Asian eyes and European eyes differences. Oriental eyelid surgery. Basic rules for successful intervention

General information

- features of the Mongoloid type of eyes, characterized by a narrow section of the palpebral fissure, smoothness or absence of supraorbital folds of the upper eyelid and the presence of epicanthus - skin folds in the inner corners of the eyes. Also, unlike the European, the Asian eye shape has small orbits, thick eyelid skin, excess orbital fat and a higher eyebrow location. Typical features of Asian eye shape are genetically determined traits inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

The Mongoloid (Asian) eye shape is characteristic of the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Uyghurs, Kazakhs and representatives of other eastern nationalities. The first attempts to change the Mongoloid shape of the eyes were made in Asian countries at the end of the 18th century. These procedures were popularly called “sangapuri”, were performed by non-professional healers at home and consisted of suturing the soft tissues of the eyelid through and squeezing them with threads, usually in three areas. Ignorance of anatomical and physiological features, failure to comply with asepsis and antisepsis, gross tissue injury led to an unaesthetic and short-lived result.

The possibility of quickly changing the Asian shape of the eyes was first proposed by the Japanese surgeon Mikamo in 1896, when the “land of the rising sun” began to actively trade with the West. Surgeries to correct the shape of Asian (Mongoloid) eyes began to be widely performed after World War II due to the large flow of immigration from Asian countries. Since then, operations to correct Asian eye shape have been popular not only among women, but also among men.

Correction methods

Since the appearance of Mongoloid eyes is formed precisely by the absence of a supraorbital fold and epicanthus, correction of the Asian eye shape involves, first of all, the formation of a fold in the upper eyelid and the elimination of skin folds in the corners of the eyes.

The absence of a double supraorbital fold is associated with the anatomical features of Asian eyes, in the upper eyelids of which there are no connective tissue fibers connecting the aponeurosis of the levator superior palisade muscle with the skin of the upper eyelid. Therefore, the goal of surgery to correct the Asian eye shape is to form the missing fold by creating a scar between the aponeurosis and the skin or an insertion between the skin and the muscle.

The method for correcting the eastern (Asian or oriental) eye shape is a special type of blepharoplasty, during which a fold of the upper eyelid is formed, the epicanthus is removed (epicanthoplasty) and other features of Mongoloid eyes are corrected. Surgeries to change Asian eye shape are very popular around the world, and in Japan they are performed on more than 250,000 people every year. The result of this operation is not only giving the eyes European features, but also increasing the field of view, changing the direction of eyelash growth upward, which visually makes the eyes more youthful and attractive.

Today, to correct Asian eye type, 2 main methods of oriental blepharoplasty are used: without incisions and with incisions.

If the skin of the upper eyelid is thin and there is a slight fold on it, it is possible to use a technique without incisions (the so-called suture technique). The open method, or the method with incisions, is used for blepharoplasty in all other cases.

Many plastic surgeons prefer the open technique, considering it more reliable for Asian eyes. Under local anesthesia, a thin strip of skin, as well as excess subcutaneous fat and muscle tissue, is isolated and removed using pinpoint skin incisions at the typical location of the fold on the upper eyelid. The incision site is sutured using thin intradermal sutures. The duration of the operation is usually from half an hour to two hours, taking into account the volume of surgical intervention.

At the end of the operation, an aseptic bandage is applied to the eyelids for 2-4 hours. Pain in the postoperative period is usually moderate and does not require the use of analgesics. Sutures are removed within 3-5 days. Hematomas and swelling of the eyelids usually resolve within 7-10 days.

After successful correction of the Asian eye shape, the lasting aesthetic result usually lasts throughout life.

Asian eye shape is particularly attractive. The expressiveness of the look and the depth of the lines will help emphasize correctly applied makeup. For Asian eyes, special techniques are used to help make the gaze open and clear. Learn how to apply eye makeup to enhance your beauty.

The eye shape of Asian women is narrow, slightly slanting. In most cases, the movable eyelid does not have a fold and droops. The brow ridges in girls of Asian appearance are poorly defined, and the mobile eyelid often looks hidden.

To get beautiful, expressive eyes, you need to balance the outer and inner corners. For the heavier inner corner of the eyelid, use light gray or white shadows with a slight sheen. The lighter their texture, the more natural the makeup will look.

To achieve an expressive look, remove dark circles under the eyes. They make your eyes look dull and give your appearance a sickly appearance. The deficiency is corrected using a foundation or concealer that is one tone lighter than the natural color of the skin.

To create daytime makeup, makeup artists give the following tips:

  • Before applying shadows, powder the upper eyelid;
  • start drawing the contour of the upper eyelid from the outside of the eye;
  • end the eyeliner at the point where the eyelashes begin to grow;
  • draw the arrow from the outside outside the eye, thicken the line towards the end;
  • apply shadow to the eyelid before the eyebrows begin to grow, use light shadows, a veil;
  • for the mobile eyelid, use light-colored shadows, and dark ones for the orbital fold;
  • highlight the outer edge of the eye with velvety shadows in dark tones;
  • on the outer corner of the eye, apply shadows at a slight upward angle;
  • to balance sunken eyes and prominent cheekbones, use the same shade for the eyelids and cheeks;
  • draw your eyebrows clearly, highlight the contour with concealer;
  • Draw the eyebrows with a pencil or powder a tone darker than the natural color;
  • line your upper lashes with lengthening mascara.

To visually enlarge your eyes, use a white pencil and mascara to lengthen your eyelashes. On the edge of the lower eyelid, close to the eyelashes, draw a contour with a white pencil. Make the arrow lines even, especially if you use black or very dark eyeliner.

Use soft pastel colors that only emphasize the created image and natural beauty.

Smokey Eye Makeup for Asian Eyes

A special technique for applying eye makeup, which uses shading to create a soft transition from dark to lighter tones, is called “Smoky Eyes.” When using the Smokey Eye technique, you get a seductive, languid look.

Modern smoky makeup is performed in a variety of colors. The classic version of “Smoky Ice” includes a black and dark gray palette. But today, makeup using this technique has ceased to be strictly evening. You can paint your eyes using the Smokey Eye technique in softer tones and go to a business meeting or event during the daytime.

Professional makeup artists use the following tools:

  1. A flat brush with a rounded end. Used for applying shadows. For dry shadows, use a brush with natural bristles.
  2. Shading is done with a barrel-shaped brush made of natural elastic bristles. The tip of the brush is rounded.

Dark circles around the eyes are masked with concealer. When applying makeup using the Smokey Eye technique, imperfections in appearance are corrected after application. When applying shadows, each shade is carefully shaded - there should be no clear boundaries between the colors.

How to paint your eyes using the Smokey Eye technique?

Makeup is performed in the following sequence:

  • Apply primer to your eyelids. It will keep makeup for a long time.
  • Choose harmoniously matching shades.
  • Use a black pencil to draw 2/3 of the eyelid as close to the eyelashes as possible. Start the line from the outer corner.
  • Apply dark shadows to the pencil and blend the border.
  • Apply white shadows to the shaded border of the dark shade and blend.
  • Starting from the outer corner, draw the lower eyelid. Closer to the center of the eyelid, make the width of the line thinner.
  • Apply dark shadow to the outermost part of the lower eyelid with a thin line. Blend.
  • Apply white shadow to the inner corner of the eyelids and blend.
  • Draw arrows, start the line from the place where the eyelashes grow, lead to the outer corner. Thicken the line towards the outer edge of the eye.
  • Tint your eyelashes.

Through experiments, choose the color scheme that best suits your eye color and skin tone.

Asian eyes are incredibly beautiful. With properly applied makeup, any girl will create an image full of mystery, emphasize the dignity of her appearance and preserve her unique natural beauty.

It is false to argue with the fact that Asian women are like flawless porcelain dolls: petite faces, silky hair, smooth skin and perfect facial features. And they always look younger than their age! How do they do this?

