What Are Double Eyelids? (Pics, Surgery & Other Treatments)

What are Double Eyelids?

A double eyelid has a visible eyelid crease. It is the opposite of a single or monolid that has no crease. Both double and single eyelids are normal and require no medical intervention.

Despite being normal, some people have cosmetic reasons for undergoing double eyelid surgery.

They opt for surgery when their:

Eyelid interferes with vision
Eyelids don’t match
Eyes don’t look as large as they’d like
Makeup is difficult to apply

Are Double Eyelids Rare?

No. This is the most common type of eyelid for people not of Asian descent and about half of people who are of Asian descent have a double upper eyelid.

What Causes Double Eyelids?

For most people, their genetics are the reason they have double eyelids. Double eyelids might also be caused by:

Aging
Ptosis
Fat accumulation
Underdevelopment or weakening of the eyelid muscles

What Does a Double Eyelid Look Like?

Double eyelids feature a crease on the upper lid. For some, it’s a well-defined crease and very noticeable. For others, it’s slight and invisible without a close examination.

As someone’s face ages over time, the delicate skin surrounding their eyes loses its elasticity and relaxes. This causes their large eyes with well-defined creases to develop hooded lids or partial creases.

Can a Double Eyelid Cause Health Issues?

Usually, double eyelids cause no health issues for people. However, if their upper lids droop or sag, it can affect their peripheral vision.

Drooping double eyelids cause:

Problems reading
Eye pain
The need to tilt the head back to see
The inability to drive safely
Tension headaches
Excessively dry or watery eyes

The shape of your eyelids changes over time as you age. Problems also occur due to certain cosmetic procedures and diseases.

Common health and vision problems related to changing eyelids include:

Blepharitis

Inflammation of the eyelids, or blepharitis, is caused by a problem with the oil glands near the base of the eyelids, a bacterial infection, or skin conditions. It usually doesn't affect vision. However, it can make eyelids red, itchy, and swollen and leave eyes red and watery.

Ptosis

Ptosis occurs when, over time, the upper eyelids may start to sag. It’s caused by the muscles that support them losing their strength. It can also be caused by eye injuries, neurological problems, and eye diseases.

Blepharochalasis

Blepharochalasis occurs due to the loosening of eyelid skin caused by loss of elasticity. This creates new folds that droop over the lashes and block the upper field of sight by covering the pupil.

Ectropion

Ectropion occurs when the lower lid muscles weaken, making the lid sag and turn outward, away from the eyeball.

This causes the upper and lower lids to no longer meet when the eye is closed. Eyes might tear excessively and become red and irritated. Cases range from mild to severe.

Entropion

Entropion occurs when the lower lid rolls inward toward the eye causing the lashes to constantly rub against the cornea. People with entropion feel as if there is something in their eye, and experience tearing and blurred vision.

Doctors sometimes recommend double eyelid surgery (a type of blepharoplasty) to deal with these problems.

What is Double Eyelid Surgery? Is it Permanent?

Double eyelid surgery creates creases in the upper eyelids. The result is double eyelids.

This type of surgery is a form of blepharoplasty. This is the medical term for eyelid surgery.

The surgery usually involves just the upper lid. It’s sometimes called Asian eyelid surgery or Asian double eyelid surgery.

Knowing what to expect before undergoing cosmetic eyelid surgery helps you decide if the procedure is right for you. The average fee for cosmetic eyelid surgery is $4,120. However, this cost is only part of the total price.

You must also consider the cost of:

Anesthesia
Operating room facilities
Other related expenses

Before committing to eye surgery, ask your doctor:

What result should I expect from the procedure?
Will the procedure help repair any problems I’m having with vision?
Are any of my existing medical issues cause for concern if I have the procedure?
Should I opt for the incisional or non-incisional surgical technique?
What are the specific steps of the procedure?
What type of anesthesia is used?
What are the risks?
What is the recovery time?

Double eyelid blepharoplasty may be permanent or reversible depending on the type of procedure.

If you have had double eyelid surgery in which the surgeon made a full or partial incision, the procedure usually cannot be reversed.

However, if you had a no-incision procedure using permanent stitches, your doctor may be able to remove them to re-create monolids.

What Happens During Double Eyelid Surgery?

The steps of incisional double eyelid surgery include:

Measuring and marking the eye with a pen, based on the desired outcome
Administration of IV sedation or general anesthesia and a local anesthetic
Cutting several incisions along the eyelid line
Removal of the marked excess skin
Removal of muscle and fat tissue
Closure of incision with glue or stitches

Incisional double eyelid surgery is recommended for anyone who has:

Thick skin
Need for extra skin or fat removal
A desire for permanent results

Risks of incision double eyelid surgery include:

Allergic reaction to anesthesia
Infection
Visible scarring
Temporary or permanent vision changes

The steps of non-incisional upper eyelid surgery include:

Measuring and marking the eye with a pen based on desired outcome
Administration of IV sedation or general anesthesia and a local anesthetic
Insertion of tiny punctures along the line on the eyelid
Placement of sutures through the puncture holes to tighten the crease above the upper lash line

The sutures dissolve, so there’s no need to return to the doctor to have them removed. Non-incisional surgery causes less scarring than incisional procedures. It is also reversible. It’s ideal for people who do not need fat or extra skin removed.

Risks of non-incisional double eyelid surgery include:

Asymmetrical result
Loosening of the double fold
Infection
Irritation from sutures
Visible puncture marks
Inclusion cyst if a stitch is buried

Who is a Candidate for Double Eyelid Surgery?

Anyone with a monolid can consider undergoing double eyelid surgery for cosmetic purposes. There are also health reasons for opting to have the procedure.

Reasons for undergoing double eyelid surgery include:

Vision problems
Establishing symmetry
Enlarging eyes
Making makeup application easier
Fatty deposits or puffiness in the upper lids
Loose or sagging skin that causes folding that impairs vision
Having excess skin and/or fine wrinkles

People who are in good health, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations for the results of their procedure are good candidates for eyelid surgery.

Eyelid surgery is not a good option for people who:

Want to improve uneven eyes
Want to lessen the appearance of crow’s feet
Have dry eye symptoms
Have drooping eyebrows
Smoke
Have an eye infection or disease
Have other severe illnesses or infections

Recovery & Healing Time

Basic healing occurs within approximately two weeks after incisional surgery. It can take several months to heal completely.

Many people experience the following during the recovery period:

Bruising
Bleeding
Pain
Dry eyes
Light sensitivity
Swelling
Changes in skin sensation

People who undergo non-incisional surgery heal faster and usually fully recover within two weeks.

Other Treatment Options for Fixing Double Eyelids

Eyelid tapes and glues are alternatives to double eyelid surgery. These products are available without prescription and create a crease in the eyelid.

Eyelid tape and glue:

Temporarily provide a crease in the lid
Are removable
Allow you to avoid the risks of surgery
Give you an idea of what double lids look like before committing to surgery
Need to be reapplied every day
Can shift or fall off while wearing
Can cause an allergic reaction
Put vision at risk

People with single eyelids can make their eyes look larger and create the illusion of double eyelids with makeup. This is an easy way to see how you’d look with double eyelids without making a permanent commitment.

Makeup tips include: