Asians and Double Eye Lid Surgery

[Zen]

This is so silly of me to do and maybe this is not appropriate in this forum but something was on my mind, and I like to get other people's opinions.

I was wondering what many of you thought about asians, particularly people who are Korean, Chinese and Japanese who decide to have surgery to have double eye lids?

Do you think western pop culture play any role to influence these young women? Maybe even their own pop culture? How about the fashion industry?How do you feel? Does it look better if an asian girl has double eye lids or without? What are your thoughts and opinions?

 

[Uchina]

I feel that it's the same as white people getting breast implants and black people getting liposuction. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm proud of my heritage, but I also love the fact I have "anime eyes." There are things I like and things that I don't like about my body, and it has nothing to do with ethnic insecurity. I've thought about that leg-slimming surgery for daikon ashi, but I don't think it would be worth it in the long run.

As far as people IN Asia who get the surgery, I think it does indeed have a lot to do with globalization. There's a biological aspect of beauty that is universal and has nothing to do with fashion. Today, big, round eyes is part of the standard in every culture. Individual tastes do vary, of course (I think monolided, slanty eyes are very beautiful and I used to want them), but the general opinion does prevail.

As far as Asians in America, it may have something to do with ethnic insecurity, especially those of us who live in small towns with mainly white people. We feel "different" and "weird." I grew up in a small town, but I liked being unique (I'm just weird I guess), but not everyone is as attention-whorish as I am. I do think that many people want to achieve the "white look" much like black people did in the early half of the 20th century. Skin lightners and hair treatments were used, not to even skin tone, or to make hair more manageable, but to look white.

Malcolm X's autobiography has a part in it where he puts straight lye in his hair to make it straight. It was enormously painful, as I imagine eyelid surgery must be.

In modern procedures and beauty rituals, we have to take a hard look at ourselves to see WHY we want to do these things. If you want to make your hair more manageable your eye makeup routine easier, that's a valid reason. If it's because you want to look like a skinny white girl, the surgery's a band-aid for a bigger problem. See a psychiatrist who specializes in identity.

 

[Yanka]

can someone explain what it is? any pics? I heard the actress from LOST, Ju Jin Kin had it done.

 

[bismarck]

My dad, who grew up in China and should thus know a bit about indigenous (not to sound too National Geographic) Asian life, says that the double eyelid has always been desireable in Asia. So maybe it's just a prized Asian feature, just like all the Chinese women I know want to be incredibly, unrealistically thin, and probably have for a long, long time. Perhaps globalization has just strengthened this fascination/aesthetic.

I myself wouldn't do it. I think I look very good with my own mono-lids. They got me made fun of when I was younger, because I looked different, but now that I'm older they're an asset, because I look different. I think that trying to look white when you aren't white is very sad; it's like throwing off your heritage, which in a way is rejecting who you are. But if double-lids are an intrinsic aesthetic, then it's just plastic surgery.

I was just thinking: maybe a lot of people don't want to look "white" necessarily, it's just that the majority of images of beautiful people are white. Not all white people look like Marilyn Monroe, and not all Asian people look like Gong Li. Maybe there are a set of features and certain proportions that we've associated with Caucasians, when in reality, we'd find those features beautiful in every race, they just aren't so well-represented as they are in white people. Am I making any sense?

 

[Zen]

Great posts you guys. It's wonderful to get other people's views and opinions on this matter. I myself have (what most people use the term "slant eyes") and growing up in a community that is primarily white I too was made fun of for my eyes. As a child I once asked my mother why I have these un-natural looking eyes and her response was that I'm special. For a while I thought that meant I was handycapped. Through my teens I was teased about my eyes too. At that time I wanted to get my eyes fixed some how. LOL, I typed the word "fixed" like my eyes are incorrect or something.

I've talked with my ex boyfriends about this subject and the first thing that popped out of their mouths were "your eyes look exotic, don't get that stupid surgery done." Awww, wasn't that sweet of them?

In my opinion, it is a personal choice, and people can do what they like to feel better about themselves. I personally won't do it, because these eyes are a part of me, and it gives me some charactor. We are all born the way we look today because by nature were not supposed to look all the same. Imagine that, all human race, men looking like Ken and girls looking like Barbie. How boring would that be?