Firstly, women from Asian countries take special and very careful care of their skin - their care consists of several important stages (look for Asian trends in skin care). And secondly, Asian women have mastered special makeup tricks that allow them to achieve not only the effect of a young and fresh face, but sometimes even change their facial features beyond recognition.

Create the perfect complexion

The first and most important step in Asian makeup is to even out and create the perfect skin color. The main task of this step is to make the face as flat as possible, so that later the desired relief can be drawn on it.

To do this, first of all, even out the skin texture using a special base - it will hide the pores and smooth out the skin as much as possible. Now, using a light-colored concealer, lighten the middle of the face - apply the product to the forehead, nose, chin and area under the eyes. Blend the product thoroughly with a damp sponge or special brush. After this, further even out your complexion using a cushion or BB cream. Fix the result with loose powder.

Draw straight eyebrows

Asian women prefer wide, thick and completely straight eyebrows. In their opinion, it looks very stylish and gives the face a slightly childish and naive expression.

To draw the straightest possible eyebrow line, highlight its base with shadows or a special tinted lipstick and draw a line from it to the tail - to get a perfectly straight eyebrow, you can use a regular school ruler. Fill the resulting shape with the desired shade of shadow and carefully blend the color to make the eyebrow look as natural as possible. Fix the hairs with gel.

Change the shape of your nose

According to Asian fashionistas, the beauty of a face lies in its graceful and petite features, so they try to correct their natural characteristics as much as possible. First of all, this concerns the nose - it should be thin and straight.

You can give your nose a visually more elegant shape using powder in several shades. Using a dark shade, draw two vertical lines on the sides of the nose and blend them so that the borders become invisible. After this, highlight the back of your nose using a light-colored powder, foundation, eye shadow or highlighter - the light line should be the width that you want to visually give your nose. Blend it too until the clear boundaries disappear.

Don’t forget to correct the oval of your face by highlighting your cheekbones with a dark shade of powder or bronzer - apply the color under the cheekbone to make your face appear more prominent (read about the rules and mistakes of using bronzer). A berry-pink or peach blush will add freshness to your face. Asian women prefer to apply it to the apples of their cheeks and blend it towards their temples.

Choose peach eyeshadow and draw down winged arrows

To make the eyes seem especially expressive and doll-sized, Asian women use lenses, and special pads are placed on the moving eyelid, which help make the look more open. Women with European eye shapes can avoid this step and simply learn the correct makeup technique (10 facts about makeup that you didn’t know, look up).

So, for an expressive look you will need light shimmering shadows - apply them as a base for a slight glow of the eyelid skin. The next task of makeup is to give the skin around the eyes a healthy tone. Asian women believe that it is peach shadows with a reddish undertone that can boast of such an effect. They need to highlight the outer corner of the eye, blending the color along the upper and lower eyelashes to the middle of the eyelid. Also, peach shadows highlight the fold of the moving eyelid.

The second secret of expressive eye makeup for Asian women is glitter in the corners of the eyes or “artificial tears.” To do this, apply a light shimmering shade of eye shadow or highlighter to the inner corner of the eye - highlight the line of the lower eyelid, from the corner to the middle of the eye. This trick will make your eyes appear larger.

Asian women draw arrows in the corners of their eyes not up, but down, so that the look seems naive and a little sad. Dry dark shadows are ideal for this - draw an arrow with them as close to the eyelash edge as possible, pointing it down. Such eyeliner should look almost invisible, but give expressiveness to the look.

And the last step in eye makeup is thick and fluffy eyelashes. To make their eyelashes more expressive, Asian women often resort to false eyelashes. But you can curl your eyelashes with special tweezers, and then apply mascara to them with a lengthening effect. To make your eyelashes as voluminous as possible, after applying the first layer of mascara, dust them with loose powder, and immediately after apply makeup again.

