CANTHOPLASTY

The recommended procedure depends on which part of the eye needs adjustment. Medial canthoplasty opens a covered inner corner. Lateral canthoplasty lengthens or repositions the outer corner. Lower canthoplasty changes the lower outer corner to increase vertical openness. Combining methods is not automatically better because opening every direction too much can look unnatural. The surgeon should choose the smallest change that suits the eye shape and facial proportions.

The amount of enlargement is limited by the eyelid’s natural support and the amount of tissue available. Opening the inner corner too much can expose excessive pink tissue, while excessive outer or lower lengthening can reveal too much white around the iris or make the eyelid look pulled. Safe planning aims for a visible but balanced change rather than a fixed number of millimeters or the widest possible eye opening.

It depends on the surgical plan. Lengthening the outer corner can make the eye look wider without intentionally changing its tilt. If the outer corner is naturally very raised or lowered, its position may also be adjusted. Lower-corner surgery can increase vertical openness without adding much horizontal length. The surgeon should explain separately how the procedure may change width, tilt, and the amount of visible white around the iris.

The new outer corner must be supported by deeper tissue, not only by skin stitches. The surgeon secures the corner to firm tissue at the edge of the eye socket and adjusts the height and tension carefully. Existing looseness in the lower eyelid must also be considered. Without enough support, the corner may round, droop, or expose more white below the iris as healing progresses.

Inner-corner scars lie within or beside the natural inner fold, while outer-corner scars sit where the upper and lower eyelids meet. Redness and firmness are common during the first several weeks and usually soften over a few months. A fine pale line may remain, especially in patients who form thicker scars. Scar visibility also depends on tension, skin type, smoking, rubbing, and how well the incision heals.

Yes. Removing too much of the inner-corner fold can expose excessive pink tissue or make the eyes appear too close together. Scar tightening can also create a small web or an uneven corner. Careful planning preserves enough natural fold and considers the distance between the eyes. The aim is to reveal the inner corner gently, not to remove every trace of the original fold.

Yes. Excessive outer-corner lengthening or lowering can expose more white around the iris, disturb blinking, or make full closure difficult. This may lead to dryness, irritation, or watering. Mild tightness and dryness can occur during early healing, but increasing pain, redness, vision change, marked one-sided white show, or an eyelid that cannot close should be reported promptly.

Bruising and obvious swelling often improve within one to two weeks, although the corners may still look red or feel tight. Mild differences between the two sides are common because swelling does not settle evenly. The shape usually looks more natural by four to eight weeks, while scar color and firmness can continue improving for three to six months or longer.

Eye makeup usually waits until the stitches are removed and the wounds are closed and dry, often around one to two weeks. Products should be removed gently without stretching or rubbing the corners. Contact lenses may restart when the eye surface feels comfortable and handling the eyelids is painless, commonly around two weeks after approval. Waterproof makeup and lash glue may need a longer break because removal can pull on healing tissue.

Some settling toward the original position is normal. More noticeable relapse can occur if scar tissue tightens, deep stitches loosen, or the tissues gradually shift with blinking and facial movement. Inner-corner scar webbing can partly recreate the original fold, while the outer corner may round or shorten. The result is usually judged after several months, once swelling and scar tension are no longer changing the shape quickly.

These procedures can be combined when each one treats a clearly identified problem. Double-eyelid surgery changes the crease, ptosis correction raises a drooping upper eyelid, and canthoplasty changes the eye corners. Performing the maximum change in every area can make the eyes look too round, long, or exposed. Planning should divide the desired improvement across the crease, eyelid height, and corners while preserving natural facial balance.

Revision depends on the problem. A rounded or shortened outer corner may need stronger support and repositioning. A corner that is too open may need partial closure. Inner-corner webbing or an uneven scar may require scar release and rearrangement. Unless the eye cannot close or the surface is being exposed, revision is usually delayed until swelling and scars have matured so the surgeon can see the true position.