 

[mkd1187]

Many students in my school (Parsons/NewSchool) are Korean, and many of the girls I'm friends with have had the surgery.

 

[silvi]

I saw a documentaire about beauty surgery in China.
Double Eye Lid surgery was also mentioned, girls pay 900 euros for a surgery!
and beside that kind of surgery there are girls who extend there legs!
Most chinese people there look up to western features, because for them that is beauty!

I'm asian too. I'm proud of who I am. I wouldn't change the smallest detail of me! Just love yourself! I do and I'm deeply in love with myself
(ofcourse not in narcastic way)

 

[silvi]

^^ I want to add something...

I used to be that girl that lacks confidence...because of many things that happend to me.
But now I'm getting older. I love who I am, who I become,... just everything!
I thank god who gave me the strength to change...
kind of mealy?

 

[Petit Lucille]

what a stupid thing to do!!! it is the first thing i envy of an asian feature the eyes!!!!!!!!! those beautiful eyes!!!!!!

 

[yellow-submarine]

It's crazy

 

[Eurasian Mélange]

My thoughts definitely depend upon the individual and their reasons for doing it. For example, if someone could not see a lot because the eyelids really sag over their eyes (yes, I've actually heard of this happening) it would be fine. If they wanted to do it because they believed it would make them happier and more attractive I would encourage them to try and accept themselves as they are first, but as long as they know what they are doing and won't become addicted to surgery (e.g. if they have body dysmorphic disorder or something) I don't think it is any different from other plastic surgery people undergo. The only time I would really be against it is if it was clear they had a problem with their own race and made it well-known they hated their own skin colour and were trying to change themselves into something else by altering their appearance. It does happen. I haven't known anyone who has taken it to such extremes, but I did know people who hated what they were born as and constantly put down their own race, so it isn't difficult for me to imagine them opting for plastic surgery in the end.

I think it depends entirely upon the individual as to whether single or double eyelids look better on her. I've seen plenty of Asian women with single eyelids who look stunning and I certainly wouldn't be complaining if I woke up one morning with their faces, single eyelids included. I've also seen Asian women with double eyelids and they look equally as beautiful. I have seen before and after pictures of double eyelid surgery and some women look better, others look worse.

I was just thinking: maybe a lot of people don't want to look "white" necessarily, it's just that the majority of images of beautiful people are white. Not all white people look like Marilyn Monroe, and not all Asian people look like Gong Li. Maybe there are a set of features and certain proportions that we've associated with Caucasians, when in reality, we'd find those features beautiful in every race, they just aren't so well-represented as they are in white people. Am I making any sense?

You're making perfect sense to me and I agree completely! People always say Asians who want to be tall, pale and have double eyelids are wanting to look white, but there are other races that can be tall too, many Asians are born naturally pale and double eyelids do occur among them as well. It is funny how every race that wants to be pale (other than white people themselves) can be accused of trying to 'look white', but no one has accused white people of trying to look black, Indian, Middle Eastern or whatever when they tan. Sometimes I feel as if white people have the most freedom to pursue their idea of beauty, whereas other races are restricted because if they start to travel 'too far' from the stereotypical ethnic look of their race they are accused of hating their own skin colour and trying to be white. How many times have you heard a non-white person accused of that when they decide to straighten their hair, or dye it blonde, or get blue contact lenses, or even all of the above?

 

[MichelleYue]

My (short) story: Ever since I was a little girl, I believed I would get this surgery the day I turned 18. I am now 18, and I completely happy with my eyes... I think nature made my eyes small and single-lidded for a reason. I tried tape and glue a few times, but it never looked natural or right to me. I'm sticking with what my momma gave me (even though she naturally has super big eyes... XD).

 

[mlsnts]

You're making perfect sense to me and I agree completely! People always say Asians who want to be tall, pale and have double eyelids are wanting to look white, but there are other races that can be tall too, many Asians are born naturally pale and double eyelids do occur among them as well. It is funny how every race that wants to be pale (other than white people themselves) can be accused of trying to 'look white', but no one has accused white people of trying to look black, Indian, Middle Eastern or whatever when they tan. Sometimes I feel as if white people have the most freedom to pursue their idea of beauty, whereas other races are restricted because if they start to travel 'too far' from the stereotypical ethnic look of their race they are accused of hating their own skin colour and trying to be white. How many times have you heard a non-white person accused of that when they decide to straighten their hair, or dye it blonde, or get blue contact lenses, or even all of the above?