Use berry lipsticks


To always look young and fresh, Asian women choose products in the color of “fruit juice” for lip makeup, that is, the most natural shades: peach, strawberry, strawberry, watermelon and other ripe berries and fruits. As for the texture, it can be a translucent lip gloss or tint. You need to apply it starting from the middle of your lips, blending the shade towards the edges - you get the effect of ruddy and kissed lips. And if you outline the outline with a light pencil or concealer, they will appear visually plumper and more voluminous.

Text: Anya Sherstneva

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The Asian type of appearance is at the peak of fashion and this, of course, could not help but be reflected in makeup trends. The fashion for characteristic facial features has led to the fact that more and more often on catwalks and fashion shows you can see that European models are increasingly having their eye makeup done in a special way, trying to bring their eyes as close as possible to the Asian type through make-up techniques.

Features of Asian makeup

Classic Asian makeup is, first of all, very fair skin, a clear eyebrow line and, of course, special eyes. What we used to call the “Asian cut” is nothing more than a special form of the structure of the eyelid. Unlike the European eyelid, this eyelid is much flatter, it almost completely lacks a fold and, despite the fact that the Asian eyelid is significantly wider, its area is much smaller than that of the European one.

Therefore, classic makeup schemes are practically not applicable to it.

In addition to the fact that the makeup of the moving eyelid is completely invisible when the eye is open, it is also necessary to take into account the difference between all the folds surrounding the eye from below and from above. This significant difference in relief must be carefully worked out by playing with shadow and light.

Nuances of choosing cosmetics

When thinking about performing Asian makeup, be sure to take into account the key distinguishing features between representatives of two races - Asians and Europeans.

  1. Asian skin never has a pink undertone. Accordingly, choose foundations and corrective products with a pronounced yellow pigment.
  2. By analogy with foundation, we exclude the warmest shades of blush - pink and coral, giving preference to classic beige or caramel color.
  3. No halftones in cosmetics for eyelashes and eyebrows - only uncompromising black.
  4. Due to the specificity of the century, bright colors of shadows are mostly not used; the dominant palette is all gamuts that echo the color and tone of the skin. Gold and silver shades are used for accents.
  5. The only thing that has no color restrictions is lipstick! It can be anything - from fatal red to cold but delicate pink.

Execution algorithm

Any make-up begins, of course, with a base.

The basis

  • As with all other techniques, high-quality and carefully executed Asian makeup begins with an even distribution of the main tone throughout the face. Having carefully shaded all the boundaries of the product, 1 tone lighter than the skin tone, it is necessary to additionally lighten the triangle that forms the lower eyelid (the base of the triangle is the line between the inner and outer corners of the eye) and the wing of the nose. The best way to cope with this task is a concealer with reflective particles, applied in a translucent layer using a sponge and additionally shaded with your fingertips.
  • Set the foundation with loose powder, and the concealer with matte shadows 1-2 shades lighter than the skin.
  • Now the face is prepared for correction. It is recommended to give preference to dry textures - bronzer or matte shadows. Please note that the product that will be used to create shadows and reliefs on the face should under no circumstances contain shimmer or any reflective particles, as well as red pigment, even in a minimal ratio. That is, the most matte product in all shades of gray-brown.

  • Use matte bronzer to darken the area under the cheekbone, hairline across the entire face, sides of the bridge of the nose, and the bottom of the chin.

Preparing the century

  • Apply primer to the upper eyelid (both its moving part and the sub-brow area), it is best to spread it with the pad of your finger - the warmth of your hands will warm the product and make it more pliable, and contact with the skin will allow you to feel the degree of coverage, which is extremely important, because . Too much eyeshadow base will have the opposite effect and your makeup will soon start to smudge.
  • Powder the eyelid again over the primer.

Applying liner (eyeliner)

  • Using gel or liquid eyeliner, carefully draw a thin line along the eyelash edge of the upper eyelid - from the beginning of active eyelash growth from the inside to the outer corner.
  • Having carefully painted the eyelash growth line and the spaces between the eyelashes, lower the eyeliner line in the outer corner slightly downward - thus, the eye will visually become somewhat narrower and elongated.
  • Move the tail of the eyeliner line up a little from the lowered corner - literally by 2-3 mm. While the eyeliner line is still wet, carefully draw an angled synthetic brush or a regular cotton swab along the drawn line - this manipulation will make the border less geometric and the end of the arrow smoother and more natural.

