Double Eyelid Surgery: Incisional vs. Non-Incisional — Which Method Is Right for Me?

Hello.

This is the eye plastic surgery clinic EH.

The importance of appearance management goes beyond simply being beautiful or handsome on the outside. People are now working to overcome areas they consider complex through surgery in order to create an image that can leave a favorable impression on others. Unlike before, interest is increasing in natural-looking eyes that harmonize with the facial features without looking artificial. As double eyelid surgery techniques have advanced and the methods have become more specialized, many people wonder which method is right for them. To get an accurate answer to this question, it is best to visit the clinic in person and find out which surgical method is suitable for you.

Please explain the incisional and non-incisional methods.

The incisional method is a surgery in which the double eyelid line is directly incised from beginning to end, opening up all the soft tissue inside to create the double eyelid.

As the name suggests, the non-incisional method can be understood as meaning no incision is made. It is also called stitching, natural adhesion, or buried-suture method.

It is a surgery in which only a small hole is made, and the thread moves back and forth between the inner and outer sides to create adhesion along the double eyelid line.

To perform non-incisional surgery, anywhere from 3 to as many as 9 holes may be made. At our clinic, we form the double eyelid line through 4 holes. The reason is that we try to make as few holes as possible so the result looks more natural and less obviously surgical.

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• Advantages of the incisional method

It can create stronger adhesion.

Various techniques such as fat repositioning are possible.

Asymmetry can be adjusted.

2. Advantages of the non-incisional method

It places less burden on the patient.

There is less bleeding and swelling.

3. Disadvantages of the incisional method

Scarring due to the full incision

The recovery period is longer than with the non-incisional method.

4. Disadvantages of the non-incisional method

It is relatively more likely to come undone than the incisional method.

Since both incisional and non-incisional methods have their own pros and cons, the surgery should be performed with the method that best suits you in order to expect the desired result.

Can the incision also come undone?

If there is a severe allergic reaction, if you rub your eyes frequently, or if it comes undone due to impact, it can come undone even when done with an incision. However, if we consider the strength of adhesion, the chance of it coming undone with the incisional method is extremely low.

People suited to the incisional method

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People suited to the non-incisional method

If the skin is thick and there is a lot of fat, if the muscle used to open the eyes is weak, or if the eyes are sunken and the line is not visible, the incisional method is appropriate. On the other hand, if the skin is thin and there is little fat, if you can open your eyes well, or if you have protruding eyes, the non-incisional method is appropriate.

Which is better, the incisional or the non-incisional method?

When it comes to creating detail, the incisional method allows more delicate adjustments than the non-incisional method. That is why our clinic mainly uses the incisional method when detail needs to be controlled. Only then can cases such as asymmetry or situations requiring fine adjustments be addressed.

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The non-incisional method is not possible for everyone; it is a limited method that can be applied only to those who meet the conditions. Even if you prefer the non-incisional method because recovery is fast and there is no burden of scarring, the surgery must be carried out with the correct method after accurately assessing your eye condition, skin thickness, amount of fat, and eye-opening strength. Therefore, rather than being led by the patient’s preferences, it is wise to choose a clinic that can perform the procedure with a realistic design based on the surgeon’s anatomical knowledge.

Are incisional scars very noticeable?

Even when double eyelid surgery is performed with the incisional method, depending on the patient’s condition, there may be cases where scarring remains more noticeably and cases where it remains less noticeably.

The biggest reason why scarring can be more or less visible is the difference in the medical team’s skill. If the suturing is done carefully, one stitch at a time, the scar will naturally be less noticeable, and the degree of scarring can vary depending on the strength of fixation. If the fixation is made lightly and naturally, there is almost no scar left.

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However, there are limitations.

If a person with thick skin receives weak or gentle fixation, it will inevitably come undone quickly. That is why, for such people, the strongest fixation is performed. Compared with weaker fixation, it may leave a slightly more noticeable scar, but if the fixation is done well, the scar may not be very noticeable to others.

Because we normally live with our eyes open, and closing and opening the eyes is a brief action, even if there is a slight scar, it is not visible. Therefore, you can think that double eyelid surgery scars are not as noticeable as you might expect.

It is necessary to check whether the clinic can provide thorough aftercare, as this can affect satisfaction with the results after surgery.

If the first surgery was non-incisional,

can a revision surgery produce better results?

The difficulty of the second surgery can depend on which method was used for the first surgery. In general, those who had the incisional method tend to have more severe scarring and adhesion than those who had the non-incisional method.

However, that does not mean that revision surgery is always easier for people whose first surgery was non-incisional than for those whose first surgery was incisional. Even if the first procedure was non-incisional, when the skin tissue is examined for revision surgery, there are cases where the adhesion or condition is much worse than in cases that were performed with the incisional method. In other words, the surgeon’s technique is extremely important.

The important thing is not which surgical method is used, but that the procedure is carried out while considering the advantages and disadvantages of each method. After having your condition checked by a specialist, choosing the appropriate method will help you achieve the result you want.