nose Lift (Asian Rhinoplasty)." Cosmetic and Laser Surgery Center of San Francisco. 2003. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.yourpersonalbest.com/noselift.html>.
• Lee, Charles S. "Blespharoplasty, Asian." eMedicine. 6 Apr. 2006. WebMD. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic425.htm>.

  Asian blepharoplasty, commonly known as double-eyelid surgery, is designed to create a pretarsal crease on the eyelid. Patients who get this surgery want to look "more bright eyed" and make applying eyeliner easier. Many believe those who undergo this surgery want to change their ethnic appearance, but this is rarely the case. This procedure was noted in Japanese literature during the late 1800s when a surgeon operated on a patient who had one eye with a double eyelid. Also, half of the Asian population has the crease, therefore Asians undergoing the surgery are not trying to look like Caucasians. One theory explaining why more Caucasians have this pretarsal fold is that Asians have a lower insertion point of the levator aponeurosis, which is the muscle that elevates the eyelid this results in smaller or even absent fold.

• Lee, Charles S. "Rhinoplasty, Asian." eMedicine. May 16, 2006. WebMD. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.emedicine.com/Plastic/topic474.htm>.
• "Procedures Unique to Non-Caucasians: Eyes." Enhance the Appearance. 2005. Enhance Medical Center. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.enhanceplasticsurgery.com/appear_improvement.asp.htm#eyes>.
• McCurdy, John. "Double Eyelids." Asiancosmeticsurg.com. 2001. Asian Cosmetic Surgery. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.asiancosmeticsurg.com/main.htm>.

  Double eyelid surgery has been increasing in popularity since 1950 and is currently the most common plastic surgery procedure in Asia and cities across the United States where there are large numbers of Asian Americans. While this operation is often interpreted as a way to westernize appearance, western double eyelid creases do not complement the Asian face. Dr. McCurdy has developed an operation that "accentuates and flatters" the Asian face.

• Meronk, Frank, Jr. "Asian Eyelid Surgery: An Overview." Asian Eyelid Surgery Resource. 2006. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.drmeronk.com/asian/asian-overview.html>.

  This website provides a wealth of information about "cosmetic blepharoplasty for the Asian eyelid." A drop down table of contents provides quick access to fact sheets, which discuss everything from anatomical differences between Asian and Western eyelids and various techniques used during surgery to the healing process. Also included is information about Dr. Meronk, his staff, and fees. While the site provides a great deal of useful information users should remember the site was designed to promote plastic surgery and Dr. Meronk's practice.

• Stone, Aaron. "Asian Eyelid Surgery - Blepharoplasty." Asian Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty in Los Angeles. Date Accessed: 8 Aug. 2006. <http://www.aaronstonemd.com/eyelidSurgeryAsian.shtm>.
• Stone, Aaron. "Asian Rhinoplasty - Nose Surgery." Asian Rhinoplasty Nose Surgery in Los Angeles. Date Accessed: 9 Aug. 2006. <http://www.aaronstonemd.com/rhinoplasty_asian.shtm>.
• Valhouli, Christina. "Some Turn to Glue or Surgery for a New 'Look." Salon.com. Feb. 16, 2000. Asian American Empowerment: Modelminority.com. Date Accessed: 9 Aug. 2006 <http://modelminority.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=139>.

  Asian American women use a variety of methods to achieve double eyelids. Strategies include eyelid glue, tape, or plastic surgery. Eyelid surgery is the most common plastic surgery procedure among Asians and Asian Americans. Some Asian Americans oppose this act of assimilation. Carrie Chang, a Stanford graduate opposed to eyelid surgery, created a magazine in response to the growing plastic surgery trend. Chang argues that people who undergo surgery want to assimilate into America and do so by acquiring Western features. However, during interviews people considering blepharoplasty never stated they wanted to look more Caucasian, many simply said they just want bigger eyes to look prettier. According to Chang this beauty standard is defined by the West, therefore they are trying to achieve a Caucasian look. Valhouli states that another reason women get eyelid surgery is to remedy entropion, which results in the eyelashes pointing down and poking into the eyes.

• "Western Eyes." 6 Jan. 2006. First Run Icarus Films. Date Accessed: 9 Aug. 2006. <http://www.frif.com/new2001/west.html>.

  Western Eyes is a documentary directed by Anna Shin. This film records the lives of two Asian Canadian women, Maria Estante, a Filipina, and Sharon Kim of Korean descent. Both women are considering plastic surgery because they believe their appearance, "specifically their eyes, affect the way they are perceived by others." Throughout the movie, they are in a constant search for beauty and self-acceptance. Maria chooses surgery over therapy because surgery takes two or three weeks as opposed to therapy which may take two or three years. Sharon also views surgery in a positive light, understanding such procedures as balancing beauty standards between the East and West. Shin is successful in this documentary because she portrays the pain, due to lack of self-acceptance, which fuels plastic surgery.