How Is Asian Love Band Lower Eyelid Surgery Done?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in Love Band eyelid surgery and what to know how it is done. Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

A: The so called Asian Love Band eyelid surgery (also called Youthlites) is conceptually double eyelid surgery for the lower eyelid. The objective of this procedure is to create a fullness below the lashline on the lower eyelid, representing an orbicularis muscle roll that naturally occurs in some eyelids. By so doing, it can make the to make the eye look larger and more open as it creates a lower eyelid that has two visible parts. This is an effect that is not unlike that created by the more well known Asian double eyelid surgery in the upper eyelids.

Some people do not have such a lower eyelid roll because their orbicularis muscle is thinner and more stretched. In my experience, I have seen Asians who naturally have an orbicularis muscle roll who want it removed. Conversely, I have seen other Asian patients who do not have it who want it created. (aka Love band lower eyelid procedure) Whether a skin roll under the lower eyelid lashline is viewed as aesthetically pleasing is a personal decision.

There are multiple ways to create the orbicularus roll effect and it is all about adding some form of a graft or implant to create that volume. A temporary Love Band effect can be created by synthetic injectable fillers as a non-surgical technique. Surgical methods include fat injections or the placement of a thin autogenous dermal, fascial or allogeneic dermal graft. (e.g., Alloderm) By adding volume on top of the orbicularis muscle, an outer visible roll is created. No matter what method is used for orbicularis muscle augmentation, recovery is fairly quick as it is just a limited version of a lower blepharoplasty incision.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana