Cosmetic surgery is very popular with Asians. Here are some of the procedures that are popular with them:

Asian Eyelid Surgery: Asians are increasingly asking their plastic surgeons for wider and rounder eyes. Other Asian patients who have mono-lids (no crease in the eyelid) are seeking to have a fold created to achieve a double-eyelid. In the United States, eyelid surgery ranks as the third most poplar plastic surgery done by Asian Americans, behind nose reshaping and breast augmentation.

Rhinoplasty: As with blepharoplasty, nose surgery (rhinoplasty) differs between Caucasians and Asians. Among Caucasians, rhinoplasty is typically performed to reduce the nose and help it fit better with the face, while the nose is usually augmented among Asians.

During the surgery, the skin is separated from the underlying bone and cartilage, and an implant is placed to shape and augment the nose. The implants are typically alloplastic (artificial material) rather than live tissue, because of the relative scarcity of the body’s tissue in comparison to the augmentation required. Scarring is minimal, when the opening is properly closed.

There may be soreness and swelling in the face post-surgery and some bleeding is also common. Patients are usually mobile after two days, and a full recovery time is about one to two weeks. Learn more about nose surgery recovery products that can accelerate healing, reduce swelling and bruising, and minimize scar appearance.

Chin Surgery: Chin surgery is often done in conjunction with nose surgeries to enhance the effect, because nose reshaping can disrupt the balance of a face. The surgery is done by making an incision along the jawline on the bottom of the chin, or in the inside of the lower lip between the lip and gum. In chin augmentations, synthetic material that can be shaped as desired is implanted. In chin reductions, surgeons sculpt and reposition the bones into the desired shape. The incision is then closed, with minimal scarring. Soreness, swelling and bruising is common after surgery, with these symptoms slowly diminishing and fading away over a period of about six weeks.

Breast Augmentation: Since Asians generally have smaller, narrower bodies, a modest increase in bust size is encouraged as opposed to large implants. Incisions can be made in different areas — along the fold under the breast, the areola, or the armpit — depending on the patient’s body and preference. Saline or silicone implants can be placed behind breast tissue or between the pectoral muscle and chest wall. Scarring is minimal. Mild soreness and a burning sensation may occur post-surgery, but the patient is usually able to resume some activity within the first week. Swelling that occurs takes anywhere from three to five weeks to subside.

Liposuction and Abdinoplasty: Both liposuction and tummy tucks are procedures performed to help improve the contour of one’s body and reduce fat deposits. Among Asians, fat is more likely to collect on the arms and waist, resulting in liposuction procedures commonly done in those areas. While liposuction is effective on the legs of Caucasians, it is less effective on Asians because muscle — as opposed to fat — accounts for most of an Asian’s leg mass.

Tummy tucks specifically focus on removing excess fat and skin in the middle to lower abdomen. Tummy tucks result in a permanent scar for every patient.

Face lifts: Due to having thicker, tighter skin, and moderately pigmented skin that ages well, Asians usually choose to have face lifts later in life than Caucasians. Asians who do opt for face lifts generally desire a younger appearance, through tightening skin to reduce sagging and wrinkles. Face lifts are also done differently among Asians and Caucasians due to differences in facial anatomy. Asians experience less sagging in the lower face, due to higher cheekbones, and more sagging in the upper area because of a flatter forehead. For this reason, a brow lift (forehead lift) may be more appropriate for an Asian plastic surgery patient needing to correct signs of aging in the forehead area.

In brow lifts, incisions are made along the scalp, and the sagging skin in the forehead is raised to tighten it. In face lifts, muscles are also tightened, fat may be removed, and the skin then re-draped over the incision. Mid facelifts can also be performed when the cheeks begin to sag due to age, with incisions made below the lower eyelid, or behind the ears. Discomfort can occur, such as swelling or numbness, but disappears in weeks. Bruising may also be apparent for up to two weeks. Learn more about face lift recovery products that can accelerate healing, reduce swelling and bruising, and minimize scar appearance.

Cheek Surgery (Malarplasty): Caucasians generally opt for cheek surgery to better define their cheekbones. For Asians, however, the opposite holds true as most Asian patients want to reduce highly defined cheekbones to improve the balance of their face.