Laser blepharoplasty for making double eyelids in Asians

The double-eyelid operation is a cosmetic procedure performed primarily on Asians who have no supratarsal folds. The goal in Oriental blepharoplasty is to ensure a stable double-eyelid fold with predictable and long-lasting results. Candidates for this procedure desire attractive eyelids with a natural-looking fold. Today, the CO₂ laser is used as a surgical tool by plastic surgeons, and its use in cosmetic surgery has recently been expanded to blepharoplasties. We used the high-power CO₂ laser (UltraPulse; Coherent, Santa Clara, Calif.) in the double-eyelid operation. Between September of 1995 and September of 1999, a total of 241 patients underwent laser double-eyelid operations at Korea University Medical Center and Dr. Choi's Aesthetic Clinic, with an average follow-up of 18 months. By using the CO₂ laser, we could create a stable double-eyelid fold with long-lasting results. The rate of fold release was 2 percent, which was less than the rate using the conventional scalpel incision method. The CO₂ laser contributed to a reduction in pain or discomfort after the operation; therefore, patient comfort and early recovery could be enhanced after double-eyelid surgery. In the healing of the incision line, it showed mild redness for 3 weeks, but long-term follow-up showed the scar produced by the laser appeared to be equal in quality compared with the conventional method. Laser blepharoplasty is a useful and effective method to create a stable and attractive double eyelid for Asian patients.