Natural-Adhesion Double Eyelid - SM Plastic Surgery

Bringing what you know of the earlier surgery — the date, the materials used, the clinic — helps assessment and planning. Even without records, examination and tests can establish the state of things, so please consult first.

The buried-suture method fixes with thread alone; the natural adhesion method encourages adhesion through small openings, so the line tends to hold better. And because the incision is small, recovery tends to be quicker than with the incisional method.

Partial incision means opening only a small part of the lid; the method that uses this to encourage natural adhesion is called the natural adhesion method. They can be understood as the same family of surgery.

With a small incision, swelling and recovery tend to run quicker than with the incisional method, though the swelling and how the line settles vary from person to person. Settling into a natural line can take time.

Where there is a little fat, a small amount can be refined through partial incision at the same time. Where fat is plentiful or skin laxity clear, the incisional method may suit better, decided after assessment.

Because the line is formed by encouraging adhesion through small openings, it tends to hold better than the buried-suture method, which relies on thread alone. Even so, how much the line fades varies from person to person, depending on eyelid thickness, eye-opening habits and the course of recovery. We advise on the method best suited to holding the line after examining the eyes.

The procedure takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes and is performed under local or sedation anaesthesia. The time can vary with the extent of the incision, whether fat is trimmed, and whether ptosis correction is done at the same time. The exact range is explained in consultation after a detailed examination.

Because a partial incision is made, the sutures do need to come out. One week is the usual guide, though they are sometimes removed as early as day five or as late as the second week. The timing is set according to how recovery is progressing, and is explained at your follow-up visit.

While the sutures are still in place, it is better to avoid make-up around the eyes; you can start once the stitches are out and the wound has settled. Recovery speed differs from person to person, so the starting point is advised at your follow-up visit. Take care that cosmetics do not touch the wound directly.

The incision is small, so the mark tends to sit inside the crease and stay hidden when the eyes are open, fading gradually with time. How well it settles varies with skin type and the course of recovery. During recovery we ask you to avoid irritating the area and we follow the progress together.

Adjusting the eye-opening muscle as well widens the area treated, so swelling can last somewhat longer. Recovery speed still depends on the extent of surgery and individual condition, so it cannot be stated uniformly. Whether to combine the two, and the likely course, are explained after a detailed examination.

We first check the traces of the previous surgery and the condition of the eyelid, then judge whether the natural adhesion method is suitable. If the lid has thickened or there is adhesion or scarring, the incisional method may fit better. The timing and method for revision are decided after examining the eyes.

Usually one to two visits, for suture removal and to check how healing is going. The timing and number of visits can change depending on how recovery proceeds. The schedule is set as we follow your progress after surgery.

It is suggested when the eyelid carries a little fat, or when the line does not settle easily and the buried-suture method alone seems unlikely to hold it. In such cases, trimming a small amount of fat through a tiny opening while encouraging adhesion can work better for forming the line. The judgement is made in consultation after checking eyelid thickness and fat volume.

While the incision is healing, it is best to avoid rubbing the eyes or squeezing them shut. Use the prescribed medication and ointment as directed, and we check swelling and changes in the line together at follow-up. Recovery differs from person to person, so please ask us whenever something concerns you.