Lower eyelid design

  • The Asian eye is always a regular almond-shaped eye. In order to bring the European incision closer to this shape, it is necessary to work on the lower eyelid. The best technique to achieve this goal is to lighten the mucous membrane of the lower eyelid.
  • If your eyes are light, then you can safely use a soft beige or white-pink pencil. The mucous membrane worked with it will correct the shape and at the same time refresh the look.
  • For dark and too bright eyes, it is worth choosing a harmonious gray or gray-brown shade, because... Despite all the advantages of light pencils, for this type they will be very contrasting and will introduce a masquerade effect that is unnecessary in this context.

Eyelashes

  • A big mistake in Asian makeup would be creating voluminous and long eyelashes, as they will instantly visually expand the eye and make it more prominent - and these are the parameters we avoided in all previous stages.
  • Eyelashes must be contrasting and for this exactly one layer of mascara will be enough.
  • The lower eyelashes, when modeling an Asian cut on European eyes, are not painted over at all.

Eyebrow shaping

  • Without properly shaped eyebrows, Asian makeup cannot be complete.
  • The first rule is a rich charcoal eyebrow color, even for blondes.
  • The second rule is the absence of traditional European bends and kinks in the eyebrow line: only a straight shape or a shape reminiscent of a bow string.
  • Maximum geometry and clarity of the contour, no additional shading to soften the appearance of the eyebrows.

And here is the original version of Japanese makeup:

It goes without saying that it is impossible to achieve an absolutely identical eye shape to the Asian one using decorative means alone. However, knowing the key features and main accents of this technique, you can easily recreate the image you need for the occasion - for example, for a themed party.

The first reason Eastern patients turn to plastic surgeons is the desire to make their appearance more European. The second is the desire for beauty, the formation of the fold of the upper eyelid while preserving natural features. In Korea, China, and Hong Kong, the operation is routine and is sometimes performed in hairdressing salons, immediately after a haircut.

There are also many methods for performing this operation. There is only one reliable and guaranteed method: fixing the skin of the upper eyelid to the muscle that lifts the eyelid. However, such an operation can only be performed with knowledge of the internal structure of the eyelid and experience in working with Eastern patients. Because this is a surgical procedure, the operation must be performed exclusively in a sterile operating room environment.

before and after photos

The main task of Asian eyelid surgery is to create a “European eye style”, that is, the formation of a fold of the upper eyelid. Representatives of the Asian race do not have such a fold. This genetic feature was formed over a very long time and, presumably, served the ancestors of this race for protection from the sun and steppe dust storms. Europeans have such a fold, which is also determined by our genes, and therefore European eyelids are visually very different from Eastern ones. A related, but no less important, task of Asian eyelid surgery can be lifting the skin above the inner corner of the eye, the so-called epicanthoplasty.

In essence, the operation to change the shape of the eyelids seems quite simple for a professional surgeon. However, behind the apparent ease there are hidden many subtle and significant nuances, accessible only to a high-level professional. The effectiveness of the operation is directly influenced by knowledge of the anatomy and mechanism of the Asian eyelids, experience of similar operations, and the use of certain techniques. If the doctor does not have the necessary theoretical training and practical experience, the desired effect may not be achieved. According to our observations and according to available statistics, approximately 50% of previously operated patients are not completely satisfied with the result of plastic surgery. Most often, the reason for this is improper formation of the furrow of the upper eyelid, which leads to an unsatisfactory result, and sometimes to pronounced asymmetry.

Differences between European and Asian eye shapes

It should be understood that the Asian eye shape is no worse than the European one. He is simply different, differently formed due to the stages of evolution of this race. The desire to change the shape of the eyes from Asian to European is akin to the desire of a person with curly hair to straighten it. But this does not mean that curly hair is worse than straight hair. Pay attention to elegant women who prefer perms!