Yeah I agree with you 100%. I hate it when people start assuming asians or people of any other ethnicity get surgery to make them more "white". Or when people use skin lighteners.. but noone says anything when naturally pale people get a fake tan. And so on..

I think this has to do with the media. Who do we see in our screens? Hollywood actors-who are mostly caucasian. Who do we see in the gossip magazines. How do the majority of top models look like?

Unconsciously we will start to change our standards of beauty to conform to those ideals. It's not "Omg I want to look caucasian!!" but it's more "Well... all the celebs (asian and non-asian) have double eyelids.. All my friends did the surgery.. Why shouldn't I?" If you live in a village without tv/magazines/internet then you really wouldn't feel the pressure to get surgery.

As someone said before me, some are "standards" which have been present in the community for a long time. Asian girls are always very pressured to be skinny, not just because of the recent size zero trend. For example other common "beauty standards" in east-asian countries include: long, black hair, big eyes (more recent?), small nose, small mouth, small face, petite body, small feet, a generally cute and innocent look for girls. Some of this has been present for a long time, centuries before exposure to western influences, and some have been shaped from globalization during the last century.

I don't really apply to this question since I have double (uneven though) lids, but I think single eyelids look very beautiful on a lot of girls. As ugly as I am I wouldn't get any surgery- be it for eyes, nose, etc.. But I don't really care about other people getting surgery. It's their choice- it's their money, they're free to do what they want. I don't look down on them.

 

[mystiiik]

^ I agree, I'm asian and I am also naturally pale, but short.
I have color contacts ( blue and green )
I just thought it was cool because its unique,
not the fact that i want to be "white".

 

[mystiiik]

oh and i have double eyelids haha.

 

[mystiiik]

but naturally lols.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

i don't think should chime in cause:

a, i got naturally rather big eyes and double eye lids

b, i barely ever got teased for my eyes.

only problem i have is that i personally think my face isn't chiseled enough and i don't have like VERY VERY prominent cheekbones. it's got nothing with asian shame. my mom's got the most prominent features and i just wished i would have gotten those features. *sigh*

and i don't think that the wish for big eyes is influenced from the west. i think it might be cause it's a rather rare trait. and rare traits are considered to be more special. some with blonde/red hair. and in some cases, special = desireable = beautiful.

 

[MTRLBY]

i just want to make a point that i don't think western culture has an influence at all to asian beauty standards..
what westerners can't seem to grasp is that asians aren't doing these cosmetic surgeries to look..'white'
these standards of beauty(big eyes, tall nose, high forehead..etc..) have been around in asia for a LONGGG time..

 

[justlikehoney]

i just want to make a point that i don't think western culture has an influence at all to asian beauty standards..
what westerners can't seem to grasp is that asians aren't doing these cosmetic surgeries to look..'white'
these standards of beauty(big eyes, tall nose, high forehead..etc..) have been around in asia for a LONGGG time..

Yeah I agree. Larger eyes with double eyelids has always been a coveted feature in Asia, even before globalization. Even when China was practicing its isolationist government in the early 1800's, paintings of beautiful women included the double eyelid and slender noses. It's not a new trend or anything, the demand has been around for centuries.

As someone with the double eyelid, I think that it's unfortunate that so many people in Asia look down upon smaller eyes or eyes with single eyelids. Both types of features have their beauty, but it seems that one is respected much more than the other.

 

[ElectricAlyce]

can someone explain what it is? any pics? I heard the actress from LOST, Ju Jin Kin had it done.

http://www.drmeronk.com/asian/asian-eyelid-photos.html

I... really wasn't aware of this. I think the single eyelids are adorable, and never thought anyone would do surgery to get double eyelids, but... apparently. As the debate on western culture in asia and vica verca, it's a "the grass is greener on the other side"-scenario. Asians try to be paler and westerns try to be tanner.