The eastern shape of the eyes owes its uniqueness to the natural shape of the upper eyelid for Asians, on which in most cases there is absolutely no fold. In Europeans, this fold is a rather pronounced depression between the eyebrow and the eye. The concept of “deep-set eyes” depends on its size. This fold is normally characteristic of all Europeans; it is endowed with the anatomical ability to visually lift the eyelid, creating the appearance of a more open Slavic look. Although some people of the East may have a similar fold, it is minimal and hardly noticeable, since it is of the nature of a rudiment. In most cases, this fold is located low, at the edge of the eyelid. This is the first difference between European eyes and Eastern eyes.

Another significant difference is the epicanthus - a thin crescent of eyelid skin, stretched from the inner corner of the eye to the base of the nose in a representative of the Asian race.

And the third difference between eastern eyes and European eyes is the thickened fatty layer of subcutaneous tissue. The brow (also called the “brow body”) is heavier and denser in Asians than in Europeans. The eyebrow seems to “press” the upper eyelid a little with its weight.

In the context of surgical plastic surgery of the eastern eyelids, it is important to note that Asian eyes, like Slavic ones, have a huge variety of shapes and eye shapes. This determines the features of the plastic surgery technique, which is unique in each case, that is, there is no “general” recipe.

Methods for forming the fold of the upper eyelid

The most obvious way to change an Asian eye shape to a European one is to form a fold between the eyebrow and the upper eyelid, the so-called wedge-shaped furrow. This technique is ideal for owners of a well-developed epicanthus and has four variations in the shape of the eye shape created.

There are several options for upper eyelid folds.

It is necessary to discuss with the patient which type of fold is most preferable.

In the first case The groove created by the surgeon harmoniously transitions into the patient’s epicanthal fold, which looks very natural.

In the second case the doctor forms a furrow parallel to the contour of the eye. This option implies a small distance between the newly formed fold and the epicanthus. This method is popular among women who use bright decorative cosmetics. This cut allows you to advantageously emphasize the shape of the eye using eyeliner or a cosmetic pencil.

In the third option a crescent-shaped furrow is formed, where the fold of the eyelid rises slightly above the center of the eye, giving it a naive, slightly surprised expression. It should be noted that on classic Asian faces such a nuance does not look very natural. However, this solution is sometimes appropriate for patients of mixed ethnicity.

Fourth method formation of the “European fold” – raising the lateral corner of the eye. This option is practiced by surgeons in older patients. Technically, it repeats the technique of creating a parallel fold, with the only difference being that its line smoothly rises to the outer corner of the eye.

Plastic surgery of Asian eyelids as a separate area of ​​plastic surgery

Most Europeans seeking blepharoplasty seek rejuvenation by reshaping the facial area around the eyes. They want to remove bags under the eyes, get rid of excess skin that has sagged over the years, and forget about puffiness and swelling around the eyes. The fold-groove of the upper eyelid, given from birth, most often does not bother Europeans in any way and does not need correction. Plastic surgery of the eastern eyelids consists mainly of changing the natural shape of this fold. Although, it is possible that the operation will simultaneously include overcoming age-related changes.

Asian eyelid surgery– a separate direction in plastic surgery and has fundamental differences from conventional blepharoplasty. The standard approach does not apply here. A professional must understand all the subtleties and nuances of the “Asian” trend in surgery. If the surgeon does not have sufficient experience working with eastern eyelids, then the result of the operation may be completely unexpected: the eyes look unnatural and not aesthetically pleasing, and it is noticeable to strangers that the person has resorted to surgical plastic surgery.

A highly qualified professional aesthetic surgeon strives to find for a patient who has decided to plastic surgery of the eastern eyelids, the optimal compromise option: on the one hand, the formation of an eye shape close to the European one, and on the other, preserving the natural appearance of the patient’s face, without a hint of surgical